Steel motor fishing vessel · 1978–1999 · Shetland, United Kingdom
Fraoch Ban
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch concluded that the Fraoch Ban most probably went over because her bulk catch of sand eels was not properly contained, shifting in a hold she had been tested and approved to load only with boxed fish. A faulty non-return valve between her fuel tanks may have made matters worse.
She was trawling off the south-east coast of Bressay in August 1999, skippered by Brian Robb of Scalloway, who owned her, when a list to port grew until she rolled over in about five minutes. A borrowed liferaft had drifted off untethered, and two men swam out to bring it back.
The Sarah Joan, the Sumburgh helicopter and the Lerwick lifeboat took all four off, and one man revived by first aid recovered fully in hospital. Built in 1978, she remains largely intact on sand in Hope Wick, heavily overgrown.
- Type
- Steel motor fishing vessel
- Year built
- 1978
- Lost
- 1999
- Depth
- 28 m
- Location
- Shetland, United KingdomNorth Sea
Deeper than 81 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.
History and LossLost 1999 · Shetland, United Kingdom.
On 15 August 1999 she was taking aboard the catch from her fifth trawl of the day, with about 25 tonnes of bulk sand eels in her fish hold, when her crew noticed a list to port at around 18.50. The pound boards in her hold were not enough to stop the bulk cargo moving freely. With diesel leaking around her upturned hull, her crew abandoned ship, and she sank about 10 minutes later.
Built 1978; 21 years in service. Lost 1999.
Condition of the WreckIntact.
Intactness
She rests on flat sand in Hope Wick, which lies between Bressay and North Ness, largely intact and upright though heeled forty-five degrees to port, standing 3 metres proud of the bottom. Thick marine growth covers her.
Notable Features
- Largely intact hull heeled forty-five degrees to port
- Dense marine growth over the wreck
Sea-Surface Temperature by Month
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface temp | 8.1° | 7.4° | 7.1° | 7.5° | 8.8° | 10.6° | 12.4° | 12.8° | 12.2° | 11.3° | 10.3° | 9.1° |
Additional Details9 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.
- Propulsion
- Diesel
- Loss date
- 1999
- Latitude
- 60.1366° N
- Longitude
- 1.0447° W
- Water body
- North Sea
- War grave
- Not recorded
- Protected
- No
- Permit required
- No
- Condition
- Intact
Sources and VerificationEvery fact on this page traces to a published source.
- Historic Environment Scotland (Canmore, NRHE)inspire.hes.scot · Official record5 facts
- UK Hydrographic Officedatahub.admiralty.co.uk · Official record3 facts
- NOAA / NASA JPL MUR SST v4.1coastwatch.pfeg.noaa.gov · Institution or archive1 fact
- Scottish Shipwrecksscottishshipwrecks.com · Secondary source9 facts
- Marine Accident Investigation Branchgov.uk · Secondary source3 facts
- Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Historic Environment Scotland.
- Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright and database right.
- JPL MUR MEaSUREs Project. GHRSST Level 4 MUR Global Foundation Sea Surface Temperature Analysis (v4.1). PO.DAAC. https://doi.org/10.5067/GHGMR-4FJ04
A further 6 fields were derived from the wreck’s recorded position rather than taken from a source.
Licences and credits for the open data used on this site are on the Attribution page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Fraoch Ban?
Fraoch Ban is the wreck of a steel motor fishing vessel, off Shetland, United Kingdom, at 28 metres. Fraoch Ban was lost in 1999.
How deep is the Fraoch Ban?
Fraoch Ban lies at approximately 28 metres, North Sea, Shetland.
How did the Fraoch Ban sink?
The cause of the loss of Fraoch Ban is not recorded in the sources held; the loss is dated 1999.