Leven

The small steel steamship Leven was built for the Dumbarton Steamboat Company by Scott & Sons of Bowling (Yard No 118) and launched on 4th November 1895. Designed for use as a ferry and cargo vessel her steel hull measured 80.0′ x 20.0′ x 7.5′ and her tonnage was 120 gross tons, 11 net tons. Her small 2 cylinder compound steam engine was supplied by Ross & Duncan of Glasgow delivering 28 registered horse power driving a single propeller. This vessel’s official number was 105966.

When the Dumbarton Steamboat Company went into liquidation and ceased trading in 1901 the Leven was put up for sale and was purchased by Andrew Glendinning, the owner of the Island of Eigg. She had only served her new owner for a few months when she ran aground on Cath Sgeir, a reef off the Isle of Gigha on the 7th September 1901 during a severe gale. At the time of the stranding the Leven had been en route Glasgow to Skye with a cargo of building materials that included cement, fence posts and iron girders. 

The crew comprising Captain Samuel McLerie of Dunoon and four others, were able to launch their lifeboat but, such was the weather, they were driven north west and landed safely on Jura. The crew returned to Gigha the following day  hoping she could be refloated. 

We have been unable to trace any further information on the final days of the Leven.  During research for our book Argyll Shipwrecks we met with Donald Fairgray from Campbeltown who had recovered brass letters from around Cath Sgeir and these were the letters L, E and N.  We dived the wreck site with Donald but were unable to trace any substantial remains of the Leven.

In recent years, following further research and armed with mixed gas rebreathers, we were able to find and dive the wreck of the Leven, which we identified by general layout, remaining cargo and vessel dimensions. With this information we are able to conclude that the Leven must have slipped off the reef in a southerly gale and foundered in deep water. The wreck lies around 500 metres north west of Cath Sgeir.  As for Donald’s letters, we believe that these may have been attached to a deck housing or some bridge structure which became detached from the rest of the wreck when it slipped off the reef. 

The wreck of the Leven lies in position 55° 39.838’N  005° 47.721’W and is on a 30° sloping seabed . Lying on the SW side of a large rock feature the wreck can be quite difficult to find making a good echo sounder essential. The bow points south east (towards Cath Sgeir) and is the shallowest end of wreck in 48-49 metres. The wreck is in tact and on average rises around 1 metre above seabed level. The highest part of her wreck is the engine that projects a further 1 metre above deck level. The stern is further down the sandy slope in 52-53  metres and some wreckage extends down to 55-56 metres. The shallowest part on top of wreck is around 46-47 metres. 

The single forehold is full of general cargo including large circular timber fencing posts which have been part eaten by teredo worms so they look like giant Cadbury Flakes. Also visible are multiple lengths of metal. No superstructure remains.  The wreck is lying upright on even keel with her bow has fallen to starboard throwing her with bow winch onto seabed. The wreck is tidal making a slack water dive essential.