The steel motor vessel Foldin was launched from the yard of Kalmar Varv, Kalmar, Sweden (Yard No 357) in 1947. She measured 169.8′ x 28.9′ x 15.7′ and her tonnage was 621 gross tons., 325 net tons. She was powered by a 4 cylinder 2SA diesel engine by Nydqvist and Holm A/B. Built for Skipafelagid Foroyar of Torshaven Faroes she was sold to Joklar H/F (Olafur Thrdarson), Reykjavik in 1960 and re-named Drangajokull.
MV Drangajokull alongside
Lloyds register 1960
Only months later, on 28th June 1960, Drangajokull was in the Pentland Firth en route from Antwerp to Reykjavik with a full general cargo. In command Captain Haukur Gudmundson had a crew of sixteen and his wife and four year old son aboard. Unusually for the time of year a strong storm picked up just as they made the difficult passage through the Pentland Firth passing north of Stroma. In the rough seas they ship developed a serious list, probably due to her cargo shifting, and began to founder. The radio operator managed to send out a distress message at 6:42pm which was picked up by Wick Radio who called out the Thurso and Longhope lifeboats and an RAF search plane. The two passengers and some of the crew were in their bunks at the time but everyone rushed on deck and the crew managed to throw the life rafts over the side. As the ship continued to capsize everyone aboard jumped into the life rafts or even directly into the sea to be picked up by the life rafts. Thankfully, everyone made it safely onto the rafts. However, the danger was not over as the rafts drifted in the strong current and heavy swell.
Luckily the Aberdeen trawler Mount Eden, returning from a successful fishing trip to the Faroes, under the command of skipper John Snelling, was close by as the Drangajokull went down and raced to the scene. Wick Radio received a message from the Mount Eden at 9.04pm that the passengers and crew were safe and well and recalled the lifeboats and plane.
A search for the wreck of the Drangajokull in 1985 failed to locate any sign of the ship. The fierce tidal flows of the Pentland Firth had clearly swept the sinking vessel far from the location of her foundering. To date the wreck has not been located.
Approximate location of foundering of Drangajokull
