Port of registry Karachi, Pakistan Launched 5 December 1981 Depth 13 m Beam 23 m | Builder Austin & Pickersgill Length 145 m Draft 9.5 m | |
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Owner Pakistan National Shipping Corporation Operator Pakistan National Shipping Corporation | ||
The MV Murree was a 1981 ship, of type SD18, which sank in the English Channel in 1989.
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Development
The SD14 type was a 211 strong successor class of Liberty Ship developed by the Austin & Pickersgill's shipyard of the River Wear in Sunderland, Tyne & Wear. The MV Murree was one of three SD18 (ship type) vessels - a larger and more advanced type based on the SD14 - built at Austin & Pickersgill's Southwick yard. SD stands for Shelter Deck. That yard is shut but the company line is now a member of the A&P Group.
Career
Her working life was spent exclusively with the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation. The name Murree connected the ship with an important Pakistani hill station.
Sinking
Murree sank in a force 10 storm 22 miles south east of Start Point on 28 October 1989 after deck containers were dislodged and damaged the hull. Royal Navy search and rescue Sea King helicopters, of 771 Naval Air Squadron flying from RNAS Culdrose near Helston Cornwall, made a brave and difficult rescue of the 40 crew and passengers. Film of the rescue appeared in the BBC television series 999. The subject was covered again by the BBC in 2013 in a John Sergeant documentary about the Westland Sea King Helicopter.
The wreck has subsequently become an attraction for sport divers.