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MV RMS Mulheim

Coordinates: 50°04′35″N 5°42′45″W / 50.07639°N 5.71250°W / 50.07639; -5.71250
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RMS Mülheim, September 2003
History
Name
  • Zeus (1999)
  • RMS Mülheim (1999–2003)
NamesakeMülheim
OwnerKg CDL Leasing GmbH & Co
OperatorRhein-Maas-und See Schiffahrtskontor (RMS)
Port of registry Antigua and Barbuda
OrderedDecember 1997
BuilderTulcea Shipyard
Yard number246
Laid downFebruary 1998
LaunchedMay 1999
Identification
Fate
General characteristics
TypeContainer, general & bulk carrier
Tonnage
Length
  • 89.74 m (294 ft 5 in) overall
  • 84.94 m (278 ft 8 in) between perpendiculars
Beam11.67 m (38 ft 3 in)
Draught4.45 m (14 ft 7 in)
Depth5.80 m (19 ft 0 in)
PropulsionDeutz SBV8M-628 diesel engine
Speed13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Capacity
  • 130 TEU
  • 12,850 m3 (16,810 cu yd) cargo space
Complement6

The RMS Mülheim was a German cargo ship that was built in Romania and launched in May 1999. It was wrecked on 22 March 2003 at Land's End, United Kingdom.

Description

The ship was built by Tulcea Shipyard, Romania as yard number 246. She was ordered in December 1997, and the keel was laid in March 1998, before being launched in May 1999. The ship was 1,599 GT, 780 NT and 2,500 DWT.[1]

The ship was 89.74 metres (294 ft 5 in) long overall (84.94 metres (278 ft 8 in) between perpendiculars) with a beam of 11.67 metres (38 ft 3 in), a depth of 5.80 metres (19 ft 0 in), and a draught of 4.45 metres (14 ft 7 in). She had a hold capacity of 12,850 cubic metres (16,810 cu yd) and had a container capacity of 130 TEU.[1]

The ship was powered by a 2,039 brake horsepower (1,520 kW) Deutz SBV8M 628 diesel engine, which could propel her at 13 knots (24 km/h).[1]

History

The ship was originally named Zeus. She was placed under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda. She was owned by Kg CDL Leasing GmbH & Co Duisburg, Germany. By July 1999, she had been renamed RMS Mülheim and placed under the management of Rhein-Maas-und See Schiffahrtskontor (RMS). The IMO Number 9177870 was allocated and RMS Mülheim used the call sign V2AD1.[1]

Loss

On 22 March 2003, RMS Mülheim was on a voyage from Cork, Republic of Ireland to Lübeck, Germany,[2] transporting 2,200 tonnes of scrap car plastic.[3] The ship ran aground at approximately 0500 GMT in Gamper Bay, between Land's End and Sennen Cove, during which time there was "moderate visibility and fog patches".[4] On investigation, it was discovered that the chief officer—who had been on watch at the time—had caught his trousers in the lever of his chair when trying to get up, causing him to fall and rendering him unconscious. By the time he regained consciousness, RMS Mülheim was already bearing down on the shoreline.[3] Although the Sennen Lifeboat and Land's End Coastguard Cliff Team were able to reach the wreck quickly, the six-man Polish crew of the vessel were airlifted to safety by a search and rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose. The members of the crew were treated for shock at the Sennen Cove Lifeboat Station.[2]

There was diesel oil leaking into the ocean. The concerned agencies were informed, and a salvage operation was attempted. On 23 May 2003 RMS Mülheim was declared a constructive total loss.[1][5] The salvage work was provided by the leading company Wijsmuiler Salvage. To remove as much cargo as possible, a conveyor belt system was used. When the weather and tide permitted, workers on the wreck filled jumbo-sized bags with the ship's cargo. Those bags were then brought up the cliff by the conveyor, which had been placed on the cliff just above the wreck. The operation ended on 29 May 2003. Although most of the cargo was removed, some was lost to the ocean.[4] On 7 October 2003, in heavy seas, the ship was broken into two pieces. On 31 October 2003, the swells pushed the wreck of the RMS Mülheim into a rocky inlet called Castle Zawn. At that time the wreck was demolished down to its superstructure.[6]

Legacy

A year after the wreck Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) reported that plastic and foam from the wreckage was still washing up on Cornish beaches. As it does not break down in the ocean, the organisation is afraid waste from the wreck would remain for years.[7]

By 2017, the wreck had been broken up by the strong swell around Land's End. As the most westerly point of Cornwall it is regularly subjected to enormous storms from the Atlantic. The Romans called it "Bolerium", the seat of storms, and the old Cornish name is "Penn-an-Wlas", end of the land.[8]

Nothing much remains of the ship except rusting stern bulkheads and sections of decking. RMS Mülheim is now just one of the many ships to fall foul of the treacherous reefs around Land's End.[9]

  • Remains of the RMS Mülheim near Land's End in Cornwall, UK in 2010.
    Remains of the RMS Mülheim near Land's End in Cornwall, UK in 2010.
  • Close up of remains of the RMS Mülheim near Lands End in Cornwall, UK in 2010.
    Close up of remains of the RMS Mülheim near Lands End in Cornwall, UK in 2010.
  • By 2013 nothing much remains of the ship except rusting stern bulkheads and sections of decking.
    By 2013 nothing much remains of the ship except rusting stern bulkheads and sections of decking.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to RMS Mülheim (ship, 1999).

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "RMS Mulheim". Well and Canal. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Lands End Shipwreck, RMS Mulheim runs aground in Cornwall". VisitCornwall.TV & Silverquick Ltd. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Ship wrecked by 'trouser snag'". BBC News Online. 6 August 2003. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  4. ^ a b "The RMS Mulheim Salvage Operation Complete". Gov-News.org. 29 May 2003. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  5. ^ "Salvage effort for stricken ship". BBC News Online. 23 March 2003. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  6. ^ "RMS Mulheim". Cowloe Productions. 29 May 2003. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  7. ^ "Coast threat 'shipwreck' protest". BBC News Online. 24 March 2004. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  8. ^ "Land's End History". Land's End Landmark. Archived from the original on 25 December 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "Shipwrecks around the Cornish Coast". Cornwall in Focus. Retrieved 15 June 2010.

50°04′35″N 5°42′45″W / 50.07639°N 5.71250°W / 50.07639; -5.71250

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