50 years after the tragic incident, a ship was found at the bottom of the sea that capsized, killing three crew members.
The MV Blythe Star was on a routine voyage from Hobart to King Island when she suddenly capsized and sank off the Tasmanian coast.
Three crew members died in the days following the October 13, 1973 incident, as the seven survivors waited almost two weeks to be rescued from a rubber dinghy.
50 years after the tragic incident, a ship was found at the bottom of the sea that capsized, killing three crew members
Despite an extensive sea search, no trace of the ship was found for decades.
Researchers from CSIRO and the University of Tasmania discovered the shipwreck of the MV Blythe Star about 10.5 kilometers west of Tasmania’s South West Cape.
The group was investigating a submarine landslide when they made the discovery last month and used map data and video images to confirm it was the MV Blythe Star.
Seaweed and seaweed were found wrapping around the ship causing some damage to the ship and the wheelhouse was missing.
The CSIRO said it was pleased to confirm the ship’s final resting place, thereby solving the 50-year mystery.
The tragedy resulted in important maritime laws in Australia which have greatly improved safety at sea.
The MV Blythe Star was a small cargo ship that sailed around Tasmania, the surrounding islands and along the Bass Strait.
It had loaded fertilizer and beer kegs and was on its way to King Island on the day of its ill-fated voyage.
To the surprise of the crew, water began to flood the boat before sinking to the seabed.
Ten crew members on board managed to escape on an inflatable life raft, but three of them died before being found twelve days later.
George Cruickshank, Kenneth Jones, John Eagles, John Sloan, Stan Leary, Malcolm McCarroll, Cliff Langford, Lenton Power, Alfred Simpson and Michael Doleman were the men on board.
The MV Blythe Star was on a routine voyage from Hobart to King Island when she suddenly capsized and sank off the Tasmanian coast
At the time, Mr. Doleman was the youngest crew member on board and was only 18 years old.
He is the last surviving member of the wreck and remembered the moment he heard the ship had been found.
“When I heard they found it, I was just blown away,” he said.
“Overall it was pretty intact, especially the propeller and rudder. It’s actually in pretty good condition considering its voyage.”
Mr Cruickshank was the ship’s captain and said shortly after the incident the ship’s sinking was totally unexpected.
“Everything seemed fine, nothing out of the ordinary.” It was beautiful weather – beautiful weather. “Suddenly there was a jolt,” he said.
“I was like, ‘That’s funny.’” The next thing I remembered, she was lying on the starboard side.”
The ship is believed to have been overloaded with cargo, causing it to sink in the water.
The sinking of the ship triggered what was then the largest search operation at sea ever conducted in Australia.
