The Jane was a small coastal steamship built at Bowling by Scott & Sons and launched in February 1903 (Yard No 161). The steel hull measured 100.4’ x 23.2’ x 10.6’ and tonnage was 222 gross, 77 net. The vessel was powered by a 2 cylinder compound steam engine supplied by Fisher & Company of Paisley.
In the early hours of 15 February 1926 the Jane was around two miles west of Crammag Head, battling a westerly gale while en-route to Glasgow from Liverpool. Just when their position could not get much worse she developed engine problems, a broken pump link pin, and the engine came to a stop. Unable to repair, they drifted before the wind and eventually ran aground at the north end of Port Logan Bay. The Jane had gone ashore around high water and was well up on the rocky beach in Portavaddie Cove, a very exposed position in the continuing rough weather conditions. The initial damage report made grave reading and noted that her stern frame was badly damaged, rudder gone, propellor broken, bottom holed and engine disabled.
SS Jane
The bad weather continued into the following day, and a decision was taken to flood the Jane to help reduce further damage to the hull and hold her on the beach as both anchors had been cast in attempt to hold her offshore before the grounding, and were lost. An inspection on the 17 February found more damage to the underside of her hull with words such as bulged, cracked, loose and extensive damage being used. The surveyor on the scene finished his report with a recommendation that any salvage contract should be let on a ‘no cure, no pay’ basis.
There followed a lull in reports about the wreck until 24 February, by now a salvage team were on site, plugging holes and getting pumps on board in readiness to attempt a tow off the beach. The salvage tug Danehurst was also on scene helping to rig anchors. By early March they had moved the Jane further down the beach, not helped by a further gale on the 4 March which moved the vessel further along the beach, operations were postponed until a favourable tide on 12 March.
The Jane was finally refloated on the 14 March and towed to Stranraer by the Danehurst where she remained until taken to Troon for repair on the 16 March by the tug Frances Ann. The Jane was repaired and continued in operation for a range of owners over the next 30 years, until she was lost in the Baltic Sea in February 1956.
