MV Murree
 The Murree in Austin & Pickersgill's shipyard on the day of its launch | |
| Career (Pakistan) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | Murree |
| Namesake: | Murree |
| Owner: | Pakistan National Shipping Corporation |
| Operator: | Pakistan National Shipping Corporation |
| Port of registry: | Karachi, Pakistan |
| Builder: | Austin & Pickersgill |
| Yard number: | 1407 |
| Launched: | 5 December 1981 |
| Completed: | 22 April 1981 |
| Out of service: | 28 October 1989 |
| Identification: | IMO 8000161 |
| Fate: | Wrecked |
| Status: | Wreck visited by divers |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | SD18 |
| Type: | Dry cargo and container |
| Tonnage: | 11,940 GRT; 18,050 DWT |
| Length: | 145.0 metres |
| Beam: | 22.8 metres |
| Draught: | 9.5 metres |
| Depth: | 13.1 metres |
| Installed power: | 10,400 bhp |
| Propulsion: | Diesel |
| Speed: | 15.75 knots |
The MV Murree was a 1981 ship, of type SD18, which sank in the English Channel in 1989.
Development
The SD14 type was a 211 strong successor class of Liberty Ship developed by the Austin & Pickersgill's shipyard of the River Wear in Sunderland, Tyne & Wear. The MV Murree was one of three SD18 (ship type) vessels - a larger and more advanced type based on the SD14 - built at Austin & Pickersgill's Southwick yard. SD stands for Shelter Deck. That yard is shut but the company line is now a member of the A&P Group.
Career
Her working life was spent exclusively with the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation. The name Murree connected the ship with an important Pakistani hill station.
Sinking
Murree sank in a force 10 gale 22 miles south east of Start Point on 28 October 1989 after deck containers were dislodged and damaged the hull. Royal Navy search and rescue Sea King helicopters, of 771 Naval Air Squadron flying from RNAS Culdrose[1] near Helston Cornwall, made a brave and difficult rescue of the 40 crew and passengers.[2][3] Film of the rescue appeared in the BBC television series 999. The subject was covered again by the BBC in 2013 in a John Sergeant documentary about the Westland Sea King Helicopter.[4]
The wreck has subsequently become an attraction for sport divers.
References
- ↑ The dramatic rescue described in Wikimapia
- ↑ The dramatic rescue described in Wikimapia
- ↑ "British storm kills six". Winnipeg Free Press. 30 October 1989. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01r1z3g BBC Sea King Documentary
External links
- SD14 General Cargo Ship - a Model
- The Wreck of the Murree
- Wreck Tour: 16, The Murree - Divernet
- MV Murree entry at UK Diving
- Wikimapia entry
- Tyne & Wear County Council Museum Service Information Sheet The SD14 story. SD is Shelter Deck. Published in about 1976/77 and uploaded with the permission of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums service. The original item is at the Discovery Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne. Reference is to page 1. Pages 2/3 are uploaded beside it.
