The steel steamship Maud Hartman was launched from the Newcastle yard of Schlesinger Davies and Co Ltd (Yard No 114) on 31st January 1881. She measured 260.2′ x 35.2′ x 20.9′ and her tonnage was 1691 gross tons, 999 net tons. She was powered by a compound steam engine by T Clark and Co Ltd., Newcastle delivering 181 nominal horse power.
Extract Lloyd’s Register 1935
Built for G W Ward of Newcastle she operated under his ownership for four years before she was sold to the International Steamship Co Ltd in 1885. In 1896 she was purchased by Angfartygs A/B Adolf Bratt of Gothenburg who renamed her Gertrud. She was purchased by her final owners, A/B Travaru-Transport (K Hansen) Helsingfors, Finland in 1899.
SS Gertrud under way
On 1st June 1934 she was en route from Manchester to Helsinki in ballast under the command of Captain Wallen when she encountered dense fog as she was passing through the Pentland Firth. Presumably the combination of low visibility and the strong tidal flows of the Pentland caused her to veer off course resulting in her running aground at Langaton Point, Stroma at around 6am that morning. A radio distress call was picked up by Wick Wireless Station at 5:57am calling for the lifeboat and assistance from a tug. A second message at 7:10am indicated that the crew were abandoning ship in the boats as she was filling fast. The lifeboat was launched at 7:30am and by the time the lifeboat arrived on the scene the crew had safely disembarked and were safely ashore. Captain Wallen and his first mate were standing by the stranded vessel hoping that they could get back aboard and perhaps pull her off on the rising tide. At 10am the tug Sidonian departed from Longhope to render assiatance arriving on site just after 11:00am.
Gertud ashore at Langaton
By the time she reached the stranded Gertrud lying 500 yards west of Swilkie Point Lighthouse she had developed a heavy list to port and was lying broadside to the rocks with a heavy westerly swell breaking over her. By 4pm she had broken in two pieces and was clearly a total wreck. The following day it was reported she had broken up and nothing of the ship was visible above sea level.
There are reports of some scattered wreckage of the Gerturd lie in approximate position 58° 41.709’N, 003° 07.494’W.
