View source for MV Nimbin

{{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image=MV Nimbin 2.jpg
| Ship caption=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header=
| Ship name= ''Nimbin''
| Ship owner=[[North Coast Steam Navigation Company]]
| Ship operator=
| Ship country=Australia 
| Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Australia|civil}}
| Ship registry=[[Sydney]], Australia
| Ship route= North Coast Butter Run{{citation needed|reason=No hits from Google|date=August 2012}}
| Ship ordered=
| Ship builder= [[Burmeister & Wain]], [[Copenhagen]], Denmark
| Ship original cost=
| Ship yard number=
| Ship way number=
| Ship laid down=
| Ship launched=27 April 1927
| Ship completed=
| Ship christened=
| Ship acquired=
| Ship maiden voyage= 21 June 1927, from Copenhagen to Sydney in 65 days
| Ship in service= 14 September 1927
| Ship out of service=
| Ship identification= [[Official Number]]: 155313
| Ship fate=Sunk by German [[naval mine]]  5 December 1940
| Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header=
| Header caption=
| Ship class=
| Ship type= Steel Motor Vessel
| Ship tonnage= {{GRT|1052}}, {{NRT|516}}
| Ship displacement=
| Ship length= {{convert|65.53|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam= {{convert|10.66|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship height=
| Ship draught= {{convert|3.352|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship draft=
| Ship depth=
| Ship decks=
| Ship deck clearance=
| Ship ramps=
| Ship ice class=
| Ship sail plan=
| Ship power= [[Burmeister & Wain]] diesel engine {{convert|1000|hp|kW}}
| Ship propulsion= Single screw
| Ship speed= {{convert|12.1|kn}}
| Ship capacity=60,900 cubic feet, and fitted for refrigerated cargo
| Ship crew= 20
| Ship notes= 
}}
|}

The '''''Nimbin''''' was a steel [[screw steamer]] built in 1927 at [[Copenhagen]], that was the first motor vessel placed into the New South Wales coastal trade. It was owned and operated by the [[North Coast Steam Navigation Company]] and was the first Australian registered merchant ship to be lost during [[Axis naval activity in Australian waters|World War II]] when it struck a mine laid by the [[German auxiliary cruiser Pinguin|German auxiliary cruiser ''Pinguin'']]. The ''Nimbin'' was on its way from [[Coffs Harbour]] to its home port, [[Sydney]], with a cargo of bundled three-ply timber and a cargo of pigs. One third of the ship was blown away and it sank in three minutes. Seven men were killed. The remaining thirteen clung to bundles of plywood. Some hours later an air force plane from [[RAAF Base Rathmines]] saw the survivors and directed the coastal ship SS ''Bonalbo'' to the scene to retrieve them.

== Ship description and construction ==
The ''Nimbin'' was the first motor ship to be employed on the New South Wales coast, and run between Sydney and the northern rivers.<ref name="SMH 6jul27">{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16380854|access-date=21 August 2012|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=6 July 1927|page=16|title=New Motor Ship for Coastal Trade}}</ref>

The vessel was built on the slips at the yards of the builders, Burmeister and Wain in Copenhagen, and completed in late June 1927. Upon arrival in Sydney the vessel was described as:

<blockquote>The ''Nimbin'' is a vessel of {{GRT|1,052}} with a length of {{convert|215|ft|0|in|m|2|abbr=on}}, a width of {{convert|35|ft|0|in|m|2|abbr=on}}, and a depth of {{convert|13|ft|0|in|m|2|abbr=on}}. She has a total cargo space of 60,900 cubic feet, and is fitted for the carrying of refrigerated cargo. She is a single-screw vessel, propelled by a Burmeister and Wain 6-cylinder 4-cycle Diesel marine engine, with two auxiliary engines for maintaining the electric light and refrigerating services, and for working the winches and other gear. At her speed trials she developed 12.1 knots. A feature of the vessel is the accommodation for the crew, who have, for Instance, a bathroom fitted with hot and cold showers, in fresh and salt water. The three lifeboats are fitted with patent disengaging gear, which it is claimed, can be set afloat by unskilled hands in the space of half a minute.<ref name="SMH 29Aug27">{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16400143|access-date=21 August 2012|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=29 August 1927|page=12|title=New Motor Ship for Coastal Trade: Rough Voyage to Australia}}</ref> </blockquote>

== Ship service history ==

===Delivery and maiden voyage===
[[File:Nimbin Bridge.jpg|thumb|250px|The ''Nimbin''{{'}}s bridge when constructed]]
[[File:Nimbin Engine Room when built.jpg|thumb|250px|The ''Nimbin''{{'}}s engine room when constructed]]
The ''Nimbin'' left Copenhagen, her launching port, under the command of Captain R.M. Beedie on June 21 with a cargo of 305,000 superficial feet of Baltic pine from [[Hargshamn]], Sweden, and completed the journey to Sydney in 65 days, arriving on 27 August. During the delivery voyage the vessel ran into a gale in the [[Red Sea]] (the so-called “calm belt”) which continued unabated for four days.<ref name="SMH 29Aug27" /> Upon passing out of the Red Sea, the vessel then encountered the full force of the [[Monsoon|monsoonal winds]], which persisted until it reached [[Colombo]]. Then from Colombo to [[Cape Leeuwin]] the ship was, in the words of her officers, "under water the whole way," and lost a quantity of her deck cargo of timber. Through it all the ''Nimbin'' did not once develop engine trouble.<ref name="SMH 29Aug27" />

After arrival, the vessel was taken to [[Mort's Dock]] for inspection and was docked for overhaul before being placed in commission and into the so-called North Coast Butter Run to the [[Clarence River (New South Wales)|Clarence]] and [[Richmond River]].<ref name="SMH 29Aug27" /> A similar but of lighter draught vessel was then ordered for use in the [[Macleay River]] trade.

The North Coast Steam Navigation Company's then new motor ship left Sydney on the afternoon of Tuesday 13 September 1927 on her maiden voyage in the coastal trade. She was the first motor ship to be employed on the New South Wales coast, and ran between Sydney and the Clarence River.<ref name="SMH 14Sept27">{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28054308|access-date=21 August 2012|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=14 September 1927|page=19|title=Coastal Motor Ship Nimbin}}</ref>

===Early incidents===
[[File:MV Nimbin 1.jpg|thumb|250px|The ''Nimbin'' as it appeared in 1931 at Coffs Harbour]]
Seven weeks after going into service, Frederick Hoskins, the second officer on the ship, was fatally injured on 2 November when he fell down the hold of the vessel while the ship was between [[Lismore, New South Wales|Lismore]] and [[Ballina, New South Wales|Ballina]].

The crew, under the direction of Hoskins, were erecting a chute for the loading of sugar when, by some unknown means, Hoskins fell the 15 feet into the hold. He was put ashore and taken to [[Coraki, New South Wales|Coraki]] Hospital, where he died the following morning.<ref name="SMH 21Nov27">{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16416042|access-date=21 August 2012|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=3 November 1927|page=16|title=Fall into Hold: Ship's Officer Killed}}</ref>

Nearly a year later in mid-October 1928, while coming in across the [[Ballina, New South Wales|Richmond bar]], the ''Nimbin'' touched the northern wall lightly, causing the steering gear to be carried away. Some slight damage was done to one of the plates at the water line. Temporary repairs were affected at Ballina. The steamer proceeded up the river. No tug was available to help the disabled vessel and had the accident happened further out, the steamer might have become a wreck.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16501966|access-date=21 August 2012|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=16 October 1928|page=15|title=Vessel Damaged on Bar}}</ref>

===Ballina grounding===
[[File:MV Nimbin 4.jpg|thumb|250px|The ''Nimbin'' at Lismore]]
At 6am on Monday, 22 February 1932, in a heavy fog, the ''Nimbin'' went ashore about three miles south of Ballina Heads. The sea was calm at the time, with the fog driving from the north. The ports pilot at Ballina, Captain Lyttle, on learning of the plight of the ''Nimbin'', immediately left port in a motor launch and called upon the dredge ''Tethys'', commanded by Captain Munro, which was ordered to the scene at about 7:30 am, and stood by the stranded vessel. A heavy cable was passed on board and an attempt was made to tow her off, but a fall in the tide had left the ''Nimbin'' more firmly wedged on the sand. The attempt was abandoned for the time, and it was decided to await the high tide and the arrival of stronger salvage gear. The dredge returned to port to take on more coal and to take out the cables and anchors available at Ballina for salvage purposes. She returned to the ''Nimbin'' in the afternoon, but her efforts met with no success.<ref name="SMH 23Feb32">{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16842558|access-date=21 August 2012|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=23 February 1932|page=9|title=Motorship Nimbin: Ashore at Ballina}}</ref>

The North Coast S.N. Company ordered their steamer ''Ulmarra'', which was close by, to proceed to the ''Nimbin''. It was hoped that she would be able to effect a salvage on the following morning's flood tide, as it should be powerful enough to tow the ''Nimbin'' off the sand if the ''Nimbin''{{'}}s position did not become worse during the night. Additionally the company ordered its steamer ''Arakoon'' to leave Sydney with Captain D W Gibson, of the Sydney Marine Underwriters' and Salvage Association, on board the latest salvage gears being taken to Ballina by Captain Gibson on the ''Arakoon''.<ref name="SMH 23Feb32" />

After being aground on the beach for 24 hours the ''Nimbin'' was successfully refloated under her own power about 9:15am Tuesday, 23 February. The cargo was intact but a quantity of oil was pumped from the tanks. The company's vessel ''Ulmarra'', which had been ordered to the scene, was standing by, and had a tow line aboard, but her assistance was not required. The dredge ''Tethys'' from Ballina also stood by. Sea anchors had been placed some distance to seaward, and were secured with lines to the ''Nimbin''. When the tide was at flood, the ''Nimbin''{{'}}s motors were started, and she hauled on the anchors, and soon slid off the sand. The salvage gear had been taken to the ''Nimbin'' on Monday night. After picking up the gear the ''Nimbin'' proceeded on the Richmond River, safely negotiating the bar. She then commenced to discharge her Sydney cargo. The ''Ulmarra'' proceeded to the Clarence River. Captain Raymer of the ''Nimbin'' stated that the vessel was travelling at half speed in a heavy haze, which was hanging low over the sea, when the stranding occurred. He said that no damage had been done to the vessel.<ref name="SMH 24Feb32">{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16843081|access-date=21 August 2012|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=24 February 1932|page=11|title=Nimbin Refloated: Vessel Apparently Undamaged}}</ref>

The steamer ''Arakoon'', which had been loaded with a quantity of salvage gear and had dispatched from Sydney late on Monday night to assist the ''Nimbin'', was advised the same morning that the ''Nimbin'' had been refloated by a message sent from the lighthouse-keeper at [[Seal Rocks, New South Wales|Seal Rocks]].<ref name="SMH 24Feb32" />

===Later incidents===
[[File:MV Nimbin 3.jpg|thumb|250px|The ''Nimbin'' at dock on the river]]
In late December 1934 the ''Ulmarra'' was partly disabled by the loss of a propeller blade which was snapped off by a submerged object in the Clarence River. The ''Nimbin'' came to assistance and towed the ''Ulmarra'' the voyage of nearly 300 miles. The master of the ''Ulmarra'' (Captain Bysanton) said that the ''Ulmarra'' was not rendered helpless by the accident, and she could, if necessary, have steamed unaided, but as the motor ship ''Nimbin'' was coming down to Sydney from Richmond River, it was considered advisable for her to assist. During the long tow the ''Ulmarra'' was able to run her engines, and at times a speed of well over 11 knots was attained.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17138049|access-date=21 August 2012|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=21 December 1934|page=12|title=Accident to Coaster: Lengthy in Tow}}</ref>

On Thursday, 9 September 1937, the ''Nimbin'' and the small tug ''Teven'' collided on the Richmond River near Coraki. Joseph Smith, 72, the engine driver of the tug ''Teven'' was killed, and Charles Young, a seaman on the ''Teven'', was seriously injured. The ''Teven'' was towing a timber barge when the collision occurred. Young, who was steering, was hurled onto the barge, suffering severe injuries to the back. Smith, who was in charge of the engine, was crushed and flung into the water. His leg was smashed practically to pulp, and he was dead when picked up.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17418393|access-date=21 August 2012|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=10 September 1937|page=12|title=Tug and Motorship Collide: One Man Killed; One Injured}}</ref>

While coming down the coast in July 1938 the ''Nimbin'' came across the coastal motor vessel ''Comara'', which had a mechanical breakdown where a bolt had broken and some cogs were partially stripped in the engine room. The vessel had been just north of Seal Rocks and was fortunate to escape into Seal Rocks Bay for shelter. Had the ''Comara'' been farther on, shelter would not have been available, and the wind was high at the time. The ''Nimbin'' took the ''Comara'' in tow at Seal Rocks and brought the vessel into Newcastle during the night.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17481386|access-date=21 August 2012|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=12 July 1938|page=12|title=Motor Vessel's Escape: Broke Down Near Seal Rocks}}</ref>

== Shipwreck event ==
[[File:Construction Plans of the MV Nimbin.tif|thumb|250px|Construction plans of the ''Nimbin'']]
Early in World War II, the German auxiliary cruiser ''Pinguin'' had laid a number of minefields between [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]] and Sydney as well as off the eastern and southern coasts of Australia. Their first victims were the British cargo ship [[SS Cambridge (1916)|''Cambridge'']] off [[Wilsons Promontory]], on 7 November 1940, and the day after, the American merchant ship [[MS City of Rayville|''City of Rayville'']], which sank off [[Cape Otway]]. This was the first American casualty of the war, in which the United States was not yet involved.<ref name=AMOU>{{cite journal|journal=Journal of the Australian Maritime Officers Union|date=October 2006|volume=15|issue=1|url=http://www.amou.com.au/media/2560/august%2006.pdf|access-date=21 August 2012|title=Offshore Report: World Maritime Day 2006|archive-date=19 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419221834/http://www.amou.com.au/media/2560/august%2006.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A month later, on 5 December 1940, the ''Nimbin'' was the first Australian registered merchant ship to be lost when it ran into a mine off [[Norah Head, New South Wales|Norah Head]] on the [[Central Coast (New South Wales)|Central Coast]]. It was on its way from [[Coffs Harbour]] back to Sydney, with a cargo of three-ply timber packed in bundles and a load of pigs.<ref name=AMOU />

Without warning, there was a large deafening explosion at 3.25 p.m. just aft of the engine room; the whole after section or about a third of the vessel disappeared and the vessel settled by the stern. The explosion resulted in timber and debris being shot into the air as well as oil from the fuel tanks spurting up like a geyser. Luckily, the oil did not catch fire. Seconds later the survivors found themselves in the calm sea, struggling around, grasping bundles of plywood six feet long and three feet wide which were scattered over a fairly wide expanse. The bundles of plywood acted as rafts as there had been no chance of even getting near the life-boats, let alone launching any of them. There had been no chance of sending out a wireless distress call.<ref name=TDN6dec40>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article78537940|access-date=27 August 2012|newspaper=The Daily News|date=6 December 1940|page=1|title=Ship Mined Off NSW Coast}}</ref>

At 3.15 p.m. an amphibian aircraft, piloted by a senior officer of the RAAF based on the Rathmines, took off on a reconnaissance flight to seaward. Soon after taking off the pilot saw smoke several miles out to sea. He altered course and made for the spot immediately. He found a great deal of wreckage floating on the surface with the amphibian sighting the wreck site within ten minutes of the explosion. The pilot landed the plane but found the water much rougher than he had expected. Because of the seas and the extent of the wreckage, he was unable to taxi close to one large piece of the flotsam, to which he could see a group of men clinging desperately. He taxied the machine some distance to the lea of a small island, where sheltered water enabled him to take off.<ref name=E6Dec40>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52392148|access-date=27 August 2012|newspaper=Examiner|date=6 December 1940|page=1|title=Ship Sunk Off New South Wales Coast - Dramatic Rescue of 13 Men: Spotted by Plane}}</ref>

The pilot intended to return directly o his base to obtain help. Soon afterwards, however, he sighted another ship in the vicinity. Flying low, he signalled to it with an Aldous lamp, informing it of the position of the wreckage and directing it to steam immediately to the scene.<ref name=E6Dec40 />

The SS ''Bonalbo'' arrived about two and a half hours after the explosion to pick up the survivors at approximately 6 pm. An ambulance met them and rushed the injured to hospital. The rest, in clothes borrowed from their rescuers on the ''Bonalbo'', were sent home by car. At the time most of the ''Nimbin''{{'}}s crew were old employees of the North Coast Steam Navigation Company. Captain Bryanston and Chief Officer Charles Chapman, who both died, had been with the company for 20 years and 26 years respectively.<ref name=AMOU />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{December 1940 shipwrecks}}
{{Navbox shipwrecks of New South Wales}}

{{coord|33|15.392|S|151|46.976|E|type:landmark_region:AU-NSW|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nimbin}}
[[Category:Shipwrecks of the Central Coast Region]]
[[Category:Ships built by Burmeister & Wain]]
[[Category:Coastal trading vessels of Australia]]
[[Category:1927 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in December 1940]]
[[Category:1940 in Australia]]
[[Category:Interwar period ships of Australia]]
[[Category:World War II merchant ships of Australia]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by mines]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean]]