Launched to mark the charity’s Seafarers Support Week (20-26 June), the competition encourages photographers of all abilities to submit images that capture the UK’s unique relationship with the sea, including its merchant ships, fishermen, coasts, harbours and ports.

Laurence Hartwell – Beam Trawlers Landing to the Fish Market at Night (2020 Overall Winner)

With the Covid-19 pandemic continuing to see restrictions imposed for much of the year, the Society is once again encouraging individuals to look back through their photo albums and submit images old and new, with the overall winner receiving a £500 photographic equipment voucher.

In addition to the dedicated entry submission form on the Society’s website, entrants can now also submit photos through its newly-launched Instagram channel (@ShipwreckedMariners) by using the hashtag #SMSPhotoComp2021.

The competition will once again be judged by a prestigious panel of experts, with Online Picture Editor at The Telegraph, Neil Stevenson joining the existing judging panel of former Sunday Times Picture Editor, Ray Wells, Picture Editor of the i, Sophie Batterbury and the Chief Executive of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, Capt. Justin Osmond RN.

On the launch of the competition, Captain Justin Osmond RN, said: “The last year has been a tough time for us all and especially for the key workers within the maritime industry who have kept the country afloat with much needed imports from overseas.

“Our industry often suffers from being out of sight and out of mind, but it truly is essential in keeping us going as an island nation and enabling us to go about our daily lives.

“The photography competition allows us to showcase and celebrate our relationship with the sea and having received a record-breaking number of entries last year, we are more excited than ever to see everyone’s fantastic and unique images over the course of this summer.”

The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society supports fishermen, merchant mariners and their dependants who are suffering financial hardship, whether due to accident, ill health, unemployment or in retirement after a life spent working at sea. In 2020, a £1 million Covid response fund was set up by the Society, to directly help those in the maritime community who were impacted by the pandemic.

To enter the competition, individuals can submit their photographs through the dedicated form at https://shipwreckedmariners.org.uk/photography-competition-2021/ before the deadline on 31 August 2021. Photographers can also enter their pictures via email, post or on the Society’s new Instagram channel (@ShipwreckedMariners) using the hashtag #SMSPhotoComp2021.

Competition T&Cs:

• The closing date for entries is 23:59 on 31 August 2021
• Entrants must state whether they are a professional or amateur photographer upon entry
• All images submitted must be taken within current UK COVID-19 government guidelines
• By entering the competition, you give permission for your images to be recreated by the Charity, competition sponsors and any media partner free of charge
• This competition is open to residents of the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland aged 16 years or over
• It is a condition of entry that all rules are accepted as final and that the competitor agrees to abide by these rules. The decision of the judges is final. Submission of an entry will be taken to mean acceptance of these terms and conditions
• All entries must be received by the advertised closing time and date
• Entries should be submitted through the entry form on the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society website www.shipwreckedmariners.org.uk, via email ShipwreckedFishermen@definitionagency.com or through the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society Instagram page. Entrants should include their own name, address and telephone number. Postal entries may be sent to Definition Agency, 1 Park Row, LS1 5HN.
• All images submitted must be the work of the individual submitting them. It is the responsibility of each entrant to ensure that any images they submit have been taken with the permission of the subject and do not infringe the copyright of any third party or any laws. By submitting images, entrants confirm that the photograph they are submitting is their own work and that they own the copyright to it
• Copyright in all images submitted for this competition remains with the respective entrants. However, in consideration of their providing them for the Competition, each entrant grants a worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual licence to the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society and sponsors of the competition to feature any or all of the submitted images in any of their publications, their websites and/or in any promotional material connected to this competition.
• Late entries will not be accepted. No responsibility can be accepted for lost entries and proof of transmission will not be accepted as proof of receipt
• The winning entry will be that which is judged to be the most visually appealing, original and self-explanatory. The winner will be notified within three weeks of the closing date of the competition
• The winners will be asked to take part in publicity
• The winners’ name and hometown may be used for the Charity’s publicity purposes
• All prizes are non-transferable and there are no cash alternatives

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Laurence Hartwell – Landing Mackerel (Overall Winner 2019)

The competition, which launches on Wednesday 1 July, encourages photographers of all abilities to submit pictures that capture the essence of the UK’s enduring connection with the sea – including its merchant ships, fishermen, coast, harbours and ports.

Given the impact of coronavirus on the nation’s travel plans, the charity is encouraging people to look back through their photo albums, as well as those taken more recently, as all will be accepted as valid entries and could land the prize of £500 worth of photographic equipment vouchers. In addition to beautiful seascapes and coastal images, the charity is particularly interested in receiving pictures of people enjoying leisure activities, either on the sea or around the coastline.

The competition, supported by The Fishmongers’ Company, will once again be judged by a prestigious panel of experts, including Sunday Times Picture Editor, Ray Wells, Picture Editor of the i, Sophie Batterbury and the Chief Executive of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, Capt. Justin Osmond RN.

On the launch of the competition, Captain Justin said: “Whilst 2020 has brought an enormous challenge to all of our lives, we are pleased to be able to launch our eighth annual maritime photography competition and provide some summer excitement to photographers across the UK.

“Given the current circumstances, we are keen to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to enter the competition, regardless of whether they have been able to take photographs at the coast this year or not, and want any images taken this year to be done so responsibly and in line with government guidance.

“The competition allows us to showcase our proud maritime history and support the industry that we are so reliant on, which has been absolutely critical to the nation over the past few months. As such, we encourage everyone, regardless of experience or ability to get involved.”

The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society supports fishermen, merchant mariners and their dependants who are suffering financial hardship, whether due to accident, ill health, unemployment or in retirement after a life spent working at sea. A total of over £1.4 million was paid in grants over the last year in 2,000 cases of need.

To enter the competition, individuals can submit their photographs through the dedicated form here. Photographers can also enter their pictures via email, post or the Society’s Facebook or Twitter channels.

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Members of the Wedgwood family have also long looked after – and continue to look after – the Society’s ex-WW11 Collecting Mine sited at Robin Hood’s Bay.

The exhibition generated funds to the value of more than £3,400 for the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society and we are so grateful for this tremendous level of support which will be put to very good use supporting those from the fishing and maritime community who are suffering hardship and distress.

Our sincere thanks to the Wedgwood family for their continued support of this Charity’s work.

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At a reception on Tuesday 29 October, the Mayor and Mayoress also opened the Society’s Christmas card shop and met the local volunteers who run it at the Charity’s premises at 1 North Pallant, Chichester. Councillor and Mrs Plowman were also given an insight into the Society’s work on behalf of the seafaring community throughout the UK and Ireland over its 180-year history.

Founded in 1839, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society’s purpose is to provide financial help to merchant seafarers, fishermen and their dependants, who are suffering hardship or distress. In the last year grants totalling £1.4 million were given in over 2,000 cases of need.

The Society’s Christmas and everyday greetings cards, as well as interesting and useful gift items, can be purchased from the Charity’s head office at 1 North Pallant, Chichester, PO19 1TL. Opening Times: 10am – 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am – 1pm Saturday (from 16th November).

Cards can also be purchased online at: www.christmas-cards.org.uk/shipmariners/

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More than 60 people attended the event despite appalling weather conditions forcing the usual boating, fishing and swimming to be cancelled, with the day instead filled with food, drink, games and enjoyable conversation.

The annual charity auction was held in the evening – in aid of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society – where generous donations of prizes and bids saw the total funds raised surpass £1,500 for the Chichester-based charity.

On Tuesday 23 September at a reception held at The Harbour Inn, Lyme Regis, Jamie McNeil, Director of Lyme Bay Boats, presented a cheque for £1,519.77 to Chief Executive of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, Captain Justin Osmond RN, for the charity to continue its work supporting fishermen, merchant mariners and their dependants who are suffering financial hardship.

Also attending was the Society’s volunteer Honorary Agent, John Wason and his wife Claire.  For 28 years John has done a terrific job looking after the Society’s large WWII collecting mine at Lyme Regis harbour.

Discussing the ‘Jolly Day Out’, Jamie said: “Firstly I’d like to thank everyone who helped in making the day a true success despite the challenging conditions!

“The rain thankfully didn’t dampen our spirits and I think I speak on behalf of all of those in attendance when I say what an enjoyable – and indeed jolly – day it was!

“I’m extremely proud to be able to present a cheque for such a significant amount of money to a very worthwhile cause, knowing it will benefit the lives of those we share a maritime community with.”

Captain Justin Osmond added: “We are extremely grateful for the support we receive from all of those who provide us with vital funds to support our beneficiaries.

“The Society appreciates the generosity of everyone at Lyme Bay Boats and those who took part in what sounds like an extremely fun day – despite one of the wettest August days on record – and hope we can work together on further projects in the future.”

To find out more about Lyme Bay Boats, go to http://www.lymebayboats.com/.

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National Maritime Charity, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, reveals the winning images of its 2019 Ultimate Sea View photography competition

National maritime charity, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, has revealed the eagerly awaited results of its seventh annual photography competition, showcasing images relating to all aspects of the UK’s historic relationship with the sea.

Having reviewed more than 800 fantastic entries, the judges decided to award Laurence Hartwell the prize for overall winner for 2019, with his entry ‘Landing Mackerel’, which captures a bird’s-eye view of a fisherman with his catch, taken in the port of Newlyn, Cornwall. The image won the amateur photographer a £500 prize voucher for photographic equipment.

In addition to the overall prize, winners were also named in four categories:

• Ships & Wrecks: Amanda Burgess – ‘Fate of the Mersey Ferry’, River Thames at Woolwich
• People: John Alderson – ‘Sunrise Through the Wave’, Sunderland
• Recreation: Alan Humphries – ‘Brighton Sussex Display’, Brighton
• Coastal views: Mark Dobson – ‘Wild Seas’, Gwithian, Cornwall

Picture Editor of the i, Sophie Batterbury; Picture Editor of the Sunday Times, Ray Wells and Chief Executive of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, Captain Justin Osmond, identified the winners during the competition’s judging process, which took place at Trinity House, London, on 5^th September.

Celebrating its 180th year, the Society, which provides financial support to former seafarers and their dependants, was on the lookout for images of ships, harbours, ports, wrecks, seafarers and seascapes. The competition, backed by headline supporter Ensign and the Fishmongers’ Company, ran from the Society’s website www.shipwreckedmariners.org.uk, and across its social media platforms.

Captain Justin Osmond said, “This year we received an extremely high level of top-quality images that showcased the beauty, industry and people that contribute to the UK’s coastal areas. With 2019 being our 180^th year, it was amazing to see this celebration of British maritime culture seen from up and down country. Laurence Hartwell’s winning image, ‘Landing Mackerel’ was a particularly powerful image that we thought really represented those that the charity is here to support and symbolises the thousands of UK fisherman that work on our waters.”

Ensign Marketing Director, Jemima FitzMorris commented on the competition: “Ensign has been a proud supporter of this year’s competition and it has been fantastic to see such a diverse array of submissions memorialising our country’s maritime heritage. The competition shows no signs of slowing in its seventh year as those positioned in and around our beautiful coastline celebrate our powerful relationship with the sea as an island nation. As the UK’s only not for profit maritime pension provider, ensuring that all those working in the industry have a comfortable retirement is a key part of our vision at Ensign, and one we share with the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society.”

Full list of winners and commendations:

Overall Winner:

• Laurence Hartwell – Landing Mackerel

Category Winners:

Ships and wrecks

• Amanda Burgess – Fate of the Mersey Ferry (Winner)
• Gary Richardson – Heading for Harbour (Highly Commended)

People

• John Alderson – Sunrise Through the Wave (Winner)
• Laurence Hartwell – Unnamed (Highly Commended)

Recreation

• Alan Humphries – Brighton Sussex Display (Winner)
• Stanley Pearson – Jet Rides (Highly Commended)

Coastal views

• Mark Dobson – Wild Seas (Winner)
• Noel Bennett – Sunrise Over the Cobb (Highly Commended)

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THE IOLAIRE YACHT 1881-1919

At about 0150 on the morning of Wednesday 1^st January 1919 Her Majesty’s Yacht IOLAIRE ran aground on the Beasts of Holm at the entrance to Stornoway harbour on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. Two hundred and fifty men were lost, only seventy-five were saved.

At around 1930 on the evening of 31^st December 1918 HMY IOLARE sailed from the Kyle of Lochalsh to Lewis with servicemen on leave. Their families, friends and sweethearts were waiting for them at Stornoway or at their homes on Lewis and Harris but many of the men were destined never to see them again: an appalling tragedy of devastating proportions. Fifty-six bodies were never recovered.

The men, many of them Royal Navy Reservists, were coming home on leave from Plymouth and Portsmouth by train to Inverness and then on to Kyle. It was apparent to those organising the return that the regular MacBrayne ferry, Sheila would not be able to take them all and so the Royal Navy’s Stornoway Depot ship HMY IOLAIRE (formerly the Amalthea) was dispatched to Kyle to assist.

The first train arrived at Kyle at 1815 and the second at 1900. Three hundred and twenty libertymen disembarked. Sheila took thirty of them and the balance, two hundred and ninety – all naval ratings – were crowded onto the IOLAIRE, which was overloaded.  No names were recorded so there were no passenger lists. At 1930 the lines were cast off. The Sheila would sail half an hour later.

Neither Commander Mason, the Captain, nor Lieutenant Cotter, the Navigating Officer, had taken a vessel into Stornoway at night. Neither of them survived.

By 2155 the IOLAIRE should have cleared Rona Light at her normal speed of ten knots and would have been heading out into the Minch from the Sound of Raasay on a northerly course for the forty mile passage to Stornoway. From midnight the wind freshened from the south with intermittent squalls. From the testimony of the helmsman, James McLean – on the wheel from 2359 to 0100 – “lights could be seen quite distinctly”. At 0100 Lieutenant Cotter, took the watch from Commander Mason who went down to his cabin.  And the helmsman changed.

When James McLean took the wheel at 2359 she was on a “north-easterly course – just a touch easterly” and making good about two degrees east of North. At 0030 course was altered to North.

For most of the passage the wind was reported to have been from astern with very little motion but it increased in force as they approached Lewis and there was a heavy sea running according to the skipper of the fishing vessel Spider.

James McLean could see the light at Arnish Point about half a point on the port bow. What happened after that is unclear except that she entered the approaches to Stornoway too far to the east. Some witnesses on deck reported that they could see the shore far too close to the ship and two witnesses stated that in the five to ten minutes before she struck there was a change in the motion of the ship, which would have been as a result of a bold alteration to port bringing the sea onto the port beam.  James MacDonald, skipper of the fishing vessel Spider, which had been overtaken by the IOLAIRE opposite the entrance to Lock Grimashadar (just over two  miles south of the Beasts of Holm), stated in his testimony that, “I noticed that the vessel did not alter her course… but kept straight on in the direction of the Beasts of Holm. I remarked to one of the crew that the vessel would not clear the headland at Holm ….”

Moments later at about 0150 the IOLAIRE struck the Beasts of Holm – a remote location on the eastern side of the approaches to Stornoway and found herself between them and the rocky shore being pounded by large waves in total darkness and listing heavily to starboard. Fifty or sixty men were pitched into the sea immediately and were lost. A few managed to jump to safety as the stern swung into the shore. Distress rockets were sent up – fired by Cdr Mason – and the sirens sounded. Witnesses reported that no orders were ever issued from the Bridge.

As the ship settled she swung beam on to the shore which was about twenty yards away. John Finlay MacLeod, aged 32, braving the cold and the rocks swam ashore with a heaving line by means of which a hawser was pulled ashore and made fast but required backing up by men who made it to land. It was reported that thirty – forty men got ashore by this means. Some who tried couldn’t hold on. “Mountainous waves” were rolling over the ship and shortly afterwards she toppled over to port, the hawser was lost and the ship disappeared leaving only her masts showing.

About 0300 one survivor made it to the only habitation nearby, Stoneyfield farmhouse, and alerted the owners to the disaster.

The loss of two hundred and five men that morning was a devastating tragedy for the families and friends waiting ashore to greet them. Many villages lost all the menfolk of that generation and many of the women never married.

How did it happen?

A Court of Inquiry was held on 8^th January 1919. It reported that, “From the evidence there appears to be nothing to account for the disaster. None of those on watch on the Bridge (the wheelhouse was on the deck below) at the time are survivors.”

What is irrefutable is that the IOLAIRE was too far to the east of her intended track as she approached the entrance to Stornoway harbour. So how could that have happened?

1. Was it simply a failure to plot the ship’s track properly, although wind and tide were probably not significant factors because both were from the south (astern). In the days before radar there were few fixing marks at night, so initially Lt Cotter would have used dead-reckoning to plot his position.
2. Was it because the planned track initially used Tiumpan Head light as the leading mark rather than Arnish Point light and she wheeled over to North too late.
3. Did she alter course to starboard (to the east) to increase the range from the fishing vessel Spider, also heading for Stornoway who she was overtaking and then failed to alter back to port.

From the Director of Navigation’s reconstruction of events, having read the testimony of the witnesses, after the northern point of South Rona was cleared at about 2155 – assuming she was proceeding at her normal speed of ten knots – course was altered to North 2 degrees East (not clear how he could be certain about this given the lack of evidence – charts or witnesses.  Helmsman James McLean’s evidence was from 2359.) and then at 0030 altered to North which was maintained until very shortly before the stranding. But the correct course from South Rona to Arnish Light at the entrance to Stornoway harbour was North 7 degrees West. Was Cdr Mason initially running on Tiumpan Head Light, the most easterly point of Lewis? Neither light, with nominal ranges of 13 and 19 miles respectively, would have been visible until the vessel was well into the Minch.

CHART OF THE PASSAGE:

Chart of the Passage

Chart of the entrance to Stornoway

But even if they were running on Tiumpan there would have been a planned alteration of course to port to run on Arnish Light. The wind was southerly, ie from astern and rising and the tidal stream from 2359 until she grounded was southerly. From the testimony of the only surviving helmsman, James MacLean, (who had the wheel from 2359 to 0100) at 0030 course was indeed altered to North and the Arnish Light was quite distinct half a point (about 5 degrees) on the port bow. This course was held until 0100 but what happened after that is unclear. In his evidence the Director of Navigation stated that “in the twelve mile run from that time [the alteration at 0030] the vessel appears to have been set about 6 cables to the Eastward.”

This would have in due course necessitated the major alteration of course to port, to the West, to bring the Arnish Light, marking the entrance to Stornoway ahead, and to avoid the Beasts of Holm, which were unlit.

Did Lt Cotter, who took over the watch at 0100, make an error in plotting his track or was he not fixing his position regularly and wheeled over to North late – hence the six cable error – distracted by the passengers on the crowded bridge.

The Master of the Sheila was asked if Stornoway was a difficult harbor to enter at night. He replied, “Well it is for the man that does not know it.”

The Inquiry summarised its findings thus:

‘The cause of the accident seems to have been that finding himself to the eastward of his intended position, the Commanding officer [sic] altered course to pass close to Arnish beacon light but, owing to the angle at which he was approaching the harbour, this track led him close to Holm Point; being further from Arnish point  [sic] light than he estimated…instead of clearing Holm Point the ship ran on to Biastan Holm reef [The Beasts].’

And added that;

‘the Officer in Charge … did not exercise sufficient prudence in approaching the harbour.’

The Iolaire Disaster Fund was set up almost immediately.

It wasn’t until 1960 that a modest monument was put up to commemorate the loss, such was the searing impact on the loss on communities in Lewis and Harris.

Commodore Malcolm Williams, Former Chief Executive, Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society.

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The visit gave the Lord Mayors an opportunity to meet the Society’s Chief Executive, Captain Justin Osmond RN, as well as staff, enabling them to be briefed on the Society’s history and visit its seasonal Christmas card shop.

The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor Lee Mason, said: “The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society carries out such important work within the maritime industry and it is an absolute pleasure to have been appointed as ex-officio Vice-President earlier this year.

“It has been extremely enjoyable to visit Chichester today to meet the Society’s staff and volunteers and further understand the history and ongoing activity of the charity. Following this visit I am excited for what the future holds, and I sincerely look forward to playing a part in it.”

The Lord Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne, Councillor David Down, said: “Since my appointment earlier this year I have been really keen to keep up with everything the Society has been doing to ensure it is providing the necessary support to our seafarers  – including the work of its volunteers in Blyth and North and South Shields.

“Today, however, I have been able to get right into the heart of the charity and in doing so, have thoroughly enjoyed speaking with the hard-working staff and volunteers here, who do a tremendous job in promoting the charity and helping those in need each and every year.”

Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society Chief Executive, Captain Justin Osmond, said: “We are delighted to have been able to welcome both Councillor Mason and Councillor Down to Chichester, so we could provide real first-hand insight into this historic charity and to demonstrate our pleasure in having them on board.

“We’ve had a really positive year, so it is especially pleasing to be able to share our activity with the Lord Mayors and look forward in earnest to what 2019 has to bring.”

Earlier this month, the Society marked the hundredth anniversary of the Armistice with a video, remembering more than 17,000 Merchant Seaman and Fishermen that lost their lives during WW1. The video recognises the admirable endurance and sacrifice of the men of the Mercantile Marine and Fishing Fleets in WW1, which saved the nation from starvation. During the conflict, the charity assisted some 52,000 sailors.

To view the charity’s online Christmas card and gift shop, go to https://www.christmas-cards.org.uk/shipmariners/

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SS Murcia was a British cargo vessel built in 1915 by Short Bros., Ltd., Sunderland. At the time of her loss three years later, she was owned by the English & American Shipping Co. Ltd., London.

On 2 November 1918, the Murcia was travelling on a voyage from Bassein to Marseille with a cargo of rice and funnies when she was torpedoed without warning and sunk by a German U-boat under the command of Hans Schuler. At the time of the attack, the British steamer of 4,871 tonnes was 12 miles north of Port Said.

Sadly, one life was lost as a result.

The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society has offered assistance for fishermen and mariners in need since 1839. The maritime charity provides help for mariners, retired seafarers and their dependants, through financial help including welfare grants, as well as assistance and support.

Photo credit: wrecksite.eu

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