Fifty-five years after it sank, claiming the lives of 21 men, Australia has located the shipwreck of the MV Noongah. The 71m (233ft) freighter was transporting steel off the coast of New South Wales when it encountered a storm in 1969, triggering one of Australia’s largest maritime searches. Five of the 26 crew members were rescued from the water shortly after the vessel sank, but only one body was ever recovered. The wreck’s location was recently confirmed by Australia’s science agency through high-resolution seafloor mapping and video footage.
The ship had sent a distress signal on 25 August and sank within minutes in heavy seas. A massive search operation involving Royal Australian Navy destroyers, minesweepers, planes, helicopters, and other vessels was launched, with rescue crews also scouring the shore for survivors. Over the next 12 hours, two men were found in separate life rafts and three more clinging to a plank of wood, according to local reports. The fate of the remaining crew and the ship itself remained a mystery.
Years ago, locals spotted a wreck in deep water off the coast of South West Rocks, about 460km (286 miles) north of Sydney, and reported its coordinates to authorities. There were suspicions it might be the Noongah, but the technology to confirm this was unavailable. Last month, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) sent a high-tech ship to investigate further. They discovered the wreck, largely intact and upright on the sea floor, 170m below the surface, with all key dimensions matching the Noongah.
The Sydney Project, which documents lost shipwrecks, is planning a dive to gather additional footage in hopes of uncovering why the ship sank. “This tragedy is still very much in the memory of many in the community,” said CSIRO’s Matt Kimber. “We hope that knowing the vessel’s resting place brings some closure for all.” Surviving family members expressed relief at the discovery. “It’s always been in the back of my mind,” said Pamela Hendy, widow of captain Leo Botsman.
