The Sinking of MV Blythe Star
13 October 1973
The capsizing and disappearance of the Blythe Star in 1973 led to a remarkable story of survival and changed Australian maritime laws and Search & Rescue practices forever.
The Story
After 50 years, and a 38-day research voyage, investigators at the CSIRO located the MV Blythe Star, a ship whose sinking on 13 October 1973 sparked the largest maritime search ever conducted in Australia at the time.
The wreck lies 150 metres under water, about 10.5km west of Tasmania’s South West Cape.
“I said, ‘We’re off the Blythe Star’. And he said, ‘No, no, you can’t be. They’re all dead. They’ve pulled the search off.’”
— Mick Doleman
Sisters Bay, Sisters Rocks and Deep Glen Bluff- Tasman National Park - Photo copyright: Steve Bromley.
The Crew
Every crew member of the Blythe Star survived the initial capsize only to find themselves adrift in a liferaft and unable to raise the alarm. Tragically, not all of them would make it safely to shore.
Where is the Blythe Star now?
The wreck of the MV Blythe Star is located approximately 10.5 km west of South West Cape, Tasmania and lies in 150 metres of water. The CSIRO’s investigation showed that the vessel is intact and sitting upright on the seafloor, with its bow pointing northwest. A visual inspection using underwater cameras identified key features confirming the wreck is the MV Blythe Star.
This included identifying part of the vessel name – ‘STAR’ – on the ship’s bow.
The wreck was covered with a minimal growth of algae and seaweed, and some structures showed signs of damage, particularly on the stern. Most notably, the vessel’s wheelhouse is no longer present.
The Podcast
In this episode of ABC Radio’s From the Dead, host Piia Wirsu discovers the uneasy signs that all was not right when the Blythe Star set sail.
