On the night of February 8, 1883, the SS Fifeshire encountered heavy seas and rough weather while navigating near Cabo Roca. The adverse weather conditions and strong currents caused the ship to run aground on the rocks near Cabo Roca.

The crew of the SS Fifeshire faced a perilous situation due to the rough seas and the proximity of the ship to the rocky coastline. However, with the assistance of local fishermen and rescue teams, all 35 crew members on board were safely rescued from the stricken vessel.

Salvage efforts were made to recover some of the cargo and equipment from the wreck, but the ship itself suffered extensive damage and was unable to be refloated.