Jump to content

SS Lake Illawarra: Difference between revisions

Edit links
Coordinates: 42°51′52″S 147°20′45″E / 42.86444°S 147.34583°E / -42.86444; 147.34583
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Remove supercategory of existing category per WP:SUBCAT using AWB
Rescuing 2 sources and tagging 0 as dead. #IABot (v1.3.2.4)
Line 55: Line 55:
}}
}}
|}
|}
'''MV ''Lake Illawarra''''' was a [[handysize]] [[bulk carrier]] of 7,274&nbsp;tons in the service of the [[Australian National Line]] shipping company. This ship is known for causing the [[Tasman Bridge disaster]] when it collided with pylon 19 of [[Hobart]]'s giant high concrete arch style [[Tasman Bridge]] on the evening of 5 January 1975 at 9.27 p.m.,<ref name=taswrecks/><ref name="ABS Featured Article">{{cite web |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/7a88395760718555ca256c32002417ba?OpenDocument |title=Feature Article - The Tasman bridge |work=1301.6 - Tasmanian Year Book, 2000 |publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] |date=13 September 2002 |accessdate=4 April 2007}}</ref><ref name=CCC>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccc.tas.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=424|title=Tasman Bridge disaster|publisher=Clarence City Council|accessdate=20 August 2007}}</ref> resulting in the deaths of 12 people.
'''MV ''Lake Illawarra''''' was a [[handysize]] [[bulk carrier]] of 7,274&nbsp;tons in the service of the [[Australian National Line]] shipping company. This ship is known for causing the [[Tasman Bridge disaster]] when it collided with pylon 19 of [[Hobart]]'s giant high concrete arch style [[Tasman Bridge]] on the evening of 5 January 1975 at 9.27 p.m.,<ref name=taswrecks/><ref name="ABS Featured Article">{{cite web |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/7a88395760718555ca256c32002417ba?OpenDocument |title=Feature Article - The Tasman bridge |work=1301.6 - Tasmanian Year Book, 2000 |publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] |date=13 September 2002 |accessdate=4 April 2007}}</ref><ref name=CCC>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccc.tas.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=424 |title=Tasman Bridge disaster |publisher=Clarence City Council |accessdate=20 August 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829124838/http://www.ccc.tas.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=424 |archivedate=29 August 2007 |df= }}</ref> resulting in the deaths of 12 people.


==Collision and sinking==
==Collision and sinking==
Line 66: Line 66:
The collision brought down the two support pylons and a {{convert|127|m|adj=on}} section of steel and concrete.<ref name=CCC/> There was evening traffic on the bridge, and although no vehicles were on the section that fell, four cars drove off the gap, with five people killed.<ref name=CCC/> Two cars stopped on the edge, their occupants able to escape.<ref name=CCC/> The section of four-lane highway landed on the ship's deck, sinking her in {{Convert|35|m|ft}} of water to the south of the bridge. Seven of the ship's crew lost their lives in the accident.<ref name=taswrecks/><ref name=CCC/>
The collision brought down the two support pylons and a {{convert|127|m|adj=on}} section of steel and concrete.<ref name=CCC/> There was evening traffic on the bridge, and although no vehicles were on the section that fell, four cars drove off the gap, with five people killed.<ref name=CCC/> Two cars stopped on the edge, their occupants able to escape.<ref name=CCC/> The section of four-lane highway landed on the ship's deck, sinking her in {{Convert|35|m|ft}} of water to the south of the bridge. Seven of the ship's crew lost their lives in the accident.<ref name=taswrecks/><ref name=CCC/>


The ship and the debris pile were deemed unsafe to move; the ship's oil was pumped out, and the bow was removed at a later date.<ref name=taswrecks/> The wreck is deep enough not to be a navigational hazard,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ink.news.com.au/mercury/mathguys/articles/1995/951208a1.htm |title=SAFE For another 70 years |author=Steven Dally |publisher=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]] |date=8 December 1995 |accessdate=4 April 2007}}</ref> although movement caused by tides is considered enough of a threat to the bridge to be monitored closely by electronic sensors.{{Citation needed|date=August 2007}}
The ship and the debris pile were deemed unsafe to move; the ship's oil was pumped out, and the bow was removed at a later date.<ref name=taswrecks/> The wreck is deep enough not to be a navigational hazard,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ink.news.com.au/mercury/mathguys/articles/1995/951208a1.htm |title=SAFE For another 70 years |author=Steven Dally |publisher=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]] |date=8 December 1995 |accessdate=4 April 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070425210548/http://ink.news.com.au/mercury/mathguys/articles/1995/951208a1.htm |archivedate=25 April 2007 |df= }}</ref> although movement caused by tides is considered enough of a threat to the bridge to be monitored closely by electronic sensors.{{Citation needed|date=August 2007}}


The subsequent [[Court of Marine Inquiry]] found that ''Lake Illawarra'' was capable of passing beneath the bridge's central navigation span, but the captain instead attempted to pass through one of the eastern spans, due to a combination of strong tidal currents and inattention.<ref name=taswrecks>{{cite web|url=http://oceans1.customer.netspace.net.au/tas-wrecks.html|title=Shipwrecks of Tasmania|accessdate=20 August 2007}}</ref><ref name="AttGenDept">{{cite web |url=http://www.ema.gov.au/ema/emadisasters.nsf/c85916e930b93d50ca256d050020cb1f/a2139c958151bd18ca256d33000583c3?OpenDocument|title=Hobart, Tas: Bridge Collapse |publisher=Attorney General's Department-Emergency Management Australia |accessdate=20 August 2007}}</ref> The Court found that Pelc had not handled ''Lake Illawarra'' in a proper and seamanlike manner, and suspended his master's certificate for six months.<ref name=taswrecks/> A [[harbour pilot|pilot service]] was introduced in response to the court's findings.<ref name="AttGenDept"/>
The subsequent [[Court of Marine Inquiry]] found that ''Lake Illawarra'' was capable of passing beneath the bridge's central navigation span, but the captain instead attempted to pass through one of the eastern spans, due to a combination of strong tidal currents and inattention.<ref name=taswrecks>{{cite web|url=http://oceans1.customer.netspace.net.au/tas-wrecks.html|title=Shipwrecks of Tasmania|accessdate=20 August 2007}}</ref><ref name="AttGenDept">{{cite web |url=http://www.ema.gov.au/ema/emadisasters.nsf/c85916e930b93d50ca256d050020cb1f/a2139c958151bd18ca256d33000583c3?OpenDocument|title=Hobart, Tas: Bridge Collapse |publisher=Attorney General's Department-Emergency Management Australia |accessdate=20 August 2007}}</ref> The Court found that Pelc had not handled ''Lake Illawarra'' in a proper and seamanlike manner, and suspended his master's certificate for six months.<ref name=taswrecks/> A [[harbour pilot|pilot service]] was introduced in response to the court's findings.<ref name="AttGenDept"/>

Revision as of 04:55, 29 May 2017

MV Lake Illawarra
History
Australia
NameSS Lake Illawarra
OperatorAustralian Coastal Shipping Commission (later renamed Australian National Line)
BuilderBHP at Whyalla, South Australia[citation needed]
Launched1958[citation needed]
Out of service1975
FateSank after colliding with Tasman Bridge, Hobart on 5 January 1975
General characteristics
TypeSteel bulk ore carrier
Tonnage7,273.75 gross tons, 4,342.97 net tons[citation needed]
Length446.15 feet (135.99 m)[citation needed]
Beam58.75 feet (17.91 m)[citation needed]
Draught31.4 feet (9.6 m)[citation needed]
Installed powerOil-fired boilers, built by John Kempson (Australia) Pty. Ltd.[citation needed]
Propulsiontwo Parsons-type steam turbines built by Cockatoo Dock and Engineering Co., Pty. Ltd., Sydney. Single-shaft.[citation needed]
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)[citation needed]
Crew42[citation needed]

MV Lake Illawarra was a handysize bulk carrier of 7,274 tons in the service of the Australian National Line shipping company. This ship is known for causing the Tasman Bridge disaster when it collided with pylon 19 of Hobart's giant high concrete arch style Tasman Bridge on the evening of 5 January 1975 at 9.27 p.m.,[1][2][3] resulting in the deaths of 12 people.

Collision and sinking

Main article: Tasman Bridge disaster

Lake Illawarra was loaded with zinc concentrate, for the Electrolytic Zinc Company (more recently known as Zinifex and OZ Minerals) refinery (now run by Nyrstar) at Risdon, about 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) up the River Derwent from the bridge.[2]

Just before the impact, Captain Boleslaw Pelc realised as he passed Rosny Point that he was off course, and traveling too fast. He tried to correct the heading, but only managed to bring the bows too far to port (left) and was now heading for the western shore. He urgently counter-corrected, but could not make the opening. Realising he was headed for a collision, he put the engines full astern, but the torque from her propeller caused the ship to slide in a broadside movement. She smashed into the 18th and 19th pylons.[1]

Model showing the submerged wreck and bridge debris

The collision brought down the two support pylons and a 127-metre (417 ft) section of steel and concrete.[3] There was evening traffic on the bridge, and although no vehicles were on the section that fell, four cars drove off the gap, with five people killed.[3] Two cars stopped on the edge, their occupants able to escape.[3] The section of four-lane highway landed on the ship's deck, sinking her in 35 metres (115 ft) of water to the south of the bridge. Seven of the ship's crew lost their lives in the accident.[1][3]

The ship and the debris pile were deemed unsafe to move; the ship's oil was pumped out, and the bow was removed at a later date.[1] The wreck is deep enough not to be a navigational hazard,[4] although movement caused by tides is considered enough of a threat to the bridge to be monitored closely by electronic sensors.[citation needed]

The subsequent Court of Marine Inquiry found that Lake Illawarra was capable of passing beneath the bridge's central navigation span, but the captain instead attempted to pass through one of the eastern spans, due to a combination of strong tidal currents and inattention.[1][5] The Court found that Pelc had not handled Lake Illawarra in a proper and seamanlike manner, and suspended his master's certificate for six months.[1] A pilot service was introduced in response to the court's findings.[5]

Memorial

A memorial plague is dedicated to the MV Lake Illawarra at the Tasmanian Seafarers' Memorial at Triabunna on the east coast of Tasmania, approximately 80 kilometres (50 mi) north-east of Hobart.[6]

The plaque contains the following text:

S.S. "Lake Illawarra"

5.1.1975 on Derwent River, Hobart
 7274 ton steam turbine bulk carrier
 crew of 42, cargo 10,000 tons of zinc
 collided with Tasman Bridge and sank
 causing loss of 7 crew*, 5 motorists.
 A.Campbell*, A.Robinson*, C.Maddigan*
 L.Mendizabel*, T.Sheridan*, R.Rezek
 J.Stokoe, A.Sward, P.Sward
 Missing G.Kemp*, R.Turner*, Dr T.Jones
~[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Shipwrecks of Tasmania". Retrieved 20 August 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Feature Article - The Tasman bridge". 1301.6 - Tasmanian Year Book, 2000. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 13 September 2002. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Tasman Bridge disaster". Clarence City Council. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 20 August 2007. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Steven Dally (8 December 1995). "SAFE For another 70 years". The Mercury. Archived from the original on 25 April 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2007. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b "Hobart, Tas: Bridge Collapse". Attorney General's Department-Emergency Management Australia. Retrieved 20 August 2007.
  6. ^ "Lake Illawarra (1975)". seafarersmemorial.org.au. Tasmanian Seafarers' Memorial. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  7. ^ S.S. "Lake Illawarra" (Memorial plaque). Triabunna, Tasmania: Tasmanian Seafarers' Memorial.

42°51′52″S 147°20′45″E / 42.86444°S 147.34583°E / -42.86444; 147.34583

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SS_Lake_Illawarra&oldid=782785627"