The steel steam trawler Gardar was launched from the yard of Smith’s Dockyard Co Ltd., Middlesbrough (Yard No 918) on 11th July 1930. She measured 156.2′ x 26.5′ x 14.1′ and her tonnage was 451 gross tons, 182 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by her builders delvering 125 nominal horse power. Ordered by Einar Thorgilsson and Co of Hafnarfjord, Iceland she operated in the fishing grounds around Iceland and south into the Scottish fishing grounds.
Steam trawler Gardar under way
Lloyds register 1939
The details surrounding her loss are vague as wartime reporting restrictions resulted in minimal publicity of any loss even if unrelated to the war effort. On 21st May 1943 she was off the north east of Scotland some ten miles from Wick when she was involved in a collision with the 5231 gross ton, Liverpool registered steamship Miguel de Larrinaga in thick fog. The small vessel stood no chance and most likely sank quickly. The fate of the men aboard the Gardar is unknown.
An unknown wreck in position 58° 32.444’N, 002° 52.328’W was surveyed in 1985. This wreck was dived by a team of divers operating out of Wick in 2023. The divers discovered the wreck of a steam trawler lying in 64 metres with a least depth clearance of 56 metres oriented 000/180 degrees. While nothing was recovered to confirm the identity of the vessel the configuration of a steam trawler with triple expansion engine in a position very close to the reported position of the collision makes it almost certain this is the wreck of Gardar.
