Loch Sunart (sailing ship)

For other ships with the same name, see MV Loch Sunart.

History
United Kingdom
NameLoch Sunart
NamesakeLoch Sunart
OwnerJames Aitken
OperatorGeneral Shipping Co
Port of registryGlasgow
BuilderA. & J. Inglis, Pointhouse
Yard number135
Launched19 January 1878
Identification
Fatewrecked 13 January 1879
General characteristics
Tonnage1,284 GRT, 1,231 NRT
Length225.5 ft (68.7 m)
Beam35.5 ft (10.8 m)
Depth21.6 ft (6.6 m)
Decks2
Sail plan3 masts, square-rigged ship
Capacity45 passengers
Crew32

Loch Sunart was an iron-hulled sailing ship that was built in Scotland in 1878 for Loch Line's service between Great Britain and Australia. The ship was named after Loch Sunart in Lochaber.

She was wrecked off the coast of Ulster in 1879, but without loss of life. Her crew included Thomas Pearce, who had also survived the wreck of Loch Ard in Australia the previous year.

Building

A. & J. Inglis built Loch Sunart at Pointhouse in Lanarkshire as yard number 135. She was launched on 19 January 1878.[1] Her registered length was 225.5 ft (68.7 m), her beam was 35.8 ft (10.9 m) and her depth was 21.6 ft (6.6 m). Her tonnages were 1,284 GRT and 1,231 NRT.[2] She had three masts and was a full-rigged ship.[1]

Loch Sunart's principal owner was James Aitken,[3] a member of one of the families that owned the Loch Line. Her manager was the General Shipping Company,[2] which was part of Loch Line. She was registered in Glasgow. Her UK official number was 78578 and her code letters were RDVK.[3]

Career

In 1878 Loch Sunart made one voyage to Australia and back.[4]

In January 1879 she left Glasgow for Melbourne.[1] Her Master was Captain Gavin Weir. She was carrying emigrants as passengers, and a cargo of spirits, linen, iron railings, coal, machinery, and gunpowder. On 13 January she grounded on Skullmartin Rock in Ballywalter Bay, on the coast of the Ards Peninsula, County Down.[4]

All of Loch Sunart's 45 passengers and 32 crew were rescued.[1] They included apprentice Thomas Pearce, who had survived the wreck of Loch Ard only seven months earlier. Most of her cargo was salved but tugs failed to free the ship,[4] and on 18 February she was given up as a total loss.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Loch Sunart". Scottish Built Ships. Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b Lloyd's Register 1878, LOC.
  3. ^ a b Mercantile Navy List 1879, p. 375.
  4. ^ a b c Armstrong, Randal (18 January 2005). "S.V. Loch Sunart". Irish Wrecks Online. Retrieved 3 December 2022.

Bibliography

54°32′02″N 5°27′22″W / 54.53389°N 5.45611°W / 54.53389; -5.45611