The Cathcartpark was a 453nt steel steamship built by Carmichael & McLean of Greenock in the Cartsdyke West Yard 5. She was owned by the Cathcart Steamer Fleet, a subsidiary of what was to become the Denholm Line. She was launched in August 1897.
All ships belonging to the Denholm Line were named after parks, originally the six parks in Greenock until the fleet became larger than six ships, at which point parks from other towns were adopted. However, the Cathcartpark proved a very expensive name to telegraph due to its length, which resulted in shorter names from 1897 onwards. The Cathcartpark represented the development of a budding venture for the Denholm Line, who only began introducing steamships to their fleet in 1882. The Cathcartpark was a steamship with auxiliary sails, paving the way for fully steam powered ships a few years later.
She was en route from Runcorn to Wick with a cargo of salt when she ran aground on the Torran Rocks, near Iona, on 15th April 1912, same day as the sinking of the Titanic. The Cathcartpark's bow was badly damaged, and she quickly took on water, developing a 45 degree list. Captain Thomas Blair and the 11 crew-members were able to escape to shore in the ship's boats, with one boat landing on Iona and the other on the mainland of Mull.
The news was sent by telegram from Iona to London via Oban. The wreck was first reported in the London Standard on 16th April 1912, detailing that her forehold was full of water. By the 17th, the Standard reported her decks awash even at low water. Salvage experts could not get to work for a few days due to the strong seas which gradually broke the ship apart, turning her keel up and causing the hull plates to part. She was listed in the Overdue Market at being down for 50 guineas to the per cent after two days for reinsurance purposes, rising to 90 guineas after three days. On the 20th, the London Standard stated "the steamer Cathcart Park [...] is in a hopeless position and is off the market", having been declared a Total Loss Only. By then it was clear that saving the ship was an impossibility and the Cathcartpark was abandoned. At time of loss, the vessel and her cargo were assessed as being worth £12,000.
Although the wreck was reportedly located a number of years ago, the location was not published. It was not until a group of divers diving from Fyne Pioneer found wreckage off the Torran Rocks in July 2014 that the Cathcartpark was open for use by sports divers. The Denholm Line is still in operation today.
