Rfa Maine: Ohirnie, Mull, Firth Of Lorn

NM61NW 8001 c. 625 197

N56 18.6 W5 50.4

NLO: Ohirnie [name: NM 626 202]

Frank Lockwood's Island [name: NM 629 196]

Firth of Lorn [name centred NM 69 19].

Formerly entered as NM61NW 9208 and also as NM61NW 8002 at [identical] cited location NM 6259 1974 [N56 18.6 W5 50.3]. Location also formerly cited as NM 6259 1974 [N56 18.6333 W5 50.3333].

Horizontal Datum = OGB

Buoyage =

Circumstances of Loss Details

-----------------------------

The RFA MAINE (formerly the SWANSEA) ran aground in fog and was abandoned. The vessel was being used as a hospital ship, but all the medical equipment was later removed.

Surveying Details

-----------------------------

21 June 1914. The vessel was wrecked on east coast of Island of Mull. It was sold 6 July 1914, presumably for breaking.

23 September 1969. A request to purchase the vessel was received from B A Simmonds, who has located wreckage from this vessel scattered over a wide area. Most of the wreckage is believed to have slipped into deeper water.

19 August 1974. Uncharted wreckage was located on the shore line at 56 18 38N, 005 50 20W.

Report by D Haygreen, Hydro Ergonomic Designs Ltd, 22 July 1974 and 16 August 1974.

21 July 1977. No wreckage was seen at low water springs on 2 July 1977 from an anchorage close to the SE.

Report by Lt Commander Heaps.

13 June 1983. Broken up remains, the majority underwater, but some visible onshore, were reported at 56 18 40N, 005 50 18W.

Report by Paul Camilli, 5 June 1983.

Hydrographic Office, 1995.

HMS MAINE, hospital ship ashore at Mull. An accident, the full extent of which has not yet to be ascertained, occurred to the Admiralty hospital ship MAINE about two o'clock on Wednesday morning. At that time, the MAINE, which was attached to the squadron based at Lamlash, was proceeding towards Oban to pick up patients from the various vessels of the mine-laying fleet engaged in manoeuvres in Loch Linnhe. In the dense fog which prevailed, the vessel ran aground on a small island called Eilean Straide Eun [Frank Lockwood's Island: NM 629 197] which lies close to Mull and is about a couple of miles north of the entrance to Loch Buie.

Unfortunately the fog was so dense that it was difficult for steamers to leave Oban. About 7.00 o'clock, the Princess Louise, an excursion steamer belonging to Captain Paterson, proceeded to the scene in order to render help. The MacBrayne steamer CAVALIER was intercepted at Blackmill Bay on the island of Luing, and the Captain changed his course for Loch Buie, but both his steamer and the PRINCESS LOUISE found that their services were not required as a number of torpedo boat destroyers from the north of Ireland and mine-laying vessels from Ballachulish were already in attendance.

The MAINE is a vessel of 4540 tons, and was formerly an American steamer.

Information from SIMS (DRG), 11 December 1997.

Source: Oban Times 20 June 1914

Hospital ship MAINE salvage efforts abandoned. During the weekend it became apparent to the naval authorities that the salving of the MAINE was too costly a proceeding in view of her age and present value. It was discovered that the vessel was badly damaged forward, and lay in a bad position for salving as she would sink into deep water off the ledge on which she grounded.

Source: Oban Times, 27 June 1914

(Classified as steel steamship: no cargo specified, but former name cited as Swansea, and date of loss as 17 June 1914). HMS Maine: this vessel was wrecked on Eilean Straide Eun.

Registration: London. Built 1887. 2359grt. Length: 92m. Beam: 13m.

(Location of loss cited as N56 18.63 W5 50.33).

I G Whittaker 1998.

The location assigned to this record is essentially tentative, being derived from that cited by UKHO for the discovery of wreckage. The citation of the loss by Ridley (without cited NGR) suggests the survival of identifiable remains.

The Eilean Straide Eun are not noted as such on the 1996 edition of the OS 1:50,000 map. The name presumably applies to Frank Lockwood's Island [name: NM 629 197] which lies close to the SE cost of Mull, about a couple of miles N of the entrance to Loch Buie.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 13 May 2008.

G Ridley 1990.