The steel motor vessel Jambo was launched from the yard of Scheepswerf Waterhuizen – Pattje J and Zn on 21st October 1989. She measured 88.2m x 14.2m x 5.0m and her tonnage was 1990 gross tons, 1217 net tons. She was powered by a 4SA 6 cylinder diesel engine by Krupp MaK Maschinebau Gmbh delivering 1599 brake horse power. Originally owned by Talmo Shipping Company. Valetta she was owned by the Accent Shipping Co Ltd, Limassol at the date of her loss.
MV Jambo under construction
The Jambo left Dublin for her destination of Odda, Norway on 27th June, 2003 with a full cargo of zinc sulphide in her single hold. She was under the command of her 55 year old Croatian skipper Ljubomir Kucic, a man experienced in the safe navigation of the west coast of Scotland, and had seven Polish crewmen aboard. However, two days later she ran ashore in the Summer Isles when her Chief Officer, who was officer of the watch at the time, fell asleep at the wheel. A vital course alteration that had been due to be made to keep the ship west of the Summer Isles was never made and as a result, just after 5am on the 29th the vessel struck a sunken reef just north of Tanera Beg and held fast.
The crew were in no danger as the ship was aground in shallow water on a calm night and were quickly taken off by the Lochinver lifeboat. Almost immediately a storm of protest arose as local fishermen and civic leaders raised concerns that the 73 tons of engine oil might leak and cause a substantial environmental accident. However after salvage experts examined the wreck they stated that there was little danger of a leakage as the tanks were in tact with no apparent leakage although some of the zinc sulphide cargo had escaped from the damaged hull area. A floating boom was placed round the wreck as a precaution in case any of the oil escaped until, early in July the engine oil and then the cargo was safely removed by the salvors SMIT Salvage BV and Klyne Tugs. During September and following a period of strong winds the Jambo settled in deeper, no longer visible from the surface.
MV Jambo aground off Tanera Beg
The intact wreck of the Jambo lies upside down in position 58° 01.181’N, 05° 27.160’W (WGS84) on a sloping rocky seabed. The main superstructure of the ship has been crushed underneath the hull as she rolled over. Water depth at the stern is approximately 30 metres with the stern section rising some 10 metres above the seabed. The bow section, where most of the damage resulting from the grounding occurred is more broken but the ship is substantially intact and provides a good dive in normally excellent visibility with no tidal problems.
