Kaffir: Monkey Pier, Ayr Harbour, Firth Of Clyde

(Classified as steel motor vessel (puffer): date of loss cited as 23 September 1974). Kaffir: this vessel stranded North of Ayr Harbour.

Registration: British.

(Location of loss cited as N55 28.40 W4 38.17).

I G Whittaker 1998.

KAFFIR. Had been detained in Ayr by bad weather. Cargo of coal is still visible in the wreck. She is now in two sections. The anchor chain is run out to the reef.

(Source includes sketch plan of location).

Source: Butland & Siedlecki, BSAC Wreck Register 1987.

The location assigned to this record remains unverified. It falls on the NE side of Ayr harbour (NS32SW 123.00), which is centred at NS 32930 22754.

The location of Monkey Pier cannot be established from the available map evidence.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 7 September 2005.

Whittaker ID : 1810

Name : KAFFIR

Latitude : 552824

Longitude : 43810

Registration : BRITISH

Type : MV (PUFFER) (STEEL)

Tonnage : 98

Tonnage Code : G

Length : 20

Position : Exact Position

Loss Day : 23

Loss Month : 9

Loss Year : 1974

Comment : Stranded north of Ayr Harbour.

UKHO Identifier : 004069

Feature Class : Wreck

Wreck Category : Wreck showing any portion of hull or superstructure

State : LIVE

Classification : Unclassified

Position (Lat/long) : 55.47333,-4.63611

Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)

WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 55.47332,-4.63731

WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)

Position Method : Horizontal sextant angle

Position Quality : Surveyed

Depth Quality : Depth unknown

Water Depth : 0

Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide

Name : KAFFIR

Type : S PUFFER

Flag : BRITISH

Length : 20.1

Orientation : 0.0

Tonnage : 98

Tonnage Type : Gross

Cargo : 118 TONS COAL

Date Sunk : 23/09/1974

Bottom Texture : Sand

Contact Description : Entire wreck

Original Sensor : Reported Sinking

Last Sensor : Diver Sighting

Original Detection Year : 1974

Last Detection Year : 1982

Original Source : Other

Last Source : Other

Circumstances of Loss : **STRANDED AFTER BEING TAKEN FROM AYR HARBOUR BY UNAUTHORISED PERSONS.

Surveying Details : **H1270/70 10.10.74 ST IN 552824N, 043800W APPROX. (BTDB, AYR, NM 26.9.74). NCA YET.

**15.1.75 DECLARED CONSTRUCTIVE TOTAL LOSS. (SEA BREEZES, JAN 1975).

**H1270/70 20.5.77 WK STILL EXISTS AND IS CONSPIC, BUT DOES NOT WARRANT CHARTING BECAUSE EVENTUALLY TO BE REMOVED. (BTBD AYR & TROON, LTR 16.5.77). NCA.

**H1270/71 24.8.77 WK REMAINS STRANDED ON EUCHAR RK IN 552842N, 043810W. POSN BY HSA. NO PLANS YET TO REMOVE HER. AT HW BOTH MASTS, FUNNEL & SUPERSTRUCTURE ARE VISIBLE. AT LWS SHE DRIES COMPLETELY. (HMS HECLA, 10.8.77). INS AS ST. BR STD.

**9.11.82 SITS UPRIGHT, BROKEN IN TWO. BRIDGE & MAST STILL INTACT. CARGO STILL IN HOLD. MAST SHOWS AT HW. (BSAC WK REGISTER). NCA.

General Comments : UPRIGHT, BROKEN IN TWO, BRIDGE AND MAST INTACT

Chart Symbol : ST

Date Last Amended : 30/10/2000

The Kaffir is recorded as having been built in 1944 by J & J Hay, Kirkintilloch. More information available online at http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=13438 [accessed 1 December 2014].

Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology), 28/11/2014.

Name: Kaffir

Position: 55.47332, -4.63731

Basis for Identification: Stranded in 1974. Known about since.

Shipbuilder: J & J Hay Kirkintilloch

Build Date: 1944

Loss Date: 1974

Vessel type: Motor coaster (Clyde Puffer)

Surviving Features and Condition: UKHO (1977): At High Water both masts, funnel & superstructure are visible. At LWS she dries completely.

UKHO (1982, attributes information to BSAC Wreck Register): Sits upright, broken in two. Bridge & mast still intact. Cargo still in hold. Mast shows at high water.

Moir and Crawford (2004): Beginning to break up. Wreck lies in two sections.

Comparison of online photographs taken in 2010 and 2011, and historic photographs in Moir and Crawford (2004) show: Bridge and mast intact. Upright, broken in two. Cargo in hold. Winch, mast and derrick all present. The plating is beginning to deteriorate, and the wheelhouse no longer survives. Accessible at low tide, superstructure partially exposed at high tide. Comparison with historic photographs show that the wheelhouse is no longer present.

Moir and Crawford (pers. comm 2015): Survival good.

Summary: Wreck survives well, with features including the upper superstructure evident. Some deterioration is occurring and the wreck has broken in two.Seabed and type and marine environment: The UKHO indicate the wreck lies in depths of 16m. Surface sediments of Sand and Gravel recorded by the Institute of Geological Sciences (Deegan et. al. 1973)

Seabed and type and marine environment: In intertidal zone. Depth recorded by UKHO at 0m. Surface sediments of Sand and Mud recorded by the Institute of Geological Sciences (Deegan et. al. 1973)

Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology), 28/11/2014.

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