The Teunika was a small coastal motor vessel launched in 1936 from the yard of E J Smit of Westerbroek in Holland. Her dimensions were 112.0′ x 21.6′ x 8.3′ she had a net tonnage of 114nt. During her working life she underwent a number of name changes; launched as Wilhelmina then Velocitas, Willen and Merken before Teunika in 1954.
At 0808 GMT on 16th May, 1969 the radio at Oban Radio crackled into life with a mayday message from the MV Teunika, in trouble with her engine out and making water off the west coast of Mull giving her position as 10 miles north west of Tobermory. The MV Claymore set out from Tobermory to her rescue and other ships too raced to the scene. Forty minutes later the first to arrive was the trawler Corena who immediately sent a short radio message cancelling the mayday, giving their position as 12 miles west of Tobermory. She had taken the Teunika in tow and they were heading for the Sound of Mull. It seemed that everything was going to work out well but less than 40 minutes later another message arrived at Oban from the Corena – the Teunika had sunk eleven miles west of Tobermory and the crew were safely aboard the Corena.
The motor trawler Corena
The Mallaig lifeboat gave the position of the loss as 253 degrees two and a half miles from Calaich Point.
The Wreck Today
The wreck of the Teunika lies in postion 56°36.212’N 006°23.651’W. She lies upright and intact, oriented 135/315° with bows pointing towards Mull. The top of the wreck is reasonably flush, the mast having collapsed across the holds, deck level is between 74.5 and 75.3 metres, seabed depths are between 76.5 and 77 metres. The stern wheelhouse and accommodation area has fallen away and lies across the decks. When first dived the visibility on the wreck was in excess of 15 metres, the wreck is tidal and is a slack water dive.
