Launched as Empire Boswell from the yard of William Gray and Co Ltd., Hartlepool on the 2nd June 1942 she measured 315.4′ x 46.5′ x 23.0′ and her tonnage was 2898 gross tons, 1704 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by the Central Marine Engineering Co Ltd., Hartlepool delivering 269 nominal horsepower. She had a successful wartime career requisitioned by the Ministry of War Transport and operated by the Currie Line crossing the Atlantic on numerous occasions without incident. In 1947 she was sold to the Aviation and Shipping Company Ltd who changed her name to Aviswell. Two years later she was acquired by her final owners, F T Everard of London, who re-named her Seniority.
Empire Boswell in her wartime livery
Lloyds register 1945
On 7th November 1950, en route from Ellesmere Port to Risor in Norway in ballast under the command of Captain Anderson with a crew of thirty, she ran aground in a gale at Leinish Point, Barra. The Barra lifeboat raced to the scene in answer to her distress calls but by the time they reached the wreck she was already settling by the stern as her hull was holed and her pumps had broken down. The lifeboat successfully evacuated the crew and landed them at Castlebay. It was hoped that the Seniority would be saved but the two days later she floated off and sank in deep water north of Bo Vich Chuan Rock.
The wreck lies in the position 55°57.580’N 07°24.772’W in 20 metres and although well broken there are still substantial recognisable features rising to around 11 metres at the shallowest point.
Photograph by Lawson Wood.
The propeller was removed by salvors at some point and as a result the rear end of the wreck is well broken. The engine and large boiler are visible midships with the substantially in tact bow angled steeply to starboard the most dramatic aspect of the wreck.
