The Bergen steamer Rein ran ashore on Helman head in thick weather early one Saturday morning. She had been steaming north for the Pentland Firth with a cargo of wood pulp for Preston, when without warning and too late to take any avoiding action, cliffs were sighted dead ahead and she ran onto the rocks at full speed. Although distress flares were lit they could not be seen on shore as the steamer was lying close to the cliffs. The masthead light exploded from the force of the impact and the blaze was seen by Skipper Alexander Adamson of the local seine boat Smiling Morn, which was on her way to the fishing grounds.
As there were rocks on either side of the steamer which made it impossible to get alongside, Skipper Adamson anchored off while the crew of the Rein launched their two lifeboats. In the heavy swell there was a considerable risk that the boats might be smashed against the stranded steamer and the last man to leave had to be picked up after jumping into the sea. At first light the crew reboarded their ship to try and save some personal effects but the receeding tide made the attempt increasingly hazardous. They were landed at Wick and by the following high tide the steamer was completely awash. The Rein was skippered by Captain Meyer.
The Rein was built of steel in 1900 and was 73m long by 11m wide and 1157 (or possibly 1175) gross registered tons.
Today the wreck lies well broken up in approx 15m of water. All her decks have been crushed and she rises about 1m off the seabed. Still to be seen are the boilers, propellor and large crankshaft. A plaque found by local diver Neil Reid in 1996 shows the date 1900 and the place name Christiania, (now Oslo). It is on view in the Wick Society Museum in Bank Row.
Due to her reasonably shallow depth the Rein is best dived in the winter months when she is relatively free of weed. Although her position is close to shore the site is prone to some strong currents and she is best dived at slack water.
An underwater video of the Rein as she appears on the seabed can be viewed on our You-Tube channel.
As there were rocks on either side of the steamer which made it impossible to get alongside, Skipper Adamson anchored off while the crew of the Rein launched their two lifeboats. In the heavy swell there was a considerable risk that the boats might be smashed against the stranded steamer and the last man to leave had to be picked up after jumping into the sea. At first light the crew reboarded their ship to try and save some personal effects but the receeding tide made the attempt increasingly hazardous. They were landed at Wick and by the following high tide the steamer was completely awash. The Rein was skippered by Captain Meyer.
The Rein was built of steel in 1900 and was 73m long by 11m wide and 1157 (or possibly 1175) gross registered tons.
Today the wreck lies well broken up in approx 15m of water. All her decks have been crushed and she rises about 1m off the seabed. Still to be seen are the boilers, propellor and large crankshaft. A plaque found by local diver Neil Reid in 1996 shows the date 1900 and the place name Christiania, (now Oslo). It is on view in the Wick Society Museum in Bank Row.
Due to her reasonably shallow depth the Rein is best dived in the winter months when she is relatively free of weed. Although her position is close to shore the site is prone to some strong currents and she is best dived at slack water.
An underwater video of the Rein as she appears on the seabed can be viewed on our You-Tube channel.