The Tapti (Wreck)

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Taking a ship in ballast from the Mersey to the Tyne around Scotland was never the best of voyages. In January 1951, it proved too much for the motor vessel Tapti and her skipper Captain Coney, who had orders to pick up a cargo for India at Tynemouth.

The 416ft-long Tapti made good progress until 17 January. That's when she found herself short of the Minch and in the middle of a violent rainstorm, with hail driven by a south-westerly gale wiping out all visibility.

The onset of night made things worse for the captain, his officers and the crew of 60 Indian and Chinese seamen. They continued, as they thought, on course in the blackout, but were in fact running inside Tiree, with Mull to starboard. Suddenly Tapti struck rocks on the east shore of Soa Island off the southern end of Coll.

The impact of the 6609 ton steel ship was colossal, and though Captain Coney ordered "full astern", Tapti would not come free.

Swell after swell from the south drove her further on, until finally the waves span her round, driving her stern higher on the rocks. Captain Coney admitted defeat, and sent Mayday calls to Malin Head radio station.

The Tapti stayed on the rocks all night. By dawn the rescue ships around her consisted of both Mallaig and Barra lifeboats, two frigates and two trawlers, but there was little that they could do. She settled deeper and listed more and more.

Soon that list had reached more than 60°, and her captain ordered "abandon ship". Every member of the crew was soon scrambling down nets and into the lifeboats, which took them to Tobermory.

Tapti stayed on the rocks for four days before a southerly gale gave her another battering. It was too much. During the night of 21 January, she rolled off the rocks and sank in deep water. Salvage work soon began, and continued for several years whenever the weather allowed