SS Drummond Castle
The SS Drummond Castle was a British passenger ship that tragically sank in 1896. It was a steamship that operated as a passenger liner and was most famous for its disaster, which occurred off the coast of France.
Key details about the SS Drummond Castle:
- Type: Passenger steamship
- Built: 1893
- Owner: The British & Irish Steam Packet Company
- Tonnage: Approximately 3,263 tons
- Voyage: The ship was on a voyage from London to South Africa when the tragedy occurred.
The Tragic Event:
The SS Drummond Castle sank on June 17, 1896, after hitting rocks off the coast of La Hague, in France. The vessel was attempting to navigate through heavy fog and poor visibility when it struck a reef. The ship began to sink rapidly.
The ship carried 200 passengers and crew at the time of its sinking. The majority of those aboard were British and Irish citizens, many of whom were emigrants heading to South Africa. Tragically, only about 40 people survived, and the rest of the passengers and crew were lost.
The event caused great public outrage and drew attention to the poor safety standards of many steamships of that era. This tragedy contributed to increased scrutiny of maritime safety and eventually helped prompt changes to ship safety regulations.
Aftermath and Significance:
The wreck of the SS Drummond Castle became a symbol of the dangers of maritime travel in the late 19th century. The sinking was one of the worst maritime disasters of the time, especially considering the number of lives lost. The ship’s disaster remains a significant part of maritime history, particularly in the context of shipping safety improvements that followed.
Member of The Nautical Research Guild
Learn more about The SS Drummond Castle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Drummond_Castle