The steel steam line fishing vessel Sudero was launched from the Hull yard of Earle’s Shipbuilding and Engineering Co Ltd. (Yard No 329) on 10th July 1889. She measured 106.3′ x 20.5′ x 11.4′ and her tonnage was 170 gross tons, 77 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Earles delivering 53 registered horse power. Ordered by the White Star Steam Fishing Company (Henry Smethurst) of Grimsby she commenced fishing operations form that port immediately on delivery registered as GY219. In 1899 she was lengthened to 116 feet increasing her tonnage to 187 gross tons, 103 net tons.
On 28th April 1903 she departed from Grimsby bound for the Icelandic fishing grounds under the command of Charles Bull who had a crew of thirteen men aboard. At noon on 29th they sighted Tod Head bearing NNW. By 6:30pm they were abreast of Rattray Head a course alteration was made to north by west, although no precise bearings were taken. setting them on a course across the Moray Firth towards the Pentland Skerries. At 7pm the skipper went below leaving two of the crew in charge with instructions to wake him when the log showed sixty miles on the course or if the visibility decreased or a light ashore was spotted. After a later change of watch the men on the bridge called the skipper as they had reached around 60 miles since he went below. When the skipper joined them on the bridge at 00.40am visibility appeared good but no lights could be seen. If calculations were correct Noss Head light should have been visible by this time. At 01.00am she steamed into a thick fog but her speed was not reduced and they pressed on at full speed. At 01:20am breakers appeared directly ahead and, despite engines in full reverse and the helm hard to port she ran aground soon after striking a submerged rock breaking off her propeller and rudder post. The night was very calm allowing the crew to jump form the ship and make it safely to the shore.
The Sudero had run aground at Sarclet Head five miles south of Wick. With daylight the crew were able to return to the ship and retrieve their possessions and valuables but the Sudero was doomed and became a total wreck. At the subsequent enquiry the skipper was held responsible for not taking due care assessing his position when off Rattray Head and not taking due care when visibility was reduced as he approached the Caithness coastline. The skipper’s certificate was cancelled although in a strange legal loophole at the time, it was not a legal requirement for the skipper of a line fishing vessel to require an certificate.
The remains of the Sudero lie where she went ashore at Sarclet Head with boiler, crankshaft and her anchor still clearly visible among the broken wreckage.
We would like to thank Davy at Hellsmouth Diving for his permission to use his underwater photographs of the wreck site. Check out the Hellsmouth diving website at hellsmouth.com