Dark dawn at Black Nab. - a photo on Flickriver

            The remains of the wreckage of the trawler Admiral Von Tromp lie eviscerated on the slate rock bed of the Saltwick flats by Black Nab.

I had made my way here in the dark as the tide receded to its low point allowing access to the wreck. This was taken about 20 minutes before sunrise with a brooding sky capturing the mood and mystery of this wreck.

Why did a well equipped and crewed trawler from nearby Scarborough run aground here in good conditions in October 1976? It remains a mystery!

The von Tromp’s captain Frankie Taal and his crew set off from Scarborough Harbour at 1am, heading for the Barnacle Bank fishing grounds, some 45 miles north-east of the town.

He set the trawler’s course before going to bed, leaving experienced crewmate John Addison at the wheel.

But the skipper woke up to the vessel bumping and heeling.

It was foundering on the rocks of Black Nab, a location 90 degrees off course and notorious as the worst reef on the coast.

Mr Taal challenged Mr Addison, who appeared stunned and barely spoke. The weather had been fine, if foggy, the boat had enough fuel and they had been heading directly away from the coast.
According to a nautical surveyor who spoke at the subsequent inquest, even if the vessel had been left to its own devices, it would not have ended up on the rocks without human intervention.

Mr Addison drowned in the wheelhouse, washing up in Runswick Bay, and crewman George Eves died when he was swept off the roof by a large wave.

The captain was washed overboard but plucked from the water by the crew of the in-shore lifeboat.

Mr Addison’s post-mortem examination showed no traces of drugs or alcohol. But he had reportedly been overheard saying “Oh, Alan!” to another crew member in a quiet, apologetic voice during the events. Only he would no the truth of the events that night and that went with him to his grave!

Taken on: September 26, 2023

Tags:

Saltwick Bay

Black Nab

Admiral Von Tromp

Shipwreck

Wreck

Trawler

Rockflats

Tidal

Shore

Shoreline

North Yorkshire

Whitby

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Clouds

Dawn

Wreckage

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