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Limelight: Sgier Thraghaidh, Port Ellen, Islay, Atlantic

Motor Vessel (20th Century), Steamship (20th Century)

Site Name Limelight: Sgier Thraghaidh, Port Ellen, Islay, Atlantic

Classification Motor Vessel (20th Century), Steamship (20th Century)

Alternative Name(s) Christo; 'pier Ship'; Portellen Pier; Sgeir Thraghaidh; Aolas Eilean Nan Caorach; Loch Leodamais; Port Ellen Harbour; Limelight

Canmore ID 116648

Site Number NR34SE 8002

NGR NR 35910 44097

Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/116648

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Copyright and database right 2024.

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Administrative Areas

  • Council Argyll And Bute
  • Parish Maritime - Argyll And Bute
  • Former Region Strathclyde
  • Former District Maritime
  • Former County Not Applicable

Archaeology Notes

NR34SE 8002 3590 4409

N55 37.1 W6 11.7

NLO: Port Ellen [name: NR 363 453]

Loch Leodamais [name centred NR 364 450]

Caolas Eilean nan Caorach [name centred NR 365 444].

Formerly entered as NR34SE 9408.

(Classified as motor vessel, with cargo of bricks and bagged lime: former name cited as Christo, and date of loss as 10 October 1966). Limelight: this vessel stranded on Sgeir Thraghaidh, 1 mile SW of Portellen [Port Ellen] pier.

Registration: British. Built 1916. 143grt. Length: 27m. Beam: 6m.

(Location of loss cited as N55 37.07 W6 11.67).

I G Whittaker 1998.

Material reported under RoW amnesty (2001):

A125 1 brown ink jar (cited as 'Port Helen, Islay - off Pier Ship').

NMRS, MS/829/33.

The location assigned to this record is essentially tentative. Sgier Thraghaidh is not noted as such on the 1999 edition of the OS 1:50,000 map. The name apparently applies to the furthest SW of the stacks that extend to the SW from Sgeir Phlocach and define the S side of the Caolas Eilean nan Caorach. It this poses a severe hazard to vessels entering Port Ellen harbour, which is of natural formation, comprising the sheltered water of Loch Leodomais. Port Ellen Pier (NR36NE 65) is situated on the NW side of the mouth of the loch, at NR 3631 4501.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 22 September 2003.

Activities

Loss (10 October 1966)

(Classified as motor vessel, with cargo of bricks and bagged lime: former name cited as Christo, and date of loss as 10 October 1966). Limelight: this vessel stranded on Sgeir Thraghaidh, 1 mile SW of Portellen [Port Ellen] pier.

Registration: British. Built 1916. 143grt. Length: 27m. Beam: 6m.

(Location of loss cited as N55 37.07 W6 11.67).

I G Whittaker 1998.

Evidence Of Loss (2001)

Material reported under RoW amnesty (2001):

A125 1 brown ink jar (cited as 'Port Helen, Islay - off Pier Ship').

NMRS, MS/829/33.

Note (22 September 2003)

The location assigned to this record is essentially tentative. Sgier Thraghaidh is not noted as such on the 1999 edition of the OS 1:50,000 map. The name apparently applies to the furthest SW of the stacks that extend to the SW from Sgeir Phlocach and define the S side of the Caolas Eilean nan Caorach. It this poses a severe hazard to vessels entering Port Ellen harbour, which is of natural formation, comprising the sheltered water of Loch Leodomais. Port Ellen Pier (NR36NE 65) is situated on the NW side of the mouth of the loch, at NR 3631 4501.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 22 September 2003.

Reference (2011)

Whittaker ID : 604

Name : LIMELIGHT (EX. CHRISTO)

Latitude : 553704

Longitude : 61140

Date Built : 1916

Registration : BRITISH

Type : MV

Tonnage : 143

Tonnage Code : G

Length : 27

Beam : 6

Position : Exact Position

Loss Day : 10

Loss Month : 10

Loss Year : 1966

Comment : Stranded Sgeir Thraghaidh, 1 mile SW of Portellen pier

Cargo : BRICKS, BAGGED LIME

Reference (19 April 2012)

UKHO Identifier : 003682

Feature Class : Wreck

Wreck Category : Dangerous wreck

State : LIVE

Classification : Unclassified

Position (Lat/long) : 55.61861,-6.19500

Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)

WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 55.61855,-6.19598

WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)

Position Quality : Approximate

Depth Quality : Depth unknown

Water Depth : 12

Vertical Datum : Mean Low Water Springs

Name : LIMELIGHT

Type : MV

Flag : BRITISH

Length : 27.1

Beam : 5.8

Tonnage : 143

Tonnage Type : Gross

Cargo : 126TONS BRICKS, 50TONS BAGGED LIME & CEMENT

Date Sunk : 10/10/1966

Bottom Texture : Rock

Contact Description : Entire wreck

Original Sensor : Other

Last Sensor : Diver Sighting

Original Detection Year : 1967

Last Detection Year : 1999

Original Source : Other

Last Source : Divers

Circumstances of Loss : **EX- CHRISTO ['64], BUILT BUILT 1916 BY RENNIE FORRESIT SHIPBUILDING COMPANY, WIVENHOE, SINGLE SHAFT OIL ENGINE. OWNED AT TIME OF LOSS BY LIGHT SHIPPING CO. LTD. GROUNDED ON SGEIR THRAGHAIDH IN HEAVY WEATHER & FOG, WHILST ON PASSAGE FROM IRWIN TO PORT ELLEN, & SUNK 1M SW OF PORT ELLEN PIER. CREW OF 5 RESCUED. (SIBI & ARGYLL SHIPWRECKS [PHOTO])

Surveying Details : **H453/67 13.3.67 VESSEL HAS NOW BROKEN UP. THE STERN SECTION FROM THE ENGINE ROOM BULKHEAD AFT IS STILL LODGED ON THE ROCKS AT 45DEG ANGLE. THE BOW SECTION HAS FALLEN OFF THE ROCK & HAS SUNK IN 5FMS OF WATER ON NW SIDE OF SGEIR THRAGHAIDH. (NORTHERN LTHO BOARD LTR DTD 3.3.67) INS AS ST IN 553704N, 061140W. BR STD.

**17.11.82 LIES BROKEN IN TWO, WITH BOW AND STERN SECTIONS ABT 30MTRS APART, IN GEN DEPTH 12MTRS. CARGO OF BRICKS SPREAD OVER LARGE AREA RIGHT UP TO BASE OF ROCK. MUCH HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM WK. A CANNON BALL, 8INS IN DIAMETER, WAS FOUND AMONGST KELP WITHIN THE AREA OF WKGE. (EXERCISE SCOOBIE SCOOP, 3-17.9.82, REPORT) AS SO CLOSE TO ROCK DELETE FROM CHARTS [EXISTING SCALES TOO SMALL]. BR STD.

**22.1.92 VESSEL HAS BROKEN UP, WITH BOWS BEING ON THE SLOPE OF THE SKERRY, BUT PERMANENTLY UNDERWATER AND REMAINDER OF WK LYING IN 4-10MTRS. EXTENSIVELY SALVAGED, ALL NON-FERROUS METAL REMOVED. PLEASANT SHALLOW DIVE, WITH WK LYING ON KELP COVERED ROCK. (DIVE W SCOTLAND, PUBLISHED 1985)

**1997 REMAINS LIE IN 3-9MTRS ON NW SIDE OF ROCK. BOW LIES NEAREST ROCK & STERN A FEW MTRS TO SEAWARD. BOW LIES UPSIDE DOWN & RISES TO WITHIN A FEW MTRS OF SURFACE. STERN FACES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. SITE DIAGRAM. (ARGYLL SHIPWRECKS)

POSITIONS BELOW THIS POINT ARE IN DEGREES, MINUTES AND DECIMALS OF A MINUTE

**4.10.99 WK SPLIT INTO TWO SECTIONS, THE UPSIDE DOWN BOW LYING SEVERAL MTRS FROM STERN. (DIVER MAGAZINE OCT '99)

General Comments : BROKEN IN TWO, BOW UPSIDE DOWN

Charting Comments : EXISTING SCALES TOO SMALL

Date Last Amended : 04/10/1999

Date Position Last Amended : 25/11/1982

References

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