Goodwill Merchant
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On 18th January, 1976 the steel hulled Goodwill Merchant, 468 gross tons, 59.94 L x 10.23 b x 3.86 D metres, built 1962 E.J. Smit & Zn's, Scheeps, Westerbroek, The Netherlands, owner A.C Hoff, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and registered in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, was wrecked on the west side of the Ness of Ireland, Bigton, just north of St Ninian's Isle. She was on charter to Shetland Line and bound for Lerwick from Grangemouth, with a general cargo. When she went aground the crew put out a Mayday saying that she was aground on Fair Isle, but she was located by the rescue helicopter which lifted the crew of eight to safety. It was belived that the person on watch had mistaken the Sumburgh Head light, for the Fair Isle light, and steamed east thinking that they were in the Fair Isle channel.
On a lighter note, among the cargo were some new cars. The person who had ordered one of these cars phoned the dealership the next day to ask if his new car had arrived. He was told, "Yes your car is on Shetland.... But..."
A number of pictures of the wreck can be seen here.
