The steel steamship Stour was launched from the yard of Mistley Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Ltd (Yard No 1) in 1920 but almost immediately renamed Phaeacian. She measured 144.1′ x 25.2′ x 11.1′ and he tonnage was 480 gross tons, 220 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by W H Allen and Sons, Bedford delivering 55 nominal horse power. She was owned and operated by F W Horlock’s Ocean Transportation Co Ltd on the eastern coastal routes.
Steamship Phaeacian under way
Lloyd’s register 1939
The details of the loss of the vessel on 29th March 1943 while en route from Grangemouth to Ipswich with a general cargo are vague. She was in collision with the British steam tanker San Zotico owned by the Eagle Oil Company Ltd off the Fife coast shortly after leaving port. Both ships were damaged in the collision but the damage to the Phaeacian was more severe. She did not sink immediately and was taken in tow in an attempt to run her ashore but she quickly began to fill and finally sank south of Kincraig Point.
The broken wreckage of the Phaeacian lies in position 56° 09.278’N, 002° 51.647’W in general seabed depths of 29 metres with least depth of 26 metres. The wreckage is oriented 010°/190° and is described in three sections. However the wreck was wire swept in the 1990’s leaving little that stands much above the seabed.
