The story of the Erlo Hills ex Monte Erlo is a strange affair to say the least.  It all began on the morning of the 2^nd October 1981 when a distress message was received from the Erlo Hills saying that she was aground at Sanda Island, off the Mull of Kintyre, so the Campbletown lifeboat was immediately sent to the scene.  A lighthouse keeper at Rathlin East lighthouse spotted a vessel aground at the east side of the island and reported it to Ballycastle Coastguard.  They in turn called out Rathlin Lifesaving Company, who went to the scene, but the crew were in no immediate danger.  The coaster Ceol Mor was also standing by.  Campbeltown lifenoat was diverted to the scene as it was discovered that the Erlo Hills was in fact aground on Rathlin and not on Sanda.  When the lifeboat arrived, she passed a tow rope between the trawler and the Ceol Mor which in turn towed the Erlo Hills off the rocks.  The Erlo Hills then apparently suffered engine failure and drifted about for some time before the crew were taken off by Campbeltown lifeboat by this time Portrush lifeboat had also arrived on the scene.  Shortly after this, the Erlo Hills drifted ashore on the north side of the island.  The wind by this time had risen to storm force north-easterly.  The whole rescue operation had taken some eight hours and during this time one of the Rathlin Lifesaving Company suffered a stroke and had to be taken off the island by helicopter where he recovered in hospital.

The Police and the Army put an armed guard on the wreck as the Erlo Hills was supposed to be involved in some clandestine activity.  This did not prevent the more daring of the islanders investigating the wreck under cover of darkness.  This, however, was after the armed guard had been provided with some liquid refreshments to keep out the cold of Rathlin winter’s night.  No arms were ever discovered on the wreck, but the story arose after the crew were seen dumping wooden cases over the side before they abandoned ship.  They Navy also carried out diving operations on the wreck.  Many interesting trophies were salvaged by the islanders but that’s a story for another time.

Diving information – The Erlo Hills was wrecked on the north side of the island at a place called Farganlack Point. She is in quite shallow water, about 4 metres. There is no tidal current and the visibility is very good. The wreck is badly broken up but there are still some odds and ends to be picked up. The bow section is lying on the beach.