BISCO 9 (ex Colonial), by Ballochgair
Type of Dive: Wreck dive from shore
Experience suggested: Suitable for sport divers
Travel directions: Take the A82 up Loch Lomondside. At Tarbet take the LH fork onto the A83. Continue through Arrochar, up the Rest and be Thankful and through Inveraray. Continue on A83 from Inveraray towards Lochgilphead. From Lochgilphead, head south on A83 through Tarbert until Campbeltown. From Campbeltown drive about 4 miles north along the B842 to Ballochgair
Parking directions: Park at a small laybye 400m south of Ballochgair , cross the land and down to Black Bay. Please ask permission at ‘GlenIsla’ cottage just north of Ballochgair for crossing the land.
From Little Chef, Milton: 120 miles, 3 to 3 ½ hours
OS Map & Grid Ref: Map 68; NR775273
Lat & Long: 55:29:035N; 005:31:101W
1:500 000 Map
1: 200 000 Map
1:25 000 Map:
Wreck History: The Colonial was a steel hulled, twin screw, steamship liner built in 1908 in Germany. She was powered by 8 cylinder triple expansion engines. She was sold for scrap after many years of service, and renamed BISCO 9 (British Iron and Steel Corporation 9) for the final voyage. She was being towed up towards the breakers yard at Dalmuir on the Clyde when the towing lines parted several times in a gale. The tug ‘Turmoil’ was eventually unable to reattach a line due to the severity of the gale. The ship drifted for several hours from where the towing line was lost at Ailsa Craig, passing the south coast of Arran, entering the Kilbrannan Sound and finally grounding between Black Bay and Kildonald Point about 4 miles north of Campbeltown. The captain and crew were rescued by Breeches Buoy from the shore. The BISCO 9 was then broken up and scrapped where she lay. Dimensions: 450’ by 55’ by 28’ (136m by 17m by 8m). 8000 gross tons.
Site entry/exit: For shore diving, enter Black Bay and swim towards the two/four concrete blocks that were the site of the temporary pier erected during salvage of the vessel.
Underwater directions: From the concrete blocks, there is a rocky reef that extends northwards from about 3 to 12m. This meets a gently sloping sandy seabed. There are no major pieces of wreck left but there are numerous small finds. There are many hundreds of brown tiles stamped Villeroy and Boch. These may have been part of the ballast. There are small metal finds and other debris. The extent of the spoil is over about 100m both along the top of and sides of the reef.
Site Hazards: The site is open to easterly swell so avoid in east wilds. The kelp growth on the shallow reef makes diving this site more difficult during summer.
Nearest Public phone: Penniver
Mobile Network service: All major networks
Pub & Café: Plenty in Campbeltown.
Other comments See ‘Argyll Shipwrecks’ by Moir & Crawford and Kintyre and Gigha Dive Guide by Calum Buchanan and Donald Fairgray. This guide was produced by two members of the local Campbeltown Scot SAC in 1994.
Thanks to:
Version 1.0
Created by: alex maclennan
Date: April 2007