The Invergordon Archive
No: 174 Contributor: Park School History Publications Year: 1911
SS Earnholm
The SS Earnholm sank off Invergordon in 1911 or 1912.
Picture added on 18 April 2004
I'd never heard about this vessel sinking in the firth 'till coming across this picture a couple of days ago. Does anyone have any info on the incident?
Added by Dave Smith on 14 April 2013
I had never heard of the loss of this vessel either. A quick Google search came up with the following from:
1. Canmore - Royal Commission for on the Ancient & Historical Monuments of Scotland: Archaeological Notes
NH76NW 8018 unlocated
NLO: Invergordon [name: NH 708 683]
Cromarty Firth [name centred NH 69 67].
Possibly on map sheet NH66NE.
(Classified as iron steamship: date of loss as 29 October 1912). Earnholm: this vessel was in collision and sank near Invergordon.
Registration: Aberdeen. Built 1874. 418grt. Length: 52,. Beam: 7m.
(Location of loss cited as N57 41.00 W4 8.00).
2. The Fearn Peninsula Org which relates to ferry travel around the Firth in this period:
In the early years of this century various ships came in to Cromarty and were used by Nigg folk, via the ferry. There
was a Cromarty to Invergordon service, weather permitting, on weekdays by RMS Saga or Cromarty leaving at
7.10 am, 9.20 am and 2.30 pm, returning at 8.20 am, 11.30 am and 4.20 pm. (24) Until shortly before the 1914-18
War, a coaster plied regularly between Cromarty and Leith carrying both passengers and goods.
Because it was easy to get to Cromarty and from there to Invergordon, a still better service was available. The
Aberdeen Steam Shipping Co.’s steamers, SS James Crombie and SS Earnholm sailed between Invergordon
and Aberdeen providing a twice-a-week service there and back. (24) Other ships that are remembered are
the Surprise and Despatch belonging to an Invergordon firm, and the Bonny Lass and Lily owned by a Captain
Maclean. Into the 1930’s there was the much-loved Ailsa, plying around the firth.
More in depth research would be required into circumstances surrounding the collision/sinking..
1. Canmore - Royal Commission for on the Ancient & Historical Monuments of Scotland: Archaeological Notes
NH76NW 8018 unlocated
NLO: Invergordon [name: NH 708 683]
Cromarty Firth [name centred NH 69 67].
Possibly on map sheet NH66NE.
(Classified as iron steamship: date of loss as 29 October 1912). Earnholm: this vessel was in collision and sank near Invergordon.
Registration: Aberdeen. Built 1874. 418grt. Length: 52,. Beam: 7m.
(Location of loss cited as N57 41.00 W4 8.00).
2. The Fearn Peninsula Org which relates to ferry travel around the Firth in this period:
In the early years of this century various ships came in to Cromarty and were used by Nigg folk, via the ferry. There
was a Cromarty to Invergordon service, weather permitting, on weekdays by RMS Saga or Cromarty leaving at
7.10 am, 9.20 am and 2.30 pm, returning at 8.20 am, 11.30 am and 4.20 pm. (24) Until shortly before the 1914-18
War, a coaster plied regularly between Cromarty and Leith carrying both passengers and goods.
Because it was easy to get to Cromarty and from there to Invergordon, a still better service was available. The
Aberdeen Steam Shipping Co.’s steamers, SS James Crombie and SS Earnholm sailed between Invergordon
and Aberdeen providing a twice-a-week service there and back. (24) Other ships that are remembered are
the Surprise and Despatch belonging to an Invergordon firm, and the Bonny Lass and Lily owned by a Captain
Maclean. Into the 1930’s there was the much-loved Ailsa, plying around the firth.
More in depth research would be required into circumstances surrounding the collision/sinking..
Added by Graeme Askew on 21 April 2013
I found the following on Wrecksite.EU which records the fate of the Earnholme:
EARNHOLM British iron cargo ship; Registration: Aberdeen. Built 1874. 418 grt. Length: 52m Beam: 7m. On October 29th, 1912, EARNHOLM sank in a collision at Invergordon. She was lifted, repaired and put back in service. On January 5th, 1919, the EARNHOLM, on voyage from Vaag to Aberdeen with a cargo of salted fish, foundered 17 miles south of Okratag (Akraberg?), Faroe Islands.
EARNHOLM British iron cargo ship; Registration: Aberdeen. Built 1874. 418 grt. Length: 52m Beam: 7m. On October 29th, 1912, EARNHOLM sank in a collision at Invergordon. She was lifted, repaired and put back in service. On January 5th, 1919, the EARNHOLM, on voyage from Vaag to Aberdeen with a cargo of salted fish, foundered 17 miles south of Okratag (Akraberg?), Faroe Islands.
Added by Graeme Askew on 06 November 2019
The Sea
