Local dive boats point finger at south operator over Flow theft claims
(From The Orcadian dated November 8, 2001)

Orkney’s dive boat operators have spoken out in an attempt to distance themselves from the alleged theft of artefacts from a German wreck in Scapa Flow.

And the eight operators, based locally and all members of the Orkney Dive Boat Operators’ Association, say they know whose boat was involved.

Mr John Thornton, who owns the dive boat Karin, said: “The boat works out of the north-east coast of England but comes up here intermittently, over the last year or two.”

The alleged theft of property from the wreck of the light cruiser Brummer, which lies north-east of Cava, has led to the finger of suspicion being pointed at several Orkney-based boats.

“One or two of us have been getting hassle,” Mr Thornton explained. “This was not a locally based boat. This vessel is not a member of the Dive Boat Operators’ Association.”

The operators stressed it was their policy to adhere to the law set up to protect war graves and underwater wrecks.

“The recent designation by Historic Scotland means it is illegal to remove artefacts off the wrecks. It was in co-ordination with Historic Scotland and the association were informed at all times of these developments, and we were not opposed to them,” Mr Thornton added.

Last week The Orcadian revealed that Kirkwall police were investigating the alleged theft of items by a group of divers from Liverpool.

Coincidentally, a member of the diving community said they had been approached earlier last year by a group from Liverpool who wanted to go “wrecking”.

Mr Thornton also said he, and others, had been approached and asked if they would be willing to take divers out to the wrecks and “turn a blind eye” to items taken.

“A group of divers wanting to pinch things contacted quite a few of us,” he said.

The association members in Orkney are – Karin, owned by John Thornton; Three Sisters, Keith Thomson; Jean Elaine, Andy Cuthbertson; Sharon Rose, Ben Wade; Triton, Steve Mowat; Stormdrift, Sarah Wade; John L, Lee Caldwell and the Girl Mina owned by Terry Todd.

Three battleships and four cruisers, scuttled in the Flow in June 1919, were the first wrecks lying below the high watermark to be scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act of 1979 in August this year.

A police spokesman said inquiries were continuing.

lorraine.shearer@orcadian.co.uk