ST. OLA
Shipbuildervessel built by
Hall, Russell & Company, Limited
(Aberdeen, Scotland, 1864 - 1992)
Date1892
Object NameSCREW STEAMER
MediumSTEEL
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 135 1/3' x breadth 22 1/12' x depth 11 3/6'
Gross Tonnage: 258 ton
Gross Tonnage: 258 ton
Object numberABDSHIP001914
About MeYard: Hall, Russell & Co.Yard Number: 271
Official Number: 99637
Fate: broken up, 1951
Propulsion: Steam
Description: Screw passenger and cargo vessel, 1 deck, schooner rig, forecastle 38', poop deck 82'.
Owners:
1892-1951: North of Scotland, Orkney & Shetland Steam Navigation Co.
Masters:
1892: Master R. Robertson
1906: Master R. H. Swanney
1911: Master George B. Swanson
General History:
04/04/1892
Mail steamer ST. OLA daily (Sunday excepted) leaved Stromness 9:30am, Scapa 11am and touches at Hoxa, S. Ronaldsay, on voyage to Scrabster, except Saturdays 2, 16 and 30. when sails to Thurso. Leaves Scrabster same evening at 6pm, or immediately after receiving Orkney mails, direct for Scapa. [Same timetable advertised summer and winter till 1898]
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
21/11/1893:
Effects of the storm - Telegram from Aberdeen states steamer ST. CLAIR was brought to anchor, steam up and either dragged or parted anchor chain and was put on sandy beach.
(Glasgow Herald)
12/02/1894:
Renewed snow storm - Very boisterous weather in Orkney, ST. OLA lying in bay at Kirkwall unable to take the harbour or land passengers or mails.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
29/12/1894:
Stromness harbour board - Long letter from Mr. Merrylees, manager of North of Scotland Company, complaining that a special berth had not been provided for mail steamer ST. OLA and as to tonnage duties.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
11/02/1895:
Prolonged snow blocks on Caithness railway line have brought steamer ST. OLA to Invergordon with and for mail etc. Twice this winter - a very rare thing in modern times, although in olden times it was of frequent occurrence.
(Glasgow Herald)
26/02/1895:
Heavy snow plough brought from Invergordon by steamer ST. OLA. It helped clear 11 days block on railway line from Wick.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
06/12/1895:
Storm of wind and snow - Steamer ST. OLA to Wick instead of Scrabster.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
29/02/1896:
Storm of wind and snow - Steamer ST. OLA unable to cross Pentland Firth.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
27/02/1897:
Because of storm, steamer ST. OLA, with the mails, which was at Scapa all night, proceeded to Scrabster yesterday morning, where she lies, Captain considering sea in Pentland Firth too heavy, Kirkwall thus without mails since Saturday night.
(Dundee Courier)
26/01/1899:
£200 awarded to ST. OLA for helping in salvage of new Manchester liner MANCHESTER CITY, which met with accident to her steering gear on maiden voyage. (£1400 to lifeboat men)
(Morning Post)
ABS, ST. OLA (1892) additional material:
ST. OLA was regarded as a lucky ship. Throughout World War I and World War II she operated under war conditions via the Hoy Sound, continuing on the commercial service, but was not once under enemy attack. However, she rescued crews from ships and aircraft lost by enemy action. There is only one recorded incident of her running aground. This happened on the island of Hunda on 4 July 1936. On being refloated she was escorted to Stromness for examination and then sailed for Aberdeen under her own steam. Damage cannot have been extensive as she was in dock for repair for less than a week. Given the notoriously stormy weather of the Pentland Firth, it is not surprising that there were many reports of her not being able to make the crossing from Stromness to Scrabster. In 1904 the Orcadian reported that there was occasionally grumbling when the mail did not arrive. However, it reminded its readers that those in charge of the ship knew their business and had a good idea of when and how they should make the crossing. When in 1911 Capt. Swanney was promoted to the ST. CLAIR after five and a half years on ST. OLA, it was claimed that no days had been missed within one period of nineteen months.
In 1924 ST. OLA was given a major overhaul by Hall, Russell in Aberdeen lasting twelve weeks. New decks were laid and the superstructure replaced. The ship was cleaned and repainted throughout. In the engine room everything except the boiler was taken out for refurbishment ashore. Three new piston rods were fitted, also new piston valves and the propellor was given brass tips. Her speed was thereby increased, which was expected to bring the mail to Orkney at an earlier hour. The Orkney Herald complimented the company on the handsome manner in which it had provided for every comfort for passengers and reported that on her return to Stromness in late January 1924 she was welcomed by a large number of people. However, in later years her accommodation was regarded as spartan. She had a dining saloon and ladies cabin with sofa beds along the sides, but (except for that) no proper sleeping accommodation or adequate deck shelter.
For much of her career ST. OLA made regular calls at Scapa Pier (for Kirkwall). For example, on three days a week in 1919 she left Stromness at 8am and Scapa at 9.15, arriving Scrabster at 12.30pm, and returning to Scapa at 5.45 and Stromness 7.30. In 1931 the Company’s Hoy Head, serving the South Isles of Orkney, left Longhope at 7am and sailed via Flotta to connect with ST. OLA at Scapa. ST. OLA ran evening cruises from Scapa Pier round the Royal Navy’s Atlantic Fleet when it visited Scapa Flow, for example in 1928 and 1930. In April 1937 the North of Scotland & Orkney & Shetland Steam Navigation Co. declined an invitation to participate in the Coronation review off Spithead. Her master, Capt. George B. Swanson had been, at that time, in command of her for 26 years and had earlier been Mate and Seaman onboard as well.
ST. OLA’s last sailing from Stromness to Scrabster, after 59 years of continuous service (during which she had only four masters), was on 30 May 1951. When she left Stromness for Aberdeen the following morning, it was reported that almost the whole population of Stromness, including school children who were given part of the morning off, were on the quayside to see her sail away to the sound of bagpipes. The new ST. OLA escorted the old ship to the mouth of Hoy Sound, where they parted for the new vessel to make her maiden crossing to Scrabster. The old ST. OLA was subsequently broken up at Charleston.
Sources for the above :- A. McRobb, pp.39, 45; Gordon Donaldson (1978), "Northwards by Sea" (Edinburgh), p.132; Orkney Herald, 01/11/1911, 23/04/1919, 23/01/1924, 04/06/1928, 04/06/1930, 25/03/1931, 15/07/1936; Orcadian, 27/11/1904; Press and Journal, 07/07/1936, 23 and 30/05, 01/06//1951; Evening Express, 31/05/1951. [Newspaper refs from BNA, downloaded 31/07/2022 and from A. McRobb scrapbook).
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