Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

Five crewmen rescued after Glasgow motor lighter INNISEANE sinks near Port Ellen, Isle of Islay

    The five crew members of the motor lighter INNISEANE were rescued today when the vessel sank near Port Ellen, Isle of Islay.

   INNISEANE, essentially a Clyde puffer and owned by John M. Paton of Paton & Hendry’s Glasgow Steam Coasters Company, had left Campbeltown on Saturday morning with a cargo of coal for Bowmore, Isle of Islay.

   On Saturday evening, about 8 miles south of Port Ellen Lightship, the ship’s engine broke down and the vessel drifted broadside onto the sea and was pitching, rolling and bumping heavily and shipping water everywhere.

   It was noticed that she had sprung a leak and was gradually filling with water and the decision was taken to abandon ship.   The five crewmen took to the ship’s lifeboat and shortly afterwards INNISEANE sank beneath the waves.

   After about four hours being tossed about by the rough sea the lifeboat was seen by a fishing trawler from Fleetwood (England) and the men and their lifeboat were taken aboard.   They had lost all of their possessions when their ship sank and only had the clothes that they were wearing.

   The trawler took the men to Campbeltown and they rowed ashore in their own lifeboat and reported the loss of INNISEANE.