Pelican

The iron steamship Pelican was launched from the Cork yard of Ebenezer Pike in 1850.  Completed in July of that year she measured 205.6′ x 28.3′ x 15.8′ and her tonnage was 638 gross tons, 364 net tons.  She was powered by a 2 cylinder compound steam by John Dickinson and Sons, Sunderland delivering 140 nominal horse power.  

Built for the Cork Steamship Company she was registered in that port on 20th July 1850 and commenced service for her owners soon after.  In 1880 the registered owner is recorded as the Cork Steam Packet Company with a further change to the City of Cork Steampacket Company in 1885.  It seems likely that these were simply company name changes rather than a real change of ownership.  However, September 1888 she was finally purchased by David MacBrayne of Glasgow and her operations transferred to the west coast of Scotland although she is recorded making a trip or two to Iceland.  Latterly she was used as a coal hulk, initially at Portree, and later at Tobermory.  

On the evening of the 5th December, 1895 she was lying at her usual mooring in Tobermory Bay.  In the early hours of the following morning the wind increased reaching gale force and the old ship’s anchor chain parted in the rough weather and she drifted helplessly across the bay and aground on the west shore of Calve Island.  The tide was at its peak when she went aground and as it receded, she gradually took on a list to starboard.  She eventually slipped off the rocks and sank in deep water close the shore.    

The wreck of the Pelican sits upright on a mud and silt seabed in around 20 – 24 metres in position 56° 36.899’N, 006° 02.487’W.  The hull of the ship is intact but little else remains as her engines were removed prior to her use as a coal hulk.  Her wooden decking is also completely gone leaving only the shell of the ship to explore.  The silty seabed causes visibility to reduce quickly but otherwise the wreck is free from hazards, lying in a very sheltered position close to the shore of Calve Island.