brady-today – Officials announced on Thursday that Australian scientists have discovered the exact location of the MV Noongah, a notorious shipwreck that has become one of the country’s worst maritime disasters outside of war. After more than half a century lost at sea, the final resting place of the MV Noongah has finally been pinpointed.
Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has undertaken a collaborative effort to locate the sunken freighter by analyzing underwater video footage and mapping out the sea floor off of New South Wales using a process called bathymetry. In June, one of the agency’s research vessels investigated the wreck and found that the ship, after almost 55 years, was largely intact and in an upright position at the bottom of the ocean, approximately 550 feet below the surface. To confirm its identity, a dive team explored the wreck up-close.
Back in 1969, the Noongah, a massive freighter that was carrying steel from Newcastle to Townsville, met a tragic fate as it sank in turbulent waters. The incident claimed the lives of 21 out of the 26 crew members on board, and the remains of 20 of the deceased were never found. Even to this day, there are unanswered questions about the cause of the ship’s sinking.
According to a statement by Samir Alhafith, a member of the team that searched for the wreckage, the discovery of the ship’s location could potentially shed light on some of the unanswered questions surrounding the vessel. He highlighted the fact that the advanced technology required to locate the Noongah was not available until recently.
Alhafith emphasized the importance of discovering these significant wrecks, not only for the surviving sailors but also for the families of those who perished during the tragedy. Moreover, the discovery provides an opportunity to investigate the mystery behind the sinking.
Read More:
- Fire at JFK Airport in New York Injures 9, Cancels or Delays Dozens of Flights
- Moped rider knocks two men unconscious after being called out for driving on the sidewalk in Hell’s Kitchen
- New video shows jaw-dropping blast as authorities identify victim in New Jersey truck explosion
Those who played a role in finding the Noongah express optimism that its discovery will bring a sense of closure to those who were connected to the crew members who tragically perished at sea.
In a statement, Matt Kimber of CSIRO expressed his condolences to the families and descendants of the crew who were lost in the tragic incident. He acknowledged that the memory of the tragedy still lingers in the community and offered his sympathies to all those affected. Matt also extended his thoughts to the surviving crew members of MV Noongah and hoped that the discovery of the vessel’s resting place would bring some sense of closure to everyone involved.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the crew of the Noongah made a valiant effort to save the ship before ultimately giving up and abandoning it. The vessel sank approximately 30 minutes after the crew left. Following the distress signal sent out by the radio operator, one of the most extensive search and rescue operations in Australian history was launched.
After their ship had sunk, the Koyo Maru, a Japanese tanker, rescued two of the crew members who had managed to survive for over six hours on individual life rafts. John Wirth, an engineer, and Anwyl Durose, the assistant steward, were saved by the tanker. Later on, three more survivors were rescued by a merchant vessel after they had managed to survive by holding onto a plank of wood. Sadly, one crew member was found dead.
During an interview with an Australian broadcaster, Wirth expressed his lack of knowledge regarding the cause of the sinking of Noongah.
In an interview with the outlet, Wirth shared his experience of being called down below when the ship was listing. Despite their efforts to correct the list, the situation only worsened and they couldn’t find much success.
In a recent announcement, it was revealed that the coal steamship SS Nemesis, which had sunk over a century ago, has been discovered off the coast of Australia. Tragically, the shipwreck claimed the lives of all 32 individuals aboard.