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As a Customs Officer at that time I remember assisting the Superintendent of Mercantile Marine (local Department of Transport representative) on board the St Rognvald whilst an attempt was being made to tow her off Thieves Holm by the Dutch tug 'Beaver'. She never budged and that attempt was abandoned. The salvage vessel which can be seen alongside her in the photo was brought in and was anchored off the vessel, and it's powerful winches literally tore her off the rocks.
Picture added on 30 July 2007
See picture #124 and picture #125 for pics of the St Rognvald high and dry on Thieves Holm.
Added by Neal Johnston on 03 August 2007
St Rognvald (III) ran aground on Thieves Holm, Kirkwall Bay, on 4 May 1973 and was refloated on 18 May 1973 - source of information: "The North Boats" by Alastair W. McRobb (ISBN 1-871947-49-9)
Added by Rob Thomson on 04 August 2007
Salvage vessel was "Bever" owned by Smit-Tak of Rotterdam. The procedure used was laying out anchors with large "blocks"(pulleys) attached to the anchor and the grounded ship thus giving a big mechanical advantage when heaved by the winch on the salvage vessel which of course also had to be securely anchored. It was a rather slow process but this helped reduce damage to the casualty and of course was done at a Spring high tide after cargo had been removed from the "Rognvald" by the shallower drafted "Islander" and the salvage vessel
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Added by W Mackay on 23 January 2008
Kirkwall
