The Eidsiva was a 454net ton wooden barque built by H R Haeren of Drammen, Norway. Launched in 1876 her dimensions were 136.9’ x 29.5’ x 16.4’. The Eidsiva was owned and registered in Norway.
The barque Eidsiva
The Eidsiva was wrecked in Clanyard Bay six miles north of the Mull of Galloway on Thursday 1st March, 1894 during stormy conditions.
The barque had left Barrow the previous afternoon, under tow by the Fleetwood tug Flyde, bound for Ayr where she was to load a cargo of coal for the West Indies. During the height of the storm, around 4am on Thursday morning, the tow rope broke while the vessels were off Portpatrick.
Unable to regain contact with the tug, Captain Obsen decided to head south to try to reach the comparative shelter of Luce Bay. Unfortunately the conditions were more than a match for the Eidsiva and she was driven ashore around 5pm.
The Port Logan Rocket Brigade, who had been following the route of the barque, set up their apparatus and had a line aboard the wreck within twenty minutes of their arrival in the bay. First ashore was the mate with Captain Obsen’s two year old son, closely followed by his wife and within thirty minutes all eleven aboard were safely ashore. The survivors were initially looked after by local families where they received dry clothes and food before proceeding to the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Home in Drummore.
The wreck of the Eidsiva was eventually abandoned after being stripped of her spars, rigging, sails and fittings.
