St Clement

5 April 1941     57 16.901N  01 51.858W     50 in 55 metres

Built:  1928 by Hall, Russell & Co. Ltd., Aberdeen

Construction:  steel, 450 grt, length 156.3 ft (47.5m), beam 25.6 ft (7.8m), draught 9.8 ft (3m)

Propulsion:  triple expansion 63 NHP, one boiler, machinery aft by Hall Russell & Co. Ltd., Aberdeen

Registered:  Aberdeen

Built for the North of Scotland & Orkney & Shetland Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. The St Clement could carry 12 passengers in addition to cargo, and normally operated on the winter Aberdeen to Caithness service.

Returning to Aberdeen from Kirkwall with general cargo and livestock on the 5th April 1941, the St Clement was bombed and sunk by German aircraft whilst five miles off the mouth of the river Ythan.  The Chief Engineer was killed in the attack, however the 11 remaining crew survived.

We found the wreck by echo-sounder in June 2007 whilst searching an area around local fishermen's Decca coordinates for the '29-Fathom' wreck, however didn't get round to diving it until June 2010.

The St Clement lies in 55 metres at 57 16.901N 01 51.858W orientated 170/350 degrees with bow south and stern north.  She sits upright and intact, apart from the port bow where a large section is missing, likely caused by the bomb explosion.