MV Murree

Not to be confused with MV Murre or NOAAS Murre II.

The Murree in Austin & Pickersgill's shipyard on the day of its launch
History
Pakistan
Name	Murree
Namesake	Murree
Owner	Pakistan National Shipping Corporation
Operator	Pakistan National Shipping Corporation
Port of registry	Karachi, Pakistan
Builder	Austin & Pickersgill
Yard number	1407
Launched	5 December 1981 (1981-12-05)
Completed	22 April 1981
Out of service	28 October 1989
Identification	IMO number: 8000161
Fate	Wrecked
General characteristics
Class and type	SD18
Type	Dry cargo and container
Tonnage	11,940 GRT; 18,050 DWT
Length	145.0 metres
Beam	22.8 metres
Draught	9.5 metres
Depth	13.1 metres
Installed power	10,400 bhp
Propulsion	Diesel
Speed	15.75 knots

A Chinese owned SD14 in service.

The MV Murree was a 1981 ship of the SD18 type, which sank in the English Channel in 1989.

Development

The SD14 (Shelter Deck 14) type was the successor class of Liberty Ships developed by the Austin & Pickersgill's shipyard on the River Wear in Sunderland. 211 SD14 vessels were built. The MV Murree was one of three SD18 vessels - a larger and more advanced type based on the SD14 - built at Austin & Pickersgill's Southwick yard. While the shipyard is closed today, 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

The MV 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 and 772 Naval Air Squadron flying from RNAS Culdrose and RNAS Portland near Helston Cornwall and Portland Dorset respectively, made a brave and difficult rescue of the 40 crew and passengers.^[1][2] 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.^[3]

The wreck has subsequently become an attraction for sport divers.

References

1. The dramatic rescue described in Wikimapia
2. "British storm kills six". Winnipeg Free Press. 30 October 1989. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
3. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01r1z3g BBC Sea King Documentary

External links

• SD14 General Cargo Ship - a Model
• The Wreck of the Murree
• Wreck Tour: 16, The Murree - Divernet
• MV Murree entry at UK Diving
• Wikimapia entry
• Tyne & Wear County Council Museum Service Information Sheet The SD14 story. SD is Shelter Deck. Published in about 1976/77 and uploaded with the permission of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums service. The original item is at the Discovery Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne. Reference is to page 1. Pages 2/3 are uploaded beside it.

49°57′30″N 3°14′5″W