Nella Dan
Encyclopedia
MV Nella Dan was one of the famous 'Dan' ships of the Danish
J. Lauritzen A/S Lines that were almost synonymous with ANARE (Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions) shipping through the early years of Australia's official Antarctic program. Others in the fleet included Kista Dan, Magga Dan and Thala Dan
.
.
Built by the Aarlborg Shipyard Pty Ltd in 1961, she incorporated all the features of her older sisters, the Thala Dan, Kista Dan and Magga Dan. An ice breaker stern, ice fins and ice knife were becoming regular features, but a novel addition was the double hull in the engine room and part of the holds. The ascent to the crow's nest was through the interior of the mast, and the ship supplied its own fresh water with an Atlas generator. At the time of her construction, the Nella Dan was regarded as setting the standard for polar vessels.
Nella Dan sailed to the Antarctic every year she was chartered by ANARE from 1962 to 1987. Her service record remains unchallenged as the longest continuously serving of any Antarctic ship.
At that time, Japanese icebreaker "Shirase" (11,600t) rushed then and towed her who was troubled for twice. Nella Dan finally followed a trail of the Shirase and got away from the iced-over ocean.
, bad weather blew up. The Nella Dan dragged her anchor and was driven aground just metres off the island.
The accident happened while transferring fuel from the ship to the sub-Antarctic station at Macquarie Island
. Other cargo unloading had ceased because of strong winds and high seas. A definitive cause of the accident was never determined, it was reported that the Nella Dan dragged her anchor in very heavy seas while at the normal anchorage point in Buckles Bay. The vessel was rapidly washed onto rocks close to the research station it was supplying. Damage to the vessel was immediate and serious, the ships hull was holed in two places and water flooded the engine room. Most of the expedition staff were ashore at the time of the accident but 17 expedition staff were aboard together with the crew.
Several members of the 35 Water Transport Squadron attached to ANARE sailed three LARC (see LARC-V
) (Light Amphibious Resupply Craft) to evacuate the Antarctic expeditioners and ship’s crew still on board. For these actions the following five soldiers were subsequently awarded a Group Bravery Citation
by the Australian Governor-General
Quentin Bryce
on 17 August 2009.
There were no casualties or injuries to the ship's crew or expedition personnel.
The station at Macquarie Island
, normally designed to accommodate 32 expeditioners had to accommodate over 100 people until rescued. At the time of the accident another vessel chartered by the Australian Antarctic Division
(the Icebird
) was returning to Hobart
from Davis Station
in Antarctica. The Icebird
was immediately diverted to Macquarie Island
to pick up the personell and crew from the Nella Dan. She arrived at Buckles Bay on 8 December 1987.
Within four days of the accident, the owners of the Nella Dan, the Danish Lauritzen company, had chartered an oil rig tender, the Lady Lorraine, which left Victoria carrying company representatives as well as insurance assessors, a team of divers and salvage experts. To protect the ship from further damage while awaiting possible salvage, the vessel deliberately took on sea water as ballast. This was intended to add sufficient weight to the hull to hold it in position on the rocks and prevent further damage or movement back out to sea. Although having a list of about 11 degrees, the ship was kept in a stable position and was also secured with cables to the shore. When the storm abated all remaining expedition equipment was removed from the ship.
Although plans were initially made to salvage the vessel, the decision was eventually made to scuttle her. At 5.42 pm on 24 December 1987, she was sunk in deep water off Macquarie Island.
In order to support the expedition program, the Australian Antarctic Division
chartered the Canadian vessel the Lady Franklin (ship), an ice strengthened cargo vessel to provide support for the remainder of the summer season.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
J. Lauritzen A/S Lines that were almost synonymous with ANARE (Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions) shipping through the early years of Australia's official Antarctic program. Others in the fleet included Kista Dan, Magga Dan and Thala Dan
Thala Dan
MV Thala Dan was one of a fleet of icebreaking cargo-passenger ships operated by the Danish J. Lauritzen A/S Lines, and chartered to, inter alia, ANARE...
.
Overview
Commissioned by Lauritzen with considerable input from the Australian Antarctic Division, Nella Dan was named in honour of Nel Law, wife of the AAD Director of the time, Phillip LawPhillip Law
Phillip Garth Law AC, CBE, FAA was an Australian scientist and explorer who served as director of Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions from 1949 to 1966.-Early life:...
.
Built by the Aarlborg Shipyard Pty Ltd in 1961, she incorporated all the features of her older sisters, the Thala Dan, Kista Dan and Magga Dan. An ice breaker stern, ice fins and ice knife were becoming regular features, but a novel addition was the double hull in the engine room and part of the holds. The ascent to the crow's nest was through the interior of the mast, and the ship supplied its own fresh water with an Atlas generator. At the time of her construction, the Nella Dan was regarded as setting the standard for polar vessels.
Nella Dan sailed to the Antarctic every year she was chartered by ANARE from 1962 to 1987. Her service record remains unchallenged as the longest continuously serving of any Antarctic ship.
Besetment (locked in the ice) in 1985
The Nella Dan enjoyed the dubious distinction of plunging her passengers into an unexpected seven week stationary sojourn in the ice in 1985, the longest besetment (being surrounded by ice without helm control) ever experienced by any ANARE ship. She was eventually released from besetment by digging the ice away from the hull.At that time, Japanese icebreaker "Shirase" (11,600t) rushed then and towed her who was troubled for twice. Nella Dan finally followed a trail of the Shirase and got away from the iced-over ocean.
Final Voyage
On her last fateful voyage on the evening of 3 December 1987, during resupply operations at Macquarie IslandMacquarie Island
Macquarie Island lies in the southwest corner of the Pacific Ocean, about half-way between New Zealand and Antarctica, at 54°30S, 158°57E. Politically, it has formed part of the Australian state of Tasmania since 1900 and became a Tasmanian State Reserve in 1978. In 1997 it became a world heritage...
, bad weather blew up. The Nella Dan dragged her anchor and was driven aground just metres off the island.
The accident happened while transferring fuel from the ship to the sub-Antarctic station at Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island lies in the southwest corner of the Pacific Ocean, about half-way between New Zealand and Antarctica, at 54°30S, 158°57E. Politically, it has formed part of the Australian state of Tasmania since 1900 and became a Tasmanian State Reserve in 1978. In 1997 it became a world heritage...
. Other cargo unloading had ceased because of strong winds and high seas. A definitive cause of the accident was never determined, it was reported that the Nella Dan dragged her anchor in very heavy seas while at the normal anchorage point in Buckles Bay. The vessel was rapidly washed onto rocks close to the research station it was supplying. Damage to the vessel was immediate and serious, the ships hull was holed in two places and water flooded the engine room. Most of the expedition staff were ashore at the time of the accident but 17 expedition staff were aboard together with the crew.
Several members of the 35 Water Transport Squadron attached to ANARE sailed three LARC (see LARC-V
LARC-V
LARC-V , is an aluminium-hulled amphibious cargo vehicle capable of transporting 5 tons. It was developed in the United States during the 1950s, and is used in a variety of auxiliary roles to this day....
) (Light Amphibious Resupply Craft) to evacuate the Antarctic expeditioners and ship’s crew still on board. For these actions the following five soldiers were subsequently awarded a Group Bravery Citation
Group Bravery Citation
The Group Bravery Citation is a bravery decoration awarded to Australians. It is awarded for a collective act of bravery by a group of people in extraordinary circumstances that is considered worthy of recognition. The Group Bravery Citation was created in 1990...
by the Australian Governor-General
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
Quentin Bryce
Quentin Bryce
Quentin Bryce, AC, CVO is the 25th and current Governor-General of Australia and former Governor of Queensland....
on 17 August 2009.
- Kenneth Stanley BARRINGTON
- Dudley Raymond CROWE
- Timothy GAY
- Gregory Dale KENNY
- Alistair Andrew SCOTT
There were no casualties or injuries to the ship's crew or expedition personnel.
The station at Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island lies in the southwest corner of the Pacific Ocean, about half-way between New Zealand and Antarctica, at 54°30S, 158°57E. Politically, it has formed part of the Australian state of Tasmania since 1900 and became a Tasmanian State Reserve in 1978. In 1997 it became a world heritage...
, normally designed to accommodate 32 expeditioners had to accommodate over 100 people until rescued. At the time of the accident another vessel chartered by the Australian Antarctic Division
Australian Antarctic Division
The Australian Antarctic Division is an agency of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities . The division undertakes science programs and research projects to contribute to an understanding of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean...
(the Icebird
Icebird (ship)
The Icebird is a cargo vessel which delivers supplies to the Australian Antarctic Division bases, principally Macquarie Island, Mawson, Casey and Davis Stations...
) was returning to Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
from Davis Station
Davis Station
Davis Station is a permanent base in Antarctica managed by the Australian Antarctic Division . It is the busiest Australian scientific research station...
in Antarctica. The Icebird
Icebird (ship)
The Icebird is a cargo vessel which delivers supplies to the Australian Antarctic Division bases, principally Macquarie Island, Mawson, Casey and Davis Stations...
was immediately diverted to Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island lies in the southwest corner of the Pacific Ocean, about half-way between New Zealand and Antarctica, at 54°30S, 158°57E. Politically, it has formed part of the Australian state of Tasmania since 1900 and became a Tasmanian State Reserve in 1978. In 1997 it became a world heritage...
to pick up the personell and crew from the Nella Dan. She arrived at Buckles Bay on 8 December 1987.
Within four days of the accident, the owners of the Nella Dan, the Danish Lauritzen company, had chartered an oil rig tender, the Lady Lorraine, which left Victoria carrying company representatives as well as insurance assessors, a team of divers and salvage experts. To protect the ship from further damage while awaiting possible salvage, the vessel deliberately took on sea water as ballast. This was intended to add sufficient weight to the hull to hold it in position on the rocks and prevent further damage or movement back out to sea. Although having a list of about 11 degrees, the ship was kept in a stable position and was also secured with cables to the shore. When the storm abated all remaining expedition equipment was removed from the ship.
Although plans were initially made to salvage the vessel, the decision was eventually made to scuttle her. At 5.42 pm on 24 December 1987, she was sunk in deep water off Macquarie Island.
In order to support the expedition program, the Australian Antarctic Division
Australian Antarctic Division
The Australian Antarctic Division is an agency of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities . The division undertakes science programs and research projects to contribute to an understanding of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean...
chartered the Canadian vessel the Lady Franklin (ship), an ice strengthened cargo vessel to provide support for the remainder of the summer season.