July 25th 2024.
55 years ago, a ship disappeared in what was described as one of the worst post-war maritime disasters in the country. The vessel in question, named MV Noongah, was carrying a load of steel and had 26 crew members on board. They had set off from Newcastle, heading towards Townsville, on August 23, 1969.
However, just two days into their journey, the 71-metre freighter found itself caught in a powerful storm. The rough sea proved to be too much for the ship to handle, and it disappeared without a trace. The news of the tragedy spread quickly, and a major search operation was launched to find any survivors. Unfortunately, out of the 26 crew members, only five were rescued.
The rest, a total of 21 people, tragically lost their lives. Despite the extensive search efforts, only one body was recovered, and the ship itself remained elusive. For 55 years, the fate of MV Noongah remained a mystery, until now.
Thanks to a collaborative effort between CSIRO, Heritage NSW, and The Sydney Project crews, the wreckage of the ship has finally been located off the coast of New South Wales. The project also received help from members of the public, who shared valuable information about the suspected location of the shipwreck.
Using advanced seafloor mapping technology and video footage, the team was able to confirm that the wreck was indeed that of MV Noongah. The ship was found sitting upright and mostly intact at a depth of 170 metres, with a length of 71 metres. This matches the dimensions and profile of the missing vessel.
Margot Hind, the voyage manager for CSIRO, expressed her thoughts on the discovery, saying, "The bathymetry data shows the wreck is sitting at a depth of 170 metres and is approximately 71 metres long, with the vessel dimensions, profile and configuration matching MV Noongah."
Matthew Kimber, CSIRO's group leader, also highlighted the significance of such maritime heritage discoveries. He acknowledged the tragedy that occurred and offered condolences to the families and descendants of the crew who were lost. He also mentioned the surviving crew members and hoped that knowing the resting place of the ship would bring them some closure.
Finally, CSIRO extended an invitation to family members and descendants of the MV Noongah crew to contact them for further details about the investigation. The discovery of the ship may not bring back their loved ones, but it provides some answers and closure after 55 years of uncertainty.
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