The steel steam trawler Jane Ross was launched from the yard of Alexander Hall and Co Ltd., Aberdeen (Yard No 389) on 31st August 1901. She measured 110.1′ x 21.2′ x 11.65′ and her tonnage was 184 gross tons, 69 net tons. She was powered by an inverted direct acting triple expansion steam engine by Alexander Hall delivering 56 registered horse power. She had been ordered by the Ross Steam Trawl Fishing Co Ltd and was registered in Aberdeen with fishing number A454. During World War One she was requisitioned by the Admiralty and operated throughout the conflict as minesweeper No 3351. In 1920 she was sold to Mr E Dodds of Aberdeen before being acquired by her final owners Richard W Lewis of Aberdeen in 1930.
Extract Lloyd’s Register
At 9:30am on 14th September 1934 she left Aberdeen bound for Methil where she was to take on coal. The weather was fine but foggy with a light south east breeze and a gentle swell. At the wheel was experienced skipper William Scott Wemyss. By 10:30 am the visibility seemed to be improving and a course was set to take them east of Bell Rock and Fifeness before turning west to enter the Forth estuary.
The time at the helm was shared between various crew members as they steamed south and the voyage went well but by 2:15 pm the weather began to deteriorate as the fog thickened once more and the skipper was called back to the wheelhouse. He was assured that they were still on course but he was to find out soon that something had gone wrong in the meantime. An hour later the distinctive fog signal on Bell Rock was heard for the first time. However, the signal came from off the port bow rather than to their starboard indicating that their course was well west of the intended route. Soon the North Carr Lightship fog horn could also be heard on the starboard bow.
The skipper questioned his crew about the course steered throughout the day and, although they were obviously well west of the planned route, he was assured that the proper course had been followed. In any case, with the Bell Rock behind them and the North Carr on their starboard, it appeared that they were safe and had luckily avoided potential disaster. The course was again altered to take them east of Fifeness and south into the Forth. At 4:35 pm the skipper suddenly sighted broken water ahead on their starboard bow and ordered engines stopped then immediately full astern. It was too late. The Jane Ross ran aground and held fast. The engines were kept full astern for half an hour in an attempt to pull her off but is was to no avail. Soon the engine room reported that water was rushing in and the engines had to be stopped. The ship’s boat was launched but the painter was dropped and the boat drifted away in the tide. The whistle was sounded which raised the alarm ashore and a motor boat from Crail arrived to take the nine crewmen off safely.
Jane Ross ashore at Kilminning Point
The Jane Ross became a total wreck. She had run aground on Hervey Rock, Kilminning Point near Crail. The subsequent enquiry held that the skipper was to blame for not taking adequate steps to ascertain his correct position once he found his ship to be off it’s original planned course.
