 |
Tasmanian Seafarers' Memorial
|
 |
MV Blythe Star (1973)
The plaque reads ...
M.V. "Blythe
Star"
Foundered en-route with cargo from
Hobart to Port of Grassy, King Island.
Capsized 13.10.1973. Crew of 10
took
to liferaft, drifting until 22.10.1973.
Landfall made at Deep Glen
Bay, S.E. Tas.
J.Sloan 2nd engineer died 18.10.1973
J.Eagles Chief Engineer died 21/22.10.1973
K.Jones Chief Officer died 22.10.1973
~ Enduring courage honoured ~
The motor vessel Blythe Star of 321 gross tons with 10 crew and a cargo of superphosphate fertiliser and general cargo left Hobart bound for King Island. It was subsequently reported overdue resulting in the most extensive air and sea search that had been conducted in Australia to that time. Nothing was found of the vessel or crew but in the meantime the unseen liferaft containing the crew drifted east along the Tasmanian south coast to come ashore in Deep Glen Bay on the Forestier Peninsular from where the seven survivors were rescued. Three crew who died were John Sloan, 2nd Engineer, John Eagles, Chief Engineer and Kenneth Jones, Chief Officer.
As a result of this tragedy the Australian Government amended the Navigation Act requiring ships of 300 tons or more to lodge a sailing plan and give daily position reports to overcome the difficulty experienced in searching for the MV Blythe Star for which it was not known whether a sailing course to King Island was taking the vessel east or west about Tasmania to its destination. This safety system is known as AUSREP or the Australian Ship Reporting System.
On 15 May 2023 it was reported in The Guardian that the CSIRO research vessel Investigator had located the wreckage of the MV Blythe Star. The shipwreck was located about about 10km west of Tasmania's South West Cape sitting upright with minimal growth of algae and seaweed. A 50 year mystery about its final location is now closed.
Image courtesy CSIRO.