Loch Wasdale

15 December 1942     57 28.817N 01 46.082W     10 in 15 metres

Built:  1915 by J. Duthie, Torry S.B. Co. Ltd, Aberdeen, Yard No 417

Construction:  steel, 210 grt, length 116.1 ft (35.4m), beam 22 ft (6.7m), draught 12.1 ft (3.7m), yard number 417.

Propulsion:  triple expansion 70 NHP,  machinery by W. Beardmore & Co. Ltd, Glasgow.

Registered:  Aberdeen

The Aberdeen trawler Loch Wasdale was built for White Star Steam Fishing Co of Aberdeen Ltd.,  but requisitioned in October 1915 by the Admiralty for minesweeping service which she performed until 1919.   In 1939 her ownership was transferred to Malcolm Smith Ltd, Aberdeen.

On the 15th December 1942 she was stranded on Skerry Rock, off Boddam in a gale and sent a distress signal to Peterhead coastguard in the early hours of the morning.  The lifeboat was called out but her usual coxswain, J B McLean was recuperating from an operation and could not man the boat.  Instead, the Harbourmaster, Capt. James Winter, admitting he hadn't been at sea for some time, took charge of the lifeboat.

The lifeboat was launched at 4.20am in rain and pitch dark and with heavy seas from the strong south south easterly gale .  She reached the Loch Wasdale at 4.35am.  The trawler was down at the stern and the waves were breaking over her and her crew who were gathered at the bows.  Captain Winter manoeuvred the lifeboat alongside the sinking vessel and managed to keep her in place in the 4m waves, coming close enough to allow each of the crew to jump aboard until all of them had been rescued.  The last survivor landed awkwardly and fell between the vessels where he was crushed.  He was taken to hospital.   

By 5.15am the rescue was complete and the lifeboat was back on station.   The Loch Wasdale by then had caught fire and quickly sank beneath the waves.

Captain Winter later received an RNLI Bronze medal for the rescue.

The wreck is highly degraded and mixed in with the remains of the Constant Star which also ran aground on Skerry Rock.  All that remains of the Loch Wasdale is her boiler, winch and anchors.