Liferaft Casing Fron The Aberdeen Trawler COASTAL EMPRESS A 455, Sunk In May 1977
Date1997-05
Object NameLiferaft Casing
Mediumfibreglass
ClassificationsMaritime History
DimensionsOverall: Length: 152 cm, Diameter: 52 cm
AcquisitionPresented in 1998 by Martin Ramsay.
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS031693
About MeShetland Fishing News, May 1998: A liferaft casing from the Aberdeen trawler Coastal Empress, which sank off Shetland over 20 years ago, was trawled up in the nets of the Solstice shen she was fishing north of Flugga last month. The casing, which still had the sunken vessel's name and liferaft service date clearly printed on it, stirred the interest of the Solstice's crew. After a little further investigation, crewmember Martin Ramsay discovered the Coastal Empress had sunk in dramatic circumstances which involved a collision with the Faroese vessel, Nordingur. According to a report from The Shetland Times, dated 13 May 1977, the Nordingur rammed straight into the Coastal Empress while she was fishing 13 miles north east of Muckle Flugga. The Coastal Empress sank in about 15 minutes, just giving the crew enough time to make it into the liferaft. Though all the crew were rescued and taken to Lerwick by the damaged Nordingur, one crew member had expressed his concern for the safety of the skipper who had jumped into the water from the stern of the Coastal Empress just as she was going down. 'I thought he was done for' he said. After a change of clothes and a hot meal at the Lerwick Mission, said the report, the crew of the Coastal Empress were flown back to Aberdeen on a charter flight from Sumburgh. The liferaft casing has now found a drier home at Aberdeen Maritime Museum.
early 20th century
