Lake Illawarra (ship)

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The MV Lake Illawarra was a handyweight bulk carrier of 7274 tons in the service of the shipping company Australian National Lines, which famously and dramatically collided with pylon 19 of Hobart's giant high concrete arch style Tasman Bridge on the evening of 5 January 1975 at 9.27pm.

The Lake Illawarra was an ore carrier, and at the time of its collision was loaded with zinc concentrate, her destination being the EZ Pasminco (now Zinifex Limited) Zinc refinery just a couple of kilometres upstream from the bridge.

Just before the impact, Captain Pelc realised as he passed Rosny Point that he was off course, and travelling too fast. He tried to adjust the course, but only managed to bring the bows too far to the port (left) and facing the western shore. He urgently counter-corrected, but could not make the opening. Realising he was headed for a collision, he threw her into a full reverse, but the torque from the propellers caused the ship to slide in a broadside movement. It smashed into one pylon, then the other.

The collision was sufficient to bring down a 127 metre long section of steel and concrete four lane highway which crashed onto the deck of the vessel and caused it to sink in position just off the eastern shore of the Derwent River in 35 metres of water. The vessel, and debris pile remains in place, and is deep enough to not present navigation hazards to other vessels, although the tidal current shifting the wreck is considered enough of a threat to the bridge to be monitored closely with electronic sensors.

The collision also brought down two of the support pylons. There was evening traffic on the bridge, which was not too heavy, although four vehicles plunged off the lip into the water, killing five occupants.

As well as the five killed who drove off the bridge, seven crew members of the Illawarra also lost their lives.

The Illawarra was of sufficient size that is should have passed through the bridge's highest central navigation span, but instead the captain attempted to pass through a more eastern span, partly due to inattention, and partly due to the strong tidal currents in the river.

The subsequent Court of Marine Inquiry found that Captain Pelc had not handled the Lake Illawarra in a proper and seamanlike manner, and suspended his master's certificate for six months.