D.M. Cumming, builders of the Moonlight ... Situated at Blackhill Dock, Cummings were one of the three larger ship builders situated along the canals of Glasgow, the other two being Swan and the other Burrel. In 1871 Cummings built the Clyde Puffer Moonlight. In addition to the Moonlight Cummings built an additional 15 vessels between 1871 and 1917, these including a number of ferries servicing the Clyde. The former stretch of canal along with the site of the yard has long since disappeared, this being due to the area being filled in during the 1960's as part of a new road building project.
Research and identification by Paul Hennessey (Norfolk Wreck Research)
Clyde Puffer Moonlight
Position ... 53 12 437 N 000 49 401 E (Charted)
Official number ... 63474
Length ... 66 ft
Beam ... 13.9ft
Draught ... 5.6ft
Build date ... 1871, Builder ... D. M Cumming, Blackhill / launched 1872
Hull ... Iron
Boiler ... Single, drum type (Scotch)
Engine ... 2 cylinder compound engine (Muir & Caldwell, Glasgow)
Propulsion ... x1 screw
Power ... 10 nhp
Tonnage ... 41 grt
Owner ... Rehoboth Robinson, Boston, Lincs
Loss date ... 22nd December 1897
Cause of loss ... Hit submerged object (in ballast, Boston to Hull)
Crew ... All survived, crew of two
Muir & Caldwell of Glasgow, builders of the Moonlights engine ... Builders of marine steam engines between 1868 and 1899. In addition to engines they also manufactured deck machinery and steam steering gear and so on.
Incorrect Identification
As with many wreck sites, the identification of the vessel involved can often be incorrect. The wreck site of the Moonlight demonstrates this perfectly. The UK Hydrographic office have the site listed as that of the Laurium (possibly), a 173ft triple expansion powered collier of 582 GRT. In June 2015 the site was investigated, on first inspection the site was determined not to be that of the Laurium, as named by the UKHO, this conclusion being drawn from the fact that the remains of a 2 cylinder compound engine were in evidence. The Laurium had been fitted with a triple expansion engine.
Various other publications contradict the Hydrographic offices naming of the Laurium, as the wreck specified in the above position, naming it to be that of the Moonlight. At this point things start to become rather complicated, a case of right name, wrong vessel. In present publications that list the site as that of the Moonlight, she is specified as being 126ft long, built by Backhouse and Dixon, along with circumstances and date of loss being recorded as that of which is now believed to be the true Moonlight, a 66ft Clyde Puffer.
On diving the site, the length of the wreck showed itself to be no more than 60 - 70ft from bow to stern, this now disproving the claim that the site is that of the Backhouse and Dixon built Moonlight. The evidence given showed we were looking for a very small vessel, steam driven and machinery aft. After extensive investigations it is now believed this site is to be that of the Clyde built puffer Moonlight as described at the head of this page.
Owners and registrationFirst owner ... 1871 Ross & Marshall, Greenock1878 ... Daniel R Gaff, Greenock1882 ... James Glove, Paisley1890 ... Charles Lindsay, Dundee1891 ... William Taylor, Grangemouth1892 ... Robert Murray, Hull1892 ... Joseph Harvey, Lincs1897 ... Rehoboth Robinson, Lincs
A plotted history of the Moonlight's misadventures On January the 7th 1877 the Moonlight stranded at Ardlamont Bay. She was later salvaged and put back into service. On the 29th March 1879 and loaded with a cargo of 75 tons of coal she left Ardrossan bound for Kirn in Argyll . No sooner had the Moonlight departed than she foundered near Horse Island just off the entrance to Ardrossan Harbour, once again she was salvaged and repaired. Reports at the time stated that the Moonlights owner put blame on the Master for overloading the vessel and proceeding to go to sea in tempestuous weather. On July 15th 1881, once again the Moonlight found herself in trouble, this time running aground at Tighnbruaich in the Kyles of Bute. The official report on the day stated that it was feared that she would be a total wreck but on the 22nd it was reported that she had been got off.
Sadly for the Moonlight her luck was to run out on the 22nd December 1897. Whilst on passage from Boston (Lincs) to Hull in Ballast she hit a submerged object and sank.
The Moonlight todayThe Moonlight makes for a very pleasant dive, at only 66ft long and at a depth of 20mtrs there is plenty of time to explore this picturesque wreck. For the most part she stands no more than a metre clear of the seabed, her small drum type boiler being her highest point at 3mtrs. Starting at the stern you will find her small single prop, this being no more than 1.5mtrs in diameter. From here there is a short distane to her 2 cylinder compound engine, here you will also find her single drum type boiler, along with various associated boiler room pipework. A short fin from the boilers will bring you to the bows, here you will find a mass of anchor chain, this giving refuge to Juvenile crabs and lobsters. For the most part the Moonlight is jumble of collapsed plates and frames, this said, she is well worth a visit.
Below ... The Clyde Puffer Moonlight as she is today.
