Mobeka: Carskey Bay, Mull Of Kintyre, North Channel

Steamer MOBEKA, 4000 ton gross, of Antwerp, master Laupereins. Bound from Liverpool to West Africa. Lost 19 Jan 1942, 8am BST. West end of Carsky (Carskey Bay), 8 miles from Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse. Wind souith east, strong breeze. 52 persons all saved. Cargo Government stores.

[Contemporary] source: Lightkeeper, Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse.

Quality of fix = EDM

Horizontal Datum = OGB

General water depth = 4

Orientation of keel/wreck = NESW

Surveying Details

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25 January 1977. A considerable amount of wreckage from the MOBEKA remains. The engine block protrudes 1 metre above water at high tide and large amounts of wreckage are lying on the sea bed in approximately 7 metres of water. Most of the wreck has been salvaged and salvage still thought to be taking place. The remains of wreck lie close inshore in shallow water and therefore it is only dangerous to small craft. The Southend Coastguard is reported to have considerable information regarding the loss of this vessel.

Reports by Flt Lt P C Minter, RAF Coningsby sub aqua club, and the Southend Coastguard in report dated 22 November 1976.

6 June 1979. The engine (partly melted) is still visible above water. Some of the hull and pipework is still intact. The wreck lies in 7 metres and is exposed in 2 places at low water. It lies parallel to coast about 40 metres offshore.

Report from RAF Abingdon expedition.

29 January 1985. The site was examined on 17 June 1984 at 55 18 04N, 005 42 13W. The wreckage lies close inshore with only one small block of rivetted steel drying 2.1 metres.

Rport by HMS BULLDOG.

Hydrographic Office, 1995.

(Classified as steel Motor Vessel, with general cargo: date of loss cited as 19 January 1942). Mobeka: this vessel stranded at Carskey, on the same day and 0.5 miles from the Anna Maria [NR60NE 8033].

Registration: Belgian. Built 1937. 5277grt. Length: 130m. Beam: 17m.

(Location of loss cited as N55 18.07 W5 42.17).

I G Whittaker 1998.

Quality of fix = EDM

Horizontal Datum = OGB

General water depth = 4

Orientation of keel/wreck = NESW

Surveying Details

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

25 January 1977. A considerable amount of wreckage from the MOBEKA remains. The engine block protrudes 1 metre above water at high tide and large amounts of wreckage are lying on the sea bed in approximately 7 metres of water. Most of the wreck has been salvaged and salvage still thought to be taking place. The remains of wreck lie close inshore in shallow water and therefore it is only dangerous to small craft. The Southend Coastguard is reported to have considerable information regarding the loss of this vessel.

Reports by Flt Lt P C Minter, RAF Coningsby sub aqua club, and the Southend Coastguard in report dated 22 November 1976.

6 June 1979. The engine (partly melted) is still visible above water. Some of the hull and pipework is still intact. The wreck lies in 7 metres and is exposed in 2 places at low water. It lies parallel to coast about 40 metres offshore.

Report from RAF Abingdon expedition.

29 January 1985. The site was examined on 17 June 1984 at 55 18 04N, 005 42 13W. The wreckage lies close inshore with only one small block of rivetted steel drying 2.1 metres.

Rport by HMS BULLDOG.

Hydrographic Office, 1995.

The location of loss cited by UKHO is accepted.

The classification cited by Whittaker remains unverified. That cited in the primary account of the loss is preferred.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 27 April 2009.

Whittaker ID : 1777

Name : MOBEKA

Latitude : 551804

Longitude : 54210

Date Built : 1937

Registration : BELGIAN

Type : MV (STEEL)

Tonnage : 5277

Tonnage Code : G

Length : 130

Beam : 17

Draught : 8m

Position : Exact Position

Loss Day : 19

Loss Month : 1

Loss Year : 1942

Comment : Stranded at Carskey, same day and 0.5 mile from 'ANNA MARIA'

Cargo : GENERAL

UKHO Identifier : 003880

Feature Class : Wreck

Wreck Category : Wreck showing any portion of hull or superstructure

State : LIVE

Classification : Unclassified

Position (Lat/long) : 55.30053,-5.70278

Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)

WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 55.30052,-5.70382

WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)

Previous Position : 55.30112,-5.70362

Position Method : Electronic Distance Measuring System

Position Quality : Surveyed

Position Accuracy : 25.0

Drying Height : 2.1

Depth Quality : Least depth known

Water Depth : 2

Water Level Effect : Covers and uncovers

Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide

Name : MOBEKA

Type : MV

Flag : BELGIAN

Length : 130.0

Beam : 16.9

Draught : 7.6

Orientation : 45.0

Tonnage : 6111

Tonnage Type : Gross

Cargo : GENERAL

Date Sunk : 19/01/1942

Contact Description : Notable debris

Original Sensor : Video Sensor

Last Sensor : Video Sensor

Original Detection Year : 1977

Last Detection Year : 1985

Original Source : Divers

Last Source : Survey Vessel

Circumstances of Loss : **BUILT IN 1937 BY FLENSBURGER SHIFFSB, FLENSBURG. OWNED AT TIME OF LOSS BY CIE MARITIME BELGIUM. TWO 8 CYLINDER OIL ENGINES OF 972BHP. PASSAGE LIVERPOOL FOR FREETOWN AND MATADI. HAD LEFT LIVERPOOL FOR THE CLYDE TO AWAIT THE ASSEMBLY OF A CONVOY. SIGHTED FLARES AND PROCEEDED TOWARDS THEM, ASSUMING THAT THE WERE FOR THE CONVOY. FLARES WERE FROM TRAWLER ANNA MARIA, IN DISTRESS ASHORE NEAR CARSKEY BAY. DESPITE FURTHER FLARES BEING SHOWN MOBEKA GROUNDED CLOSE W OF THE SAME BAY IN HEAVY WEATHER. ONLY ONE BOAT CONTAINING SIX ESCAPED, THE OTHER BOATS BEING SMASHED. (SIBI).

The Mobeka is recorded as having been built in 1937 by Flensburger Shiffsb, Flensburg (Moir and Crawford 1997:45)

Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology), 27/11/2014.

The maritime archaeology of the Clyde has been identified as a focus for a major study of human interaction with the river through time by the RCAHMS following on from recommendations by the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF). Source to

Sea has been developed as the long-term research programme, of which the research into human connections with the River Clyde forms part. This project has comprised a study of the surviving shipwreck heritage of Clyde-built vessels lost within the Clyde estuary and Firth of Clyde.

This project has collated information from a range of sources and has enhanced knowledge of Clyde-built wrecks within the Clyde. In particular information from recreational divers has proved invaluable and has been the source of detailed information about the current condition of many Clyde-built wrecks, useful for on-going management. A number of wrecks previously recorded as of unknown identity in the RCAHMS database were positively identified during the project and more accurate positional information was established for a number of other wrecks. Additionally, the project identified a potentially significant wreck (Margaret Niven) the remains of which were not previously recorded. This project has also identified a number of other potentially significant wrecks within the Clyde, which reflect both its unique contributions to world-wide shipbuilding and local connections. These wrecks include paddle steamers (Lapwing and Princess of Wales), Clyde Puffers (e.g. Margaret Niven), steam-yachts with military connections (HMS Breda), a dredger (Greenock) and an 18th-century West Indiaman (Lady Margaret). Numerous other wrecks have been identified by this project, and all display some degree of significance.

Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology) April 2015