SS Ben Doran facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
| Name | Ben Doran |
| Owner |
|
| Port of registry |  United Kingdom (Aberdeen) |
| Builder | Hall, Russell & Company, Aberdeen |
| Yard number | 331 |
| Launched | 3 March 1900 |
| In service | 1900 – 1930 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Wrecked on Ve Skerries 29 March 1930 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Fishing trawler |
| Tonnage | 155 GRT |
| Length | 34 metres (112 ft) |
| Beam | 6.1 metres (20 ft) |
| Depth | 3.7 metres (12 ft) |
| Propulsion | Steam |
| Crew | ~9 |
The SS Ben Doran was a fishing trawler that used a steam engine to power its journey. It sailed from Aberdeen, Scotland. The ship was launched in 1900 and worked as a fishing boat until it was wrecked.
On March 29, 1930, the Ben Doran crashed on the Ve Skerries in Shetland. Sadly, all nine crew members on board lost their lives. This event has been called "the most tragic wreck in all Shetland's history."
Contents
About the Ben Doran
The Ben Doran was built by Hall, Russell & Company, a shipbuilding company in Aberdeen. It was launched on March 3, 1900. The ship was made of steel.
It was about 34 meters (111 feet) long. The ship was 6.1 meters (20 feet) wide. Its depth was 3.7 meters (12 feet). The Ben Doran weighed 155 gross tons. It was powered by a strong steam engine.
The Tragic Wreck
On March 29, 1930, the Ben Doran hit rocks at the north end of Heligoblo. This area is part of the Ve Skerries, which are small islands northwest of Papa Stour in Shetland. The weather was very bad, with rough seas and strong winds.
The ship ran aground partly because the maps of the area were not very good. Also, the tides around the Ve Skerries were hard to predict. Even experienced local fishermen found them tricky.
The First Rescue Attempt
Another fishing boat passing by saw the accident. By 5 PM, they brought the news to Lerwick. The rescue station in Stromness, Orkney, was told about the wreck. Special rescue equipment, which included a rocket that could shoot a rope to the ship, was prepared.
This equipment was taken by truck to Ronas Voe. From there, it was put onto a steam trawler named Arora. The Arora left for the Ve Skerries at 2 AM on March 30.
A Second Rescue Plan
George Theodore Kay worked for the RNLI, a rescue organization. He knew the Ve Skerries well. He thought the Arora was too big to get close enough to the Ben Doran to help.
He found a smaller motorboat called Smiling Morn in Voe, Delting. He suggested that this boat, along with a four-oared rowing boat, would have a better chance. George Kay, along with John Falconer and W. H. Dougall, went to Voe. They got the Smiling Morn to help.
They then went to Housa Voe in Papa Stour. They wanted to find someone who knew the seabed around the Ve Skerries very well. Getting into Housa Voe in the dark and rough weather was dangerous. They almost hit a hidden rock themselves. They found John Henderson, who joined them, and they headed for the Ve Skerries.
Reaching the Wreck Site
The Smiling Morn arrived at the Ve Skerries before 5 AM. The Arora had already gotten there first. The strong winds and high waves continued, making rescue very difficult.
Five of the Ben Doran's crew members were seen holding onto the ship's rigging (ropes and masts). Sea spray was hitting them. The Arora tried to get closer. But its crew felt they could not go any further without risking their own safety. The Ben Doran was still too far away.
As the Arora pulled back, two more crew members were seen in the rigging. The Ben Doran was stuck in the middle of the skerries, about 600 meters (656 yards) from the nearest rock. There was a shallow reef all around it. This meant no boat could get close enough to rescue the crew. George Kay later said it was clear that rescue would have been impossible.
Giving Up Hope
At one point, a sudden huge wave, called a "tide lump" in Shetland, crashed into the 20-foot rowing boat that the Smiling Morn was towing. The rowing boat sank.
John Jamieson, the skipper of the Smiling Morn, was determined to try a rescue. He wanted to go even though it was very dangerous for his own crew. Because of his strong will, there was a big disagreement among the crew on his ship. They even had to tie him up to stop him from going into danger.
Even with all their effort, the crews of both rescue boats realized they could do nothing more. They had to give up the rescue attempt.
The Stromness Lifeboat Station was told about the failed rescue by 4 PM on March 30. The Stromness Lifeboat left at 4:45 PM. It reached Scalloway by 7:30 AM on March 31.
By the time the lifeboat arrived at the Ve Skerries, only a small part of the Ben Doran could be seen. All nine crew members on board were lost. This tragic event showed how much Shetland needed its own lifeboat. In 1933, the Aith Lifeboat Station was opened.
Today, the wreck of the Ben Doran is a popular spot for divers and underwater photographers.
