MV Murree (Wreck)

United Kingdom / England / Brixham /
 interesting place, invisible

The 11,940 ton Pakistani motor vessel, laden with general cargo and with her 150ft deck stacked high with three layers of containers, was on her way down the Channel from Tilbury to her home port of Karachi when she ran into a storm with hurricane-force winds. It was 28 October, 1989.

As the ship battled through huge seas 15 miles south-east of Start Point, the force of the storm broke one stack free, washing the containers over the side. One of these, still held to the ship by a hawser, swung back into the ship's side. Plates were split and the forward hold began to flood.

The captain's Mayday call was received by Brixham Coastguard. A helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was soon on the scene, but the Murree's foredeck was already under water. The chopper had to call for help on finding that instead of the 14 crew-members listed there were 40 men, women and children to be rescued.

Three helicopters were finally used to winch up everyone. While the rescue was going on, the Murree continued to take on water to the point that the forward deck was fully submerged and containers were taking the full force of the breaking sea.

Last to leave were two helicopter crewmen. When the ship tipped vertically, bow down, they had to jump some 30m down from her stern into the sea to avoid being sucked down with the ship as she sank. They were eventually picked up by one of the waiting helicopters
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Coordinates:   49°57'30"N   3°14'5"W
This article was last modified 12 years ago