SS Cathcartpark and RMS Labrador

[Aqua Maria]

Hi

Does anyone have any info on the SS Cathcartpart which ran aground South Mull / Iona in 1912?

Also, RMS Labrador which hit Mackenzie Rock, near Skerryvore, in 1899.

There is very limited information on Wrecksites.eu for both of these.

Any help much appreciated.

Regards
Maria

[Glos-Tech]

Check out the book Argyll shipwrecks by Peter Moir and Ian Crawford there is some useful information on page 175 regarding the Labrador

Dived it a few years ago broken in two over the reef, when we went down the shot line we had a pod of dolphin around us

There is also a small article on page 61 about the Cathcarpark

[MikeF]

Labrador is a very exposed site and a long way from anywhere. If I manage to dive it once or twice a year I count myself lucky. you need a very flat sea as even a big lazy swell humps up over the reef and can make getting back in the boat difficult. despite being well offshore it's also quite a tidal site. nearest land (if you don't count Skerryvore light) is Tiree or Iona. however the only place to base yourself on Tiree is Gott bay and that's about the same distance as Iona from mckenzies rock. I prefer to run from Iona (from memory @23 miles each way) as there's not much in it and it's a nicer base.

I've been out there quite a few times and been over the wreck and not gone in because of the conditions. what may look very calm closer to land can be horrific over the reef. If you're in the area and the conditions are right it's worth the run. most of the wreck runs from @ 15 - 24m in a gulley, very broken up but a stunning dive in good vis. sometimes the vis is spectacular, sometimes not. last time I dived it last year the vis was about 3m.

I doubt you will get a position for the Cathcartpark. it's a small steamship that went aground carrying a cargo of salt on the same day the Titanic sank.

[Aqua Maria]

Thanks for the information. Have just bought a copy of Argyll Shipwrecks

[mikey b]

There's GPS marks online somewhere for the Cathcart Park. Not sure how accurate. Anyone have marks for the Nyland?