Primrose: South Ness, Isle Of May, North Sea
Steam Trawler (20th Century)
Site Name Primrose: South Ness, Isle Of May, North Sea
Classification Steam Trawler (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) 'On The Rocks To The East Of The May Island'; Outer Forth Estuary; Firth Of Forth; Primrose
Canmore ID 96707
Site Number NT69NE 8004
NGR NT 65272 98450
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/96707
- Council Fife
- Parish Maritime - Fife
- Former Region Fife
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
NT69NE 8004 6527 9845
N56 10.65 W2 33.5667
NLO: Isle of May [name: NT 65 99]
South Ness [name: NT 662 988].
Formerly entered as NT69NE 8176.
During thick weather on Wednesday night at 9 o'clock, the Glasgow trawler PRIMROSE went ashore on the rocks to the east of the May Island. Captain Seaton Hall and his crew of seven men went ashore to the island in their small boat. The vessel soon became a total wreck. She was only built this year.
Source: East Fife Record, 18 November 1904.
The Glasgow trawler PRIMROSE, which went ashore on the rocks near May Island on the 16th ult. was floated at an early hour on Tuesday morning. She was taken in tow by a tug to be hauled to Leith, but unfortunately, after being a short distance on the way, she foundered, sinking in 13 fathoms of water to the west of the island.
Salvage operations have been carried out during the past few days on behalf of the insurers. On Saturday, 450 new herring barrels were taken out to the wreck by the Leith tug EARL OF POWIS, and these, along with 350 other casks, were placed on board the trawler. It was hoped that when she was pulled off the rocks, the empty barrels would give the trawler sufficient buoyancy to keep her afloat with the aid of hand pumps.
The salvage crew who were left to work the pumps, made their escape in the small boat which was being towed astern, and were taken aboard one of the tugs.
Source: East Fife Record, 2 December 1904.
Quality of fix = D
Evidence = Divers Report
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 32
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The trawler ran aground on South Ness, Isle of May, and sank.
Source: R N Baird, Register of Scottish Wrecks.
The vessel was owned by the Scottish Steam & Herring Fish Co.
Surveying Details
-------------------------
26 October 1988. A wreck, undoubtedly the HMS EMLEY, was dived on 24 September 1988 at 56 10 39N, 002 33 34W. The wreckage is confined to small area with ribs and timber decking evident. The boiler stands 3 metres high in a general water depth of 32 metres. A large quantity of coal was seen within the remains.
7 August 1992. The site was visual inspected by divers on 26 July 1992 at 56 10 35N, 002 33 33W. A bell, engraved 'PRIMROSE' was recovered.
Source: Roy Taylor, 27 August 1992.
2 January 1993. The vessel sank 0.5 miles SW of the Isle of May light.
Source: R N Baird, 8 February 1993.
The vessel is now positively identified as the PRIMROSE, as the maker's plate has been recovered.It reads; Mackie & Thompson, N.304. Shipbuilders, Glasgow.
Source: R Taylor, 17 January 1993.
3 June 1993. The site again dived in May 1992 at position 56 10 42N, 002 33 27W. The wreck stands 3 metres high.
Source: G Wadsworth, 1 March 1993.
9 January 1994. The site was not found.
Source: Oceonics (UK) Ltd.
Hydrographic Office 1995.
(Classified as steel steam trawler: date of loss cited as 16 November 1904). Primrose: this vessel stranded [on the] South Ness, May Island [Isle of May]. Capt. Hall.
Registration: Glasgow. Built 1904. 51nrt.
(Location of loss cited as N56 10.70 W2 33.35).
I G Whittaker 1998.
Material reported under RoW amnesty (2001):
A2072 1 bell (marked 'Primrose'), 1 maker's plate (marked Mackie and Thompson, No. 304, shipbuilders, Glasgow'), 1 steam whistle, 1 brass porthole.
NMRS, MS/829/35.
The location assigned to this record remains unverified. There is apparently no detailed description of the remains of this vessel.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 30 September 2004.
Loss (16 November 1904)
During thick weather on Wednesday night at 9 o'clock, the Glasgow trawler PRIMROSE went ashore on the rocks to the east of the May Island. Captain Seaton Hall and his crew of seven men went ashore to the island in their small boat. The vessel soon became a total wreck. She was only built this year.
Source: East Fife Record, 18 November 1904.
The Glasgow trawler PRIMROSE, which went ashore on the rocks near May Island on the 16th ult. was floated at an early hour on Tuesday morning. She was taken in tow by a tug to be hauled to Leith, but unfortunately, after being a short distance on the way, she foundered, sinking in 13 fathoms of water to the west of the island.
Salvage operations have been carried out during the past few days on behalf of the insurers. On Saturday, 450 new herring barrels were taken out to the wreck by the Leith tug EARL OF POWIS, and these, along with 350 other casks, were placed on board the trawler. It was hoped that when she was pulled off the rocks, the empty barrels would give the trawler sufficient buoyancy to keep her afloat with the aid of hand pumps.
The salvage crew who were left to work the pumps, made their escape in the small boat which was being towed astern, and were taken aboard one of the tugs.
Source: East Fife Record, 2 December 1904.
(Classified as steel steam trawler: date of loss cited as 16 November 1904). Primrose: this vessel stranded [on the] South Ness, May Island [Isle of May]. Capt. Hall.
Registration: Glasgow. Built 1904. 51nrt.
(Location of loss cited as N56 10.70 W2 33.35).
I G Whittaker 1998.
Evidence Of Loss (1995)
Quality of fix = D
Evidence = Divers Report
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 32
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The trawler ran aground on South Ness, Isle of May, and sank.
Source: R N Baird, Register of Scottish Wrecks.
The vessel was owned by the Scottish Steam & Herring Fish Co.
Surveying Details
-------------------------
26 October 1988. A wreck, undoubtedly the HMS EMLEY, was dived on 24 September 1988 at 56 10 39N, 002 33 34W. The wreckage is confined to small area with ribs and timber decking evident. The boiler stands 3 metres high in a general water depth of 32 metres. A large quantity of coal was seen within the remains.
7 August 1992. The site was visual inspected by divers on 26 July 1992 at 56 10 35N, 002 33 33W. A bell, engraved 'PRIMROSE' was recovered.
Source: Roy Taylor, 27 August 1992.
2 January 1993. The vessel sank 0.5 miles SW of the Isle of May light.
Source: R N Baird, 8 February 1993.
The vessel is now positively identified as the PRIMROSE, as the maker's plate has been recovered.It reads; Mackie & Thompson, N.304. Shipbuilders, Glasgow.
Source: R Taylor, 17 January 1993.
3 June 1993. The site again dived in May 1992 at position 56 10 42N, 002 33 27W. The wreck stands 3 metres high.
Source: G Wadsworth, 1 March 1993.
9 January 1994. The site was not found.
Source: Oceonics (UK) Ltd.
Hydrographic Office 1995.
Evidence Of Loss (2001)
Material reported under RoW amnesty (2001):
A2072 1 bell (marked 'Primrose'), 1 maker's plate (marked Mackie and Thompson, No. 304, shipbuilders, Glasgow'), 1 steam whistle, 1 brass porthole.
NMRS, MS/829/35.
Note (30 September 2004)
The location assigned to this record remains unverified. There is apparently no detailed description of the remains of this vessel.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 30 September 2004.
Reference (2011)
Whittaker ID : 2791
Name : PRIMROSE
Latitude : 561042
Longitude : 23321
Date Built : 1904
Registration : GLASGOW
Type : STEAM TRAWLER(STEEL)
Tonnage : 51
Tonnage Code : N
Loss Day : 16
Loss Month : 11
Loss Year : 1904
Comment : Stranded South Ness, May Island. Capt. Hall
Cargo : BALLAST
Reference (19 April 2012)
UKHO Identifier : 002949
Feature Class : Wreck
Wreck Category : Dangerous wreck
State : LIVE
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 56.17750,-2.55944
Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 56.17742,-2.56096
WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)
Previous Position : 56.17500,-2.56667
Position Method : DECCA navigator
Position Quality : Precisely known
Depth : 28.0
Depth Method : Found by diver
Depth Quality : Least depth known
Water Depth : 32
Water Level Effect : Always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name : PRIMROSE
Type : S TRAWLER
Flag : BRITISH
Length : 25.0
Beam : 5.5
Draught : 2.4
Tonnage : 91
Tonnage Type : Gross
Date Sunk : 16/11/1904
Contact Description : Notable debris
Original Sensor : None reported
Last Sensor : Diver Sighting
Original Detection Year : 1918
Last Detection Year : 1993
Original Source : Unknown
Last Source : Divers
Circumstances of Loss : **RAN AGROUND ON SOUTH NESS, ISLE OF MAY, AND SANK. OWNED BY THE SCOTTISH STEAM & HERRING FISH CO.
Surveying Details : **H7188/25 INS NDW (PA) (1918) IN 561030N, 023400W. BR STD.
**7.11.72 AMEND TO USCPA 11FMS. BR STD.
**31.8.73 AMEND TO USCPA 20MTRS. NC 734.
**H1311/88/52 26.10.88 WK DIVED ON 24.9.88 IN 561039N, 023334W USING DECCA. WRECKAGE CONFINED TO SMALL AREA WITH RIBS AND TIMBER DECKING EVIDENT. BOILER STANDS 3 MTRS HIGH IN GEN DEPTH 32MTRS. A LARGE QUANTITY OF COAL SEEN WITHIN THE REMAINS. (W MURNEY, 18.10.88). AMEND TO WK 28MTRS IN REVISED POSN. - NM 3408/88.
**HH100/351/05 7.8.92 DIVED ON 26.7.92 IN 561035N, 023333W. BELL ENGRAVED 'PRIMROSE' RECOVERED. (ROY TAYLOR, 27.7.92).
**2.1.93 SANK 0.5 MILE SW OF MAY ISLAND LIGHT. (R N BAIRD).
**HH100/351/06 8.2.93 NOW POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED AS THE PRIMROSE, MAKER'S PLATE RECOVERED INSCRIBED: MACKIE & THOMPSON, N.304., SHIPBUILDERS, GLASGOW. (R TAYLOR, 17.1.93).
**HH100/351/06 3.6.93 DIVED ON MAY 1992 IN 561042N, 023327W USING DECCA. STANDS 3 MTRS HIGH. (G WADSWORTH, 1.3.93). NCA.
**HH090/605/01 19.1.94 NOT FOUND. (OCEONICS (UK) LTD., HI 605). NCA.
General Comments : WELL BROKEN UP REMAINS
Named Location (Nlo) (5 March 2012)
NLO: Isle of May [name: NT 65 99]
South Ness [name: NT 663 988].
