This vessel was originally launched as the SS Theodor in March 1890 from the yard of Howaldtswerke AG at Keil (Yard No. 207). She was a steel hulled cargo steamship with dimensions of 205.8’ x 30.7’ x 13.8’ and tonnage of 931 gross and 526 net. The Theodor was powered by a triple expansion steam engine developing 66nhp also supplied by the builders. She was sold to Estonian owners based in Tallin in 1931 and with this came a name change to Pollux. In 1940 she was chartered by the British Ministry of War Transport for convoy duty until her loss under the name Pollux II.
SS Theodor
On Boxing Day, 1942 the Pollux II was on a voyage from Newport in Wales to Londonderry with a cargo of 375 tons of tobacco, medical supplies and metal when she caught fire off Port Logan. The crew could not contain the fire and were forced to abandon ship, and the Pollux II eventually drifted ashore on the south side of Portencorkie Bay (aka Barncorkie Bay), south of Laggantulloch Head.
The Pollux II was still burning fiercely when she came ashore, but damage from the stranding and the fire allowed seawater into the cargo areas which slowly quenched the flames leaving a blackened hull stranded on the rocky beach. The wreck quickly became the centre of intense activity as the local population took the opportunity to supplement their wartime rations.
The wreckage, which lies close to the shore in general depths of 5-10 metres is in position 54° 40.511’N, 04° 57.934’W. It is believed that some salvage work was undertaken in the 1960’s, but some wreckage is still visible between boulders and rocks.
