Above ... The yard of T.B. Seath & Co (Builders of the Leelite)

SS LEELITE / EX ENSIGN

Type ...  Cargo, x2 holds, plumb bow, counter stern, machinery aft, long raised quarter deck, x 3 masts

Position ... 52 52 52 N / 001 42 671 E

Depth ... 35mtrs

Official number ... 86734

Port of registration at time of loss ... Methil, Scotland

Builder ... T. B. Seath & Co / Glasgow

Engine builder ... J & T Young / Ayre

Built ... 1882

Construction ... Iron

Lost ... 3rd March 1926

Cause ... Collision

Crew ... nine

Casualties ... Four

SPECIFICATION AND DIMENSIONS AT TIME OF LOSS (1926)

Dimensions ... 155.5 x 23.1 x 10.4 feet

Tonnage ... 404 grt

Long raised quarter deck ... 54 feet

Forecastle ... 22 feet

Bridge ... Length 7 feet

Double bottom ... Yes

Engine ... Two cylinder inverted compound

Cylinders ... Hp 16 inches, Lp 34 inches x 28 inch stroke / 50 hp

Boiler ... x1 cylindrical single ended multitubular / 100lbs pressure / diameter 10 feet 9 inches / length 9 feet 6 inches

Furnaces ... x2 plain furnaces

Screw ... Diameter 9 feet six inches, x4 blades, pitch 13 feet

In 1894 the Leelite, whilst under her former name of the Ensign underwent several major changes to her structure.

Original dimensions and tonnage at time of build in 1882, this being prior to major structural alterations in 1894

Dimensions ... 145 x 23.1 x 10.6

Raised quarter deck ... 16 feet

Bridge deck ... 28 feet

Forecastle ... 22 feet

Tonnage ... 318 grt

Alterations 1894.

(1) .. Cut in half around midships, lengthened by six frame spaces, this being 10 feet six inches.

(2) .. Long raised quarter deck fitted. This being fifty four feet six inches in length.

(3) .. New bridge fitted on foreside of new raised quarter deck. Bridge length seven feet.

Ownership history

Built in 1882 as the Ensign by T. B. Seath & co of Glasgow for J. R. Currie & Co. Sold to W. Robertson in 1885.

1885 - 1899 .. W. Robertson

1900 - 1902 ... Ross & Marshall (Renamed Leelite)

1903 - 1916 ... North East Shipping Co Ltd

1917 - 1926 (Year of loss) ... M. Taylor

Below, Double bottom cross section as incorporated in the Leelite .... A double bottom is a method of construction where the bottom of the ship has two separate layers of watertight hull floor. The outer layer forms the outer hull and the inner layer, ie the floor forms a watertight barrier should the outer hull be breached. Up until 2007, double bottomed vessels were allowed to utilise their DB's for fuel storage. In addition the DB can also be used for the storage of ballast water.

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Below ...  Single ended cylindrical multi tubular boiler with x2 plain furnaces as fitted in the Leelite.

Below ...  Two cylinder inverted compound engine as fitted in the Leelite. Cylinder sizes, High pressure 16 inches, Low pressure 34 inches, 28 inch stroke.

Circumstances of loss (1926)

On the 3rd March whilst en route to Dundee from ghent  with a cargo of coal the Leelite was in collision with the Lowestoft trawler Amorelle. The conditions at the time were described as being that of thick fog. The damage sustained was so extensive it resulted in the Leelite sinking in less than five minutes. From the crew of nine only five survived, these being rescued by the Amorelle. All five survivors were then taken on to Lowestoft.

Additional

Sinking ... On the 8th February 1900 the Leelite was in collision with the steamer Manningham whilst off Dumbarton. The incident resulted in the sinking of the Leelite. The Leelite was soon raised and returned to service.

Rudder and steering gear ... On the 14th February 1911 the Leelite grounded off Wells- Next - The - Sea in Norfolk. In doing so the vessel sustained damage to her rudder, rudder stock, and steering gear. This in turn resulted in the Leelite being fitted with a new rudder.

The Leelite today (awaiting divers report)

Identified as the Leelite in the mid 1990's with the recovery of the ships bell.