The iron steamship Ahdeek was launched from the yard of Short Brothers of Sunderland (Yard No.122) on 22nd December 1881. She measured 245.6′ x 34.5′ x 18.5′ and her tonnage was 1457 gross tons, 917 net tons. Power was supplied by a 2 cylinder compound steam engine developing 172 nominal horse power by North East Marine Engineering Co Ltd., Sunderland. She had two main boilers and a donkey boiler, also supplied by North East Marine. Built for George Butchart of Sunderland she operated fro this owner until she was sold to Messrs Donald and Taylor of Glasgow.
She arrived in Ayr Bay around 5pm on Sunday 11th December, 1898. A strong south westerly gale was blowing at the time which prevented her from entering the harbour to discharge her cargo of iron ore. The master of the Ahdeek, Captain Moore, decided to ride out the gale in Ayr Bay and anchored his vessel off the Saltpan Patches. However, it was not long before a signal was received from the Harbour Master at Ayr ordering the Ahdeek to proceed to Troon and discharge her cargo there. Shortly after weighing anchor the Ahdeek bottomed heavily on outlying reefs puncturing her ballast tanks and damaging her propeller and rudder. She managed to clear the reefs and her distress signals were soon answered by tugs from Ayr and Troon. The Troon tug successfully took her in tow while the Ayr tug stood by to assist with steering.
As the vessels headed northwards into Prestwick Bay Captain Moore went below to survey the damage. On his return to the bridge, he gave the order to abandon ship as the Ahdeek was taking in water very quickly. The crew left in the ship’s lifeboat and were soon picked up by the Ayr tug which returned to her home port. The Troon tug continued towing the now deserted steamer towards Troon. However, around 10:30pm, the Ahdeek suddenly foundered about one mile west of Troon Harbour. The tug’s crew, unaware that the Ahdeek’s crew had safely left their ship and been picked up, circled the area for over an hour searching for survivors. It was not until they returned to Troon that they discovered that the crew were safe.
As dawn broke the next day the only parts of the wreck that were visible were the tops of her masts, which projected about 20 feet above the surface. She had sunk in ten fathoms of water and at half tide her decks were only seven fathoms below the surface.
After inspection by Captain Burns of the Glasgow Salvage Association the Ahdeek was written off as a total loss. Due to her position, lying in the main fairway to Troon Harbour, she presented a serious hazard to navigation and as such, later that month, her masts, funnel, and deck structures were removed with explosives.
The wreck, which lies approximately 1.25 miles west of Troon in position 55° 32.623’N, 04° 43.163’W, was, for many years, thought to be the wreck of the Marjorie Seed. However in June 1987 a builder’s plate was found on the wreck which noted her builders as Short Bros, Sunderland and her yard number as 122. After investigation the wreck was finally correctly identified as the Ahdeek.
The remains of the Ahdeek lie on a flat, sand seabed in 22 metres, oriented approximately 110/290 degrees with her bow pointing in a westerly direction. The hull is slowly collapsing onto the seabed and many parts of the wreckage have already disappeared beneath the sand. The midships section aft to the stern is the most interesting part of the wreck and includes engine and boiler room and stern accommodation.