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