Site Name: Nyland - Coll & Tiree

The SS Nyland was a steel steamship built in Oslo in 1940, managed by Vilhelm Torkildsen of Bergen, Norway. She had a compound triple expansion engine with a LP turbine, single shaft, and two boilers. She was 1374grt, with dimensions 75 metres x 12 metres x 5 metres.

The Nyland travelled all over the world on convoy duty in the first year of World War Two, sailing from Europe and North Africa to Canada and Australia with cargoes including wood pulp and newsprint. The Nyland was lost whilst en-route from the Tyne to Mackenzie in ballast, with convoy EN.35/1 which comprised of 23 merchant ships and 3 escorts. The convoy departed Methil on 2nd December 1940 and was scheduled to arrive at Oban on 6th December 1940. She was then to join up with convoy OB.255 for onward movement to the Mackenzie River, Canada.

The Nyland was last sighted off Skerryvore on 5th December by the Marga. Terrible weather was encountered, with many ships deciding to seek refuge. She sank on 6th December 1940 after running aground on the West Reef of Torran Rocks, Iona. An SOS message had been received stating that the Nyland had run aground and was about to break up. A tug boat was despatched in response but on arrival could discover no trace of the ship or her crew. The Nyland was skippered by Captain Otto Kampevold who was lost with the ship along with 19 other crewmembers, with representatives of Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Dutch, Newfoundland and Canadian nationalities amongst them. A piece of wreckage bearing her name was found two weeks later on the Torran Rocks.

The Nyland is a deep wreck, lying upside down in a 50 metre hole on a sand/shingle bottom. It is 45 metres to the top of the wreck. Rescue teams could find no trace of her and so she was never salvaged. Although she was broken up by the sea, she is mostly intact, with boilers, portholes, 4 bladed propeller and rudder still visible. Divers report even finding a lavatory on the wreck! Although dark due to the depth, the wreck is home to soft corals and plumose anemones. She is very photogenic.

The Nyland is a tidal wreck so should be dived at slack.