3240. Strathallan, s.s., and Adara, 8.8. ; former built at Glasgow, 1881 ; owned by Mr. A. Marshall, and others ; tonnage, 659, gross ; Penarth to St. Malo ; coal ; latter built at Sunderland, 1877; owned by Mr. R. Penny, and others ; tonnage, 1,304, gross ; at anchor near the West Cardiff Buoy ; in collision March 29, 1887, when former sank and five lives were lost.

Inquiry held at Swansea, April 27, 1887, before Fowler, Judge ; Moresby, Davis and Richardson, N.A. Collision due to recklessness of master of Strathallan in proceeding through Penarth Roads on a dark night at fall speed regardless of the 4-knot tide with him. Certificate suspended for twelve months ; recommended for one as mate. - The Nautical Magazine [240] [499] v. 56 (Jan.-June 1887).

The s.s. 'Strathallan' sank following a collision with the anchored steamer s.s. 'Adara' between Raines Buoy and Lavernock Point in the Bristol Channel whilst on a voyage from Penarth Dock to St. Malo with a cargo of coal and one passenger. Five of the crew of fourteen were lost.

The vessel was built at the Kingston Yard of Henry Murray & Company of Port Glasgow and was launched during February 1881. She was built for Alexander M. Hay trading as James Hay and Sons of Glasgow and was a single screw, general cargo vessel with an iron hull.

Her vital statistics were 629 gross and 410 net register tons being 180.1 ft. long x 27.5 ft. breath x 13.8 ft. deep. [425]

A STEAMER AND FIVE LIVES LOST - HEARTRENDING SCENES - At a late hour on Tuesday evening a most disastrous collision occurred within a few miles of Cardiff between the steamer Strathallan, of Glasgow, and the steamer Adara, of Shoreham. The Strathallan, the unfortunate vessel which is now lying, cut nearly in twain, in the deep water of the channel off Lavernock Point, was a steamer of 659 gross tonnage, registered at Glasgow, and owned by Messrs J. Hay and Sons. She was built in 1881 by Messrs. H. Murray and Co., of Glasgow, and was regularly employed as a coaler between Cardiff and St. Malo, being managed by the local agents, Messrs. Haslehurst and Hewlett, Exchange Buildings, Cardiff. The Adara was a large steamer of 1,305 gross tonnage, registered at Shoreham, and owned by Mr R. H. Penney. She was built in 1877, at Sunderland, by Messrs. Mounsey and Foster.

It appears that during the past week both vessels were being loaded in the Cardiff docks by Messrs. Gueret and Co. The Strathallan received a cargo of coal, and the Adara was loaded with patent fuel. Taking advantage of the evening tide and the favourable weather, the two ships left Cardiff on Tuesday, the Strathallan being bound for her usual destination, St. Malo, and the Adara for Pola, in Italy. The latter vessel left the docks first, and, under the charge of a pilot, proceeded down channel. After clearing the roads the pilot left, and the Adara steamed on until almost abreast of the West Buoy, off Lavernock, when by some mischance she unfortunately collided with a schooner, which, like a large number of other vessels in the vicinity, was lying at anchor. The collision was, however, but a very slight one, but as Captain Park, the commander of the Adara, could not fully estimate the damage he might have caused, be brought his vessel to anchor and proceeded in a boat to the schooner. Having boarded this vessel, he ascertained from the captain that the injuries inflicted were comparatively trivial, and they accordingly adjourned to the cabin to settle mutually the amount of compensation.

Having agreed upon this point, and having obtained a receipt for the amount paid, Captain Park came on deck again in order to return to his ship. This was, about half-past ten o'clock. Whilst entering his boat he was alarmed to hear a terrific crash proceeding from the direction of his own vessel, the lights of which he could of course plainly see, as she was but a very short distance away. This crash, as it transpired, was the noise of a collision, and so loud was the found that it was distinctly heard by several vessels in the locality. Captain Park made all haste towards the Adara, and when within hailing distance was informed by the mate that a steamer had just struck the ship forward, and had gone down, as be thought, with all hands. The captain at once inquired concerning the damage which had been sustained by his own vessel, and finding that at all events her injuries were not so serious as to require his immediate attention, he pulled off in the direction where the mate believed the sunken steamer lay.