This East German freighter, homeward bound with a cargo of sugar from Havana, Cuba, went ashore on Muckle Skerry in dense fog. Evidently her radar had broken down. The crew, except for the captain and bosun, took to the ship's lifeboat. A lighthouse keeper from Muckle Skerry, David Leslie, could see the crew leaving in their lifeboat and realising that it could be smashed on the rocks scrambled down and jumped aboard, before guiding them round to the sheltered side where there was a landing stage. Longhope lifeboat then transferred the survivors to Kirkwall where they were fed and clothed before flying home.
Seven hours after going aground the vessel rolled off the rocks and sank.
This rescue made newspaper headlines throughout the country because of the courage and help pf the lighthouse keepers, but mainly because of the alleged looting which took place.
As the Kathe Niederkirchner sank during a time of increased tension between Cuba and the USA it was rumoured that she may have been delivering weapons or nuclear components from the Soviet Union to Cuba. These rumours increased when a cordon was quickly put around the sinking area and all traffic kept out.
The wreck of the Kathe Niederkirchner lies to the north west of Muckle Skerry and certainly used to lie bow up with her stern at about 20m. Currents are notoriously strong in the area and diving is only possible for about 30 mins during slack water. As its been a long time since anyone has dived the wreck it is not known how she lies today.
The Kathe Niederkirchner was built in 1964 by Warnowwerft, Warnebunde. Her diesel powered engine developed 5850 hp and she had a single shaft and screw which gave her a top speed of 15 knots. Her dimensions were 142.3m long x 18.6m wide x 7.3m deep. She was 8003 gross registered tons and was owned at the time of her loss by the Deutsche Seerederei.
Seven hours after going aground the vessel rolled off the rocks and sank.
This rescue made newspaper headlines throughout the country because of the courage and help pf the lighthouse keepers, but mainly because of the alleged looting which took place.
As the Kathe Niederkirchner sank during a time of increased tension between Cuba and the USA it was rumoured that she may have been delivering weapons or nuclear components from the Soviet Union to Cuba. These rumours increased when a cordon was quickly put around the sinking area and all traffic kept out.
The wreck of the Kathe Niederkirchner lies to the north west of Muckle Skerry and certainly used to lie bow up with her stern at about 20m. Currents are notoriously strong in the area and diving is only possible for about 30 mins during slack water. As its been a long time since anyone has dived the wreck it is not known how she lies today.
The Kathe Niederkirchner was built in 1964 by Warnowwerft, Warnebunde. Her diesel powered engine developed 5850 hp and she had a single shaft and screw which gave her a top speed of 15 knots. Her dimensions were 142.3m long x 18.6m wide x 7.3m deep. She was 8003 gross registered tons and was owned at the time of her loss by the Deutsche Seerederei.