The steel motor container ship Craigantlet was launched from the yard of Reposaaren Konepaja, Reposaari, Finland (Yard No 145) on 16th June 1972. She measured 77.98m x 13.29m x 4.16 m and her tonnage was 808 gross tons, 440 net tons. She was powered by a 6 cylinder 4SA diesel engine, single shaft by Atlas-Mak Maschinenbau delivering 3000 brake horse power. Ordered by K G Bernard Warrings of Elsfeth, Germany she was purchased by Procoast Navigation Ltd and registered in Limassol in 1976. She was purchased by her final owners Skymar Navigation Ltd, also of Limassol, in 1980.
Extract Lloyd’s Register 1982.
Eleven crewmen had to be airlifted to safety when she ran aground below Killantringan Lighthouse during a storm shortly before 4am on Friday 26th February, 1982. The Coastguard Centre at Ramsey, Isle of Man, coordinated the rescue and, while Portpatrick lifeboat and cliff rescue teams stood by, the crew were shuttled to safety by a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter from HMS Gannet at Prestwick.
Craigantlet aground 1982
The Craigantlet had departed from Belfast the previous evening en route to Liverpool with a containerised cargo stowed above deck and below deck level. Some of the containers held dangerous chemical waste products and the area around Portmaggie was soon cordoned off by police.
She broke her back shortly after going ashore and with continuing bad weather and the effects of the recovery operations she eventually broke in two. Since then, the wreckage has been exposed to the continual effects of the waves and tides of the North Channel and the wreckage, once almost intact and clearly visible, has gradually disintegrated until today she has all but disappeared beneath the surface. The wreckage is spread across a wide area 60 x 25 metres in the middle of the bay in the position 54°51.633’N, 005°08.838’W. Seabed depth in the area is less than 5 metres.
Craigantlet slideshow
