There are calls for the Tasmanian government to apologise to the families and last-remaining survivor of the MV Blythe Star, 50 years on from the ill-fated voyage that cost three men their lives.
The coastal freighter, carrying fertiliser and kegs of beer, set off from Hobart in southern Tasmania bound for King Island on October 12, 1973.
All 10 crew — George Cruickshank, Ken Jones, John Eagles, John Sloan, Stan Leary, Malcolm McCarroll, Cliff Langford, Mick Power, Alfred Simpson and Mick Doleman — escaped the sinking, scrambling into a small inflatable life raft.
But only seven of the men made it back alive, effectively rescuing themselves.
Eleven days after the sinking, the raft made it back to shore on Tasmania’s south-east coast allowing three of the men to scale a cliff and raise the alarm.
The disappearance of the Blythe Star, which prompted Australia’s largest maritime search and rescue at the time, failed to find the men.
Then-transport minister Neil Batt was given very little information about what had happened to the vessel.
“They didn’t know what route the Blythe Star had taken … the days went by and there was no sign of the ship,” he said.
“The Royal Australian Navy wanted to call the search off after a couple of days because they were spending too much money.”
The Tasmanian Transport Commission, a government department at the time, oversaw the Blythe Star and was responsible for its whereabouts.
While there are still questions about the exact circumstances that caused the ship to capsize, it is understood it had been overloaded with cargo.
That’s despite a similar incident involving the Blythe Star just months prior when a serious stability problem was encountered at Sea Elephant Bay off King Island’s east coast.
A Court of Marine Inquiry found the Transport Commission knew that George Cruickshank did not have a certificate to operate a radio that would send a mayday call, yet still allowed him to stay on as captain.
There was also evidence given to the inquiry that the commission knew several flares on the Blythe Star didn’t work.
Calls for apology
Tasmanian journalist Trevor Sutton, who covered the story in 1973, said the then-transport department had a duty of care to look after the crew onboard the Blythe Star but failed.
“The Commission and the Tasmanian government didn’t do what they should have done, the Marine Operations Centre in Canberra didn’t get it right and neither did the federal transport department,” he said.
Mr Sutton said he doesn’t believe the families of the three crew who lost their lives were adequately compensated and understands some were forced to wait up to five years before any money was paid to them.
“That’s why I’m saying that the Tasmanian government still owes these people and their families an apology and Jeremy Rockliff, as the current premier of Tasmania should offer the apology,” Mr Sutton said.
The son of the Blythe Star’s bosun Stanley Leary agrees that now is the time for the Tasmanian government to apologise.
“It’s time for them to step up … a simple sorry goes a long way,” Mr Leary said.
However, the government has declined the requests.
In a statement, the Department of State Growth said:
“Noting that these events were 50 years ago, we are not in a position to comment on the actions of the then Transport Commission or other parties at the time.”
“While the Court of Marine Inquiry and other subsequent opinions on the matter suggest a range of failings across all parties involved, the Tasmanian Transport Commission was not found to be responsible for the occurrence.”
Mr Batt said he doesn’t believe there was anything he could have done differently in his role as the Tasmanian transport minister at the time.
“As a minister, you don’t go down and look at the boat before it sails to make sure it’s properly loaded, so I don’t know what else I could have done that I didn’t do.”
“The department runs things, that’s what they’re there for.”
Hundreds gather for anniversary
The loss of the Blythe Star and the massive follow-up search operation led the Australian government to overhaul maritime safety.
A new Australian Ship Reporting System (AUSREP) became part of the Navigation Act, requiring ships to give daily position reports and submit sailing plans in advance.
For years maritime researcher Michael Stoddart, last remaining survivor Mick Doleman, and Susan McKenna, the daughter of chief officer Ken Jones, have been lobbying the Tasmanian government for a permanent memorial.
On Thursday, a plaque commemorating the 50th anniversary of the sinking was unveiled before 200 people at Constitution Dock on Hobart’s waterfront.
Tasmania’s Governor Barbara Baker paid tribute to the crew and their families.
“The plaque means a lot to me and to the families of the men of those who perished, or who died since the sinking of the Blythe Star, it shows that people care”, Mr Doleman said.
Loading…
“It has been a great turnout, and this is a great boost to the confidence that I have that good decisions are being made by governments about shipping and people at sea.”
“It is good to get recognition for the men who died and it will hopefully provide closure for all of the families,” Robyn Butcher, daughter of cook Alf Simpson, said.
“Things have changed because of what these men went through, and it will continue to save lives in the future.”
LoadingLoading…