Paddle steamer · 1855–1862 · Firth of Clyde, United Kingdom
Iona I
The two crews told opposite stories. Men from the Iona I said the newly launched Chanticleer came at them unlit and struck her starboard side aft of the paddle box; the Chanticleer's pilot said the Iona swerved across his bow.
Built by James and George Thomson at Govan in 1855, the 325-ton paddle steamer had served William Hutcheson's Glasgow to Ardrishaig route before being sold, stripped, painted grey and loaded with coal for Nassau as a Confederate blockade runner. Her captain refused a passing tug's help unless the Chanticleer's master first accepted liability, and she went down stern first.
Her midships section survives with paddles, engines and boilers, and the site is now a historic Marine Protected Area.
- Type
- Paddle steamer
- Year built
- 1855
- Lost
- 1862
- Tonnage
- 325 GRTsteam
- Depth
- 28 m
- Location
- Firth of Clyde, United KingdomFirth of Clyde
Deeper than 81 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.
History and LossLost 1862 · Firth of Clyde, United Kingdom.
She left Gourock Bay on the evening of 2 October 1862 bound for Nassau, steaming at three or four knots, and was struck by the Chanticleer returning from speed trials. The Chanticleer's bow cut through her to within two feet of her port side. Her crew, with a young stowaway, were taken off by the Chanticleer's boats; the Chanticleer's master tried to push her towards the shore, but she sank in deep water.
Built 1855; 7 years in service. Lost 1862.
Condition of the Wreck
Intactness
She sits upright in 28 metres. Only a midships section of roughly 25 metres survives, as bow and stern have almost sunk from sight into the mud. Superstructure and funnels have gone, and her upper sides have collapsed outwards onto the seabed.
Notable Features
- Anchor
- Boilers
Regulations and RestrictionsProtected site.
This is a legally protected site.
Sea-Surface Temperature by Month
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface temp | 8.1° | 7° | 7° | 8.1° | 9.9° | 12.1° | 13.9° | 14.6° | 13.8° | 12.4° | 11.1° | 9.5° |
Additional Details8 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.
- Propulsion
- Steam
- Loss date
- 1862
- Latitude
- 55.97° N
- Longitude
- 4.79° W
- Water body
- Firth of Clyde
- War grave
- Not recorded
- Protected
- Yes
- Permit required
- No
Sources and VerificationEvery fact on this page traces to a published source.
- Historic Environment Scotland (Canmore, NRHE)inspire.hes.scot · Official record6 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 source6 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 4 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 Iona I?
Iona I is the wreck of a paddle steamer, off Firth of Clyde, United Kingdom, at 28 metres. Iona I was lost in 1862.
How deep is the Iona I?
Iona I lies at approximately 28 metres, Firth of Clyde.
How did the Iona I sink?
The cause of the loss of Iona I is not recorded in the sources held; the loss is dated 1862.
Is the Iona I protected?
Yes. Iona I is recorded as a legally protected site.