Maritime record MDO20101 - Naiad

1968 wreck of small British cutter which foundered 9 miles SW of the Bill of Portland while on tow to Portland having been swamped. Built in 1936, quite probably of wood, she was a sail-powered vessel with auxiliary engine.

'Was towed towards Portland on becoming swamped but had to be abandoned in a sinking condition.' (1, citing Lloyds List, 16.8.68) 'Foundered / Total Loss.' (2) Built: 1936 (2) Where built and by whom are not known. Dimensions are not known. There seems to be some confusion about her means of propulsion. Source 1 calls her an 'auxiliary cutter', suggesting a sailing vessel; while source 2 states that she was powered by a screw-driven 3 cylinder triple expansion steam engine (2). Given her age, and the fact that she was only 6 tons it seems likely that the engine suggested by source 2 was not only auxiliary, but diesel, rather than steam-powered. (3) No more information about the vessel could be found. The UK Hydrographic Office had charted her position as approximately 50°28'.868 N, 002°27'.346 W; but when nothing was found by a survey in 1991, the position was amended to DEAD and the position of her wreckage remains unknown. (1) Date of loss qualifier: Actual date of loss

Record last edited

Feb 16 2024 4:35PM