The steel cargo steamship Ada was launched from the yard John Crown & Sons Ltd., Sunderland (Yard No.106) on 10th December 1901 and completed in January 1902. She measured 250.5′ x 35.8′ x 16.1′ and her tonnage was 866 net tons, 1457 gross tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by MacColl & Pollock, Sunderland delivering 161 nominal horse power. In the next six years she was to change her name twice, first in 1905 to Svendborg when she was purchased by Mr P M Moller of Svendborg and then in 1908 to Generalconsul Elissejeff for her new owners Dansk Dampselsk Rossia of Copenhagen.
SS Svendborg
Lloyds register 1914
The Generalconsul was on passage from Runcorn and Liverpool to Stettin with a general cargo that included burnt ore and agricultural machinery. She had departed from Liverpool on Friday 20th February 1914 and steamed north up the west coast to pass between Tiree and Mull and then into the Minch. Early the following morning a fire broke out in the focsle which the crew fought hard to contain but were unable to stop its spread. The captain decided that the only course of action was to beach the vessel and abandon ship. By now the nearest landfall was the east coast of the Island of Coll where he ran his vessel ashore north of the main village of Arinagour. Once aground the crew were directed to abandon ship and await assistance. The MacBraynes steamer Dirk stopped later on Saturday and described her ashore, with her forepart ablaze, one mile from Arinagour. He also reported men ashore near the wreck but when he offered assistance, he received no signal and left for Tobermory. Her owner’s distinctive colours, with black funnel, white band and a red Maltese cross featured in the reports of the captain of the Dirk when he reached Tobermory.
A strong south westerly wind was blowing most of Saturday which continually ground the vessel against the rocky seabed. By Sunday morning around 14′ of water was observed in the bow section although the fire had been extinguished by the waves that were continually washing over the wreck. On Monday the poor weather continued leaving the wreck flooded from stem to stern with all her hatches open to the sea. Hopes of saving the vessel were slim and her crew departed for Oban on the Dirk on Tuesday 24th February. The Generalconsul later became a total wreck. It is believed that her cargo and non-ferrous fittings were salvaged in the years after the 2nd World War along with a number of other war casualties close by.
The wreck of the Generalconsul Elissejeff lies on the east coast of Coll a quarter of a mile north of Eilean Nam Muc in position 56°37.768’N, 006°29.524’W (GPS) which is approximately a mile north of the entrance to Arinagour harbour or Loch Eatharna.
The wreck, which is about 50 metres from the rocky shore, is scattered down a steep boulder slope and is well broken although substantial portions of hull are still visible indicating that she lies parallel to the shore with bow facing north. Her two huge boilers and the condenser have tumbled out of the wreck, probably during salvage, and now lie alongside the ship in 15 metres on the shingle seabed at the base of the slope. The remainder of the wreckage is spread up the slope reaching 5 or 6 metres at the shallowest part of the site. The site is not subject to any current but could be exposed to strong winds from the south or east.
