Croma: Swona, Pentland Firth
Steamship (19th Century)
Site Name Croma: Swona, Pentland Firth
Classification Steamship (19th Century)
Alternative Name(s) 'South Side Of Swona'; 'se End Of Swona'; Swona Island; North Sea; Croma
Canmore ID 102237
Site Number ND38SE 8001
NGR ND 38832 83750
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/102237
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Maritime - Orkney
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
ND38SE 8001 3878 8369
N58 44.2167 W3 3.45
NLO: Swona [name: ND 390 843]
Pentland Firth [name centred ND 35 81].
Formerly also entered as ND38SE 8014 at cited location ND c. 38 83 [N58 44 W3 4].
See also NJ90NE 8345.
Quality of fix = PA
Horizontal Datum = OGB
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The iron steamship CROMA went ashore on the SE of Swona Island on voyage from Dundee to New York.
Source: Lloyds.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
30 April 1970. The position is given as 58 44 13N, 003 03 27W. The wreck was sold in 1899.
Source: Lloyds.
Hydrographic Office, 1995.
(Classified as iron steamship, with general cargo: date of loss cited as 14 August 1899). Croma: this vessel stranded on the SE end of Swona. Capt. Claxton.
Registration: Newcastle. Built 1883. 2881grt. Length: 99m. Beam: 13m.
(Location of loss cited as N58 44.22 W3 3.0).
I G Whittaker 1998.
The location of loss cited by Whittaker is misleading. The island of Swona lies roughly NE-SW, and has no SE end as such.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 18 April 2007.
This vessel is possibly to be equated with that entered as NJ90NE 8345.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 3 August 2011.
Reference (2011)
Whittaker ID : 508
Name : CROMA
Latitude : 584413
Longitude : 30300
Date Built : 1883
Registration : NEWCASTLE
Type : SS (IRON)
Tonnage : 2881
Tonnage Code : G
Length : 99
Beam : 13
Draught : 8m
Position : Position Approximate
Loss Day : 14
Loss Month : 8
Loss Year : 1899
Comment : Stranded SE end of Swona. Capt. Claxton
Cargo : GENERAL
Reference (19 April 2012)
UKHO Identifier : 000953
Feature Class : Wreck
Wreck Category : Non-dangerous wreck
State : LIVE
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 58.73747,-3.05677
Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 58.73707,-3.05835
WGS84 Origin : Original
Previous Position : 58.73695,-3.05750
Position Method : Global Positioning System
Position Quality : Precisely known
Position Accuracy : 15.0
Depth Quality : Depth unknown
Water Depth : 15
Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name : CROMA
Type : SS
Flag : BRITISH
Length : 100.6
Beam : 13.4
Draught : 8.2
Tonnage : 3187
Tonnage Type : Gross
Cargo : GENERAL
Date Sunk : 14/08/1899
Contact Description : Notable debris
Original Sensor : Reported Sinking
Last Sensor : Diver Sighting
Original Detection Year : 1899
Last Detection Year : 2001
Original Source : Other
Last Source : Divers
Circumstances of Loss : **BUILT IN 1883 BY J L THOMPSON & SONS OF SUNDERLAND. OWNED AT TIME OF LOSS BY J DENT, JR, OF NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE. TWO BOILERS, COMPOUND EXPANSION ENGINE, SINGLE SHAFT. PASSAGE DUNDEE FOR NEW YORK. GENERAL CARGO INCLUDING BEER, WINES AND SPIRITS WHICH WERE RECOVERED. DROVE ASHORE IN THICK FOG. LATER BROKE UP, PART SLIPPING INTO DEEPER WATER. 300 TONNES OF CARGO RECOVERED IN TOTAL INCLUDING 4816 CASES OF MARMALADE
Surveying Details : **POSN 584413N, 030327W. WK SOLD IN 1899. (LLOYDS).
POSITIONS BELOW THIS POINT ARE IN DEGREES, MINUTES AND DECIMALS OF A MINUTE
**20.2.01 DIVED IN 5844.224N, 0303.501W [WGD]. WELL BROKEN UP IN DEPTHS OF 2 TO 15MTRS. TWO STEEL PROPS LOCATED. (K HEATH, TELECON 20.2.01). INS AS NDW. BR STD.
General Comments : WELL BROKEN UP, TWO STEEL PROPS REMAIN
Chart Symbol : NDW