The steel cruiser stern motor vessel Lena was launched from the yard of Bodewes Scheeps, Martenstock, Holland in 1938 for Zeevart Mij, Zandaam. She measured 151.2′ x 24.7′ x 10.5′ and her tonnage was 345 gross tons, 177 net tons. She was powered by a 4SA 6 cylinder diesel engine by Humboldt – Duetzmot AG Koln. Later she was purchased by new owners and renamed John V before being purchased by her final owners J J De Looff International Shipbrokers Ltd of Groningen.
Motor vessel Musketier under way
Lloyd’s register 1960
By now named Musketier she was en route from Dunkirk to Perth with a cargo of slag on the 2nd of November 1962 when she ran aground on Balcomie Briggs near Crail golf course. The exact reason for her stranding is not clear but the rocks in this area have claimed many vessels over the years and any navigational error as she approached the entrance to the Firth of Tay would have been severely punished.
The Musketier was high and dry on the rocks so must have hit the shoreline at full speed but, luckily, this meant that the seven crewmen aboard were in little danger. The Anstruther lifeboat James and Ruby Jackson was called out by the local coastguard and was launched at 9:50am heading for the wreck site only a few miles distant. When they reached the stranded Musketier there was a large swell running making it impossible to approach the ship safely but the crew were able to launch their two inflatable life rafts and reach the lifeboat which was standing by to take them ashore at Anstruther.
Scotsman 3rd November
The Musketier stayed on the rocks for two days despite the huge tear in the hull near the engine room and initially it was hoped she might be saved but due to the continual action of the swell she finally slipped of and sank close to the rocks. The scattered wreckage unidentifiable wreckage believed to be the Musketier lies among kelp covered rocks in 6 – 10 metres of water in position 56° 17.568’N, 002° 35.383’W and is subject to swell at most times due to the exposed nature of the site.
