Gunnaren: Swona, Pentland Firth
Motor Ship (20th Century), Obstruction (20th Century)
Site Name Gunnaren: Swona, Pentland Firth
Classification Motor Ship (20th Century), Obstruction (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) 'West Side Of Swona'; Swona Island; North Sea; Gunnaren
Canmore ID 102994
Site Number ND38SE 8003
NGR ND 38692 84749
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/102994
- Council Highland
- Parish Maritime - Highland
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
ND38SE 8003 3869 8474
N58 44.7833 W3 3.5667
NLO: Swona [name: ND 390 843]
Pentland Firth [name centred ND 35 81].
Motorship GUNNAREN, 3228.69 ton, of Gothenburg. master E. Reich, bound from New York to Gothenburg. Lost 19 Aug 1935, 4.10am. Swona, 3 miles from Stroma Lighthouse. Weather calm, dense fog. Cause of wreck exceptionally strong tide. General cargo. Value unknown. Written by master of vessel. Certified Hugh H. W. Innes.
[Contemporary] source: Hugh H. W. Innes, Principal Lightkeeper, Stroma Lighthouse.
Quality of fix = PHOT
Horizontal Datum = OGB
Orientation of keel/wreck = NESW
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The steamship GUNNAREN ran ashore on Swona Island. It was owned at the time of loss by A/B Transatlantic, Norway.
Report by Undermarine Operations Ltd.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
25 February 1972. The wreck was located on the west side of Swona Island. It lies very close inshore to a pinnacle of rock which ripped out her bottom (the same pinnacle on which the PENSYLVANNIA was wrecked four years earlier). When the GUNNAREN broke in half, the stern half swung round and came to rest 90 metres offshore. Parts of the wreck show at any state of tide, but most has been ripped away by the swell. What remains are the prop shaft, bearings, parts of engine, bow, stern and keel.
Report by Undermarine Operations Ltd.
31 May 1980. An obstruction/wreck is shown at 58 44 47N, 003 03 34W on aerial photographs taken in 1974.
Hydrographic Office, 1995.
(Classified as steel motor vessel, with general cargo: date of loss cited as 19 August 1935). Gunnaren: this vessel stranded on the West side of Swona, [and] broke in two; the stern drifted 0.75 miles to the N. Capt. Reich.
Registration: Gothenburg. Built 1930. 3229grt. Length: 107m. Beam: 15m.
(Location of loss cited as N58 44.8 W3 3.6).
I G Whittaker 1998.
The vessel broke in two on striking. Whittaker states that the stern drifted 0.75 miles to the N but Ridley locates it 100m offshore, at N58 44.78 W3 3.57 [ND 3868 8473].
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 25 February 2004.
G Ridley 1992; I G Whittaker 1998.
Reference (2011)
Whittaker ID : 570
Name : GUNNAREN
Latitude : 584448
Longitude : 30336
Date Built : 1930
Registration : GOTHENBURG
Type : MV (STEEL)
Tonnage : 3229
Tonnage Code : G
Length : 107
Beam : 15
Draught : 7m
Position : Position Approximate
Loss Day : 19
Loss Month : 8
Loss Year : 1935
Comment : Stranded west side of Swona, broke in two, stern drifted 0.75 ml N. Capt. Reich
Cargo : GENERAL
Reference (19 April 2012)
UKHO Identifier : 000955
Feature Class : Obstn
State : LIVE
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 58.74639,-3.05944
Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 58.74599,-3.06102
WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)
Position Method : Air photography
Position Quality : Precisely known
Depth Quality : Depth unknown
Water Depth : -1
Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name : GUNNAREN
Type : TM
Flag : NORWEGIAN
Length : 107.9
Beam : 15.3
Draught : 3.8
Orientation : 45.0
Tonnage : 3229
Tonnage Type : Gross
Cargo : MAIL & MIXED
Date Sunk : 19/08/1935
Contact Description : Notable debris
Original Sensor : Reported Sinking
Last Sensor : Video Sensor
Original Detection Year : 1935
Last Detection Year : 1980
Original Source : Other
Last Source : Other
Circumstances of Loss : **BULT IN 1930 BY AKT. LINHOLMEN-MOTALA, GOTHENBURG. OWNED AT TIME OF LOSS BY A/B TRANSATLANTIC, SWEDEN. OIL ENGINES OF 543 HP. TWIN SCREW. PASSAGE NEW YORK FOR STOCKHOLM. CARGO MAIL AND MIXED. DROVE ASHORE IN THICK FOG. SALVORS DECIDED TO CUT IN TWO IN ATTEMPT TO SAVE THE UNDAMAGED STERN SECTION, BUT GROUND SWELL SET IN AND BROKE VESSEL IN TOW. BOTH SECTIONS LATER LOST.
Surveying Details : **25.2.72 LIES OF W SIDE OF SWONA ISLAND. VERY CLOSE INSHORE FROM A PINNACLE OF ROCK WHICH RIPPED OUT HER BOTTOM. BROKE IN HALF, STERN HALF SWUNG ROUND & CAME TO REST 100 YDS OFFSHORE. PARTS OF WK SHOW AT ANY STATE OF TIDE, BUT MOST HAS BEEN RIPPED AWAY BY SWELL. REMAINS ARE PROP SHAFT, BEARINGS, PARTS OF ENGINE, BOW, STERN & KEEL. (UNDERMARINE OPS LTD).
**31.3.80 OBSTN SHOWN IN 584447N, 030334W ON AERIAL PHOTOS. (SORTIE NO.08 74 067 [1974]). INS AS OBP. BR STD.
General Comments : PROP SHAFT, ENGINE, PARTS OF HULL REMAIN
Chart Symbol : OBP
Date Last Amended : 27/10/2010
Reference (March 2012)
Sitename : Gunnaren
Altname :
Note : Gunnaren, notable debris at NGR 338692E 984749N by video sensor.
Sources :
UKHO wreck report,2012,955
SeaZone Hydrospatial OSGB36 Obstructions Point
