Maritime record 14020 - BEACON LIGHT: NORTH MINCH

NB85NW 8001 8127 5810
N58 27.4 W5 44.9833

NLO: Butt of Lewis [name: NB 519 665].

Quality of fix = EDM
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 112
Orientation of keel/wreck = 049229

Circumstances of Loss Details
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The oiler BEACON LIGHT was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U91. There were no survivors.

Surveying Details
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The vessel sank 15 miles SE from the Butt of Lewis.
Report by ships in the vicinity.
Note; this gives 58 24 00N, 005 49 00W, approximately.

30 November 1954. The wreck was contacted by sonar and gave back a good echo.

21 April 1970. The wreck was not found during a sonar search of the area, but there were some unexamined contacts which could be the wreck at 58 23 20N, 005 47 24W.
Report by HMS FAWN

9 August 1984. The wreck was located and examined at 28 February 1984 58 27 24N, 005 44 59W using trisponder to fix the position, echosounder and Side scan sonar. The least echosounder depth was 102.3 metres in a general depth of 112 metres. A scour 0.3 metres deep was observed. The side scan sonar indicated a height of 8 metres, length of 90 metres (295 feet), and beam of 15 metres (49 feet) approximately. The vessel is lying with its keel orientated 049/229 degrees and is apparently upright.
Report by Land & Marine.

Hydrographic Office, 1995.

REPORT DATE: 20/01/2003