Loch Earn was a British three-masted full-rigged ship that was on a voyage from London, England to New York City, United States when she collided with SS Ville du Havre in the Atlantic Ocean (47°21′N 35°31′W / 47.350°N 35.517°W / 47.350; -35.517) on 22 November 1873.

[3] Loch Earn departed London, England for New York City, United States under the command of Captain William Robertson, with 85 passengers and crew on board.

[5][6] Captain Robertson observed the Ville du Havre approaching dangerously close, and rang the ship's bell before turning the helm hard to starboard in an effort to avoid a collision.

Ville du Havre was nearly split in half by the impact before the Loch Earn dislodged herself from the ship and floated away from the stricken vessel.

[9] Another lifeboat managed to get away unscathed, and rowed towards the Loch Earn, dropping of a load of survivors before returning to find more people struggling in the water.

In total 87 survivors (26 passengers and 61 crew) were saved from the Ville du Havre and were brought safely on board the Loch Earn.

The Board of Trade commenced an inquiry into the disaster which ended on 28 December 1873, in which the court unanimously decided that the officers of the Loch Earn were not responsible for the unfortunate events.