RMS Magdalena

RMS Magdalena
Career
Name:	Magdalena
Owner:	Royal Mail Lines
Port of registry:	London, United Kingdom
Route:	United Kingdom – South America
Ordered:	1946
Builder:	Harland & Wolff
Launched:	11 May 1948
Completed:	18 February 1949
Maiden voyage:	9 March 1949
Out of service:	25 April 1949
Identification:	United Kingdom Official Number 182955 Code Letters GFQD
Fate:	Wrecked
General characteristics
Class and type:	Refrigerated cargo liner
Tonnage:	17,547 GRT 9,886 NRT 9,725 DWT
Length:	570 ft 1 in (173.76 m) overall 540 ft 0 in (164.59 m) between perpendiculars
Beam:	73 ft 3 in (22.33 m)
Draught:	28 ft 9 in (8.76 m) (SLL)
Installed power:	1,800 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion:	2 steam turbines, double reduction geared, driving twin screw propellers
Speed:	18 kn (33 km/h)
Capacity:	529 passengers 460,000 cubic feet (13,000 m3) refrigerated cargo space
Crew:	251

Location where Magdalena was wrecked off Brazil.

Magdalena was a 17,547 gross register tonnage (GRT) refrigerated cargo liner that was built in 1948 by Harland & Wolff, Belfast, United Kingdom for the Royal Mail Lines. Launched on 11 May 1948, she was the third-largest ship being built in a British shipyard at that particular point in time.

Built as a replacement for a ship lost during the Second World War, she was to serve on the United Kingdom – South America route. Magdalena was wrecked on her maiden voyage in 1949, the third ship built by Harland & Wolff to suffer this fate. The insurance payout of £2,295,000 was the largest made at the time for a marine casualty in the United Kingdom. It was decided not to build a new ship to replace Magdalena.

Description

Magdalena was 570 feet 1 inch (173.76 m) long overall (540 feet 0 inches (164.59 m) between perpendiculars,^[1] with a beam of 73 feet 3 inches (22.33 m),^[2] and a draught of 28 feet 9 inches (8.76 m) (SLL).^[1] She was propelled by two Parsons turbines, double reduction geared, driving twin screw propellers.^[2] Developing 12,000 shaft horsepower (8,900 kW),^[1] they could propel the ship at 18 knots (33 km/h).^[2]

Magdalena had five holds for the carriage of refrigerated cargo, three forward and two aft,^[2] for a total of 460,000 cubic feet (13,000 m³).^[3] Internally, she was divided into nine watertight compartments.^[2] She was of part-riveted and part-welded construction, with a double bottom.^[4] She was certificated for the carriage of 251 crew and 529 passengers.^[2] She was assessed at 17,547 GRT, 9,885 NRT, 9,725 DWT.^[1]

History

Magdalena was ordered in 1946,^[5] her keel had been laid by 8 October when Harland & Wolff applied for a passenger certificate for the ship.^[6] In 1947, it was reported that delivery would be delayed until the end of 1948 and that the cost of building her would be considerably higher than the estimated cost when the order was placed.^[5] She was built to replace Highland Patriot, which had been sunk during the war.^[7] Magdalena was the first passenger ship built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast after the end of the war and the third-largest being built in the United Kingdom at that particular point in time.^[8] The third Royal Mail Lines ship to carry the name Magdalena,^[9] she was built to serve on the Tilbury – Cherbourg – Vigo – Lisbon – Las Palmas – Pernambuco – Bahia – Rio de Janeiro – Santos – Montevideo route.^[10] She was launched on 11 May 1948.^[11] Her passenger certificate was issued on 18 February 1949.^[6] Her port of registry was London.^[12] The Official Number 182955 and Code Letters GFQD were allocated.^[1]

Magdalena departed from London on her maiden voyage on 9 March 1949,^[13] bound for Buenos Aires, Argentina.^[14] Her captain was on his final voyage before retirement.^[15] She called at Las Palmas, Spain on 15 March,^[14] and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 24 March.^[16] She reached Buenos Aires,^[15] where a cargo of 3,000 long tons (3,048 t) of meat was loaded,^[17] and called at Santos where a cargo of oranges was loaded.^[15] Carrying 237 crew and 347 passengers, she departed from Santos on 24 April, passing south of the Isle of Moela and the Isle of San Sebastian. Magdalena's course was more northerly than that intended, and adjustments were made twice on the orders of her captain. She passed Boi Point, San Sebastian at 19:56 and her course was altered to pass about 0.5 nmi (0.93 km) north of the Palmas Island Lighthouse, at the entrance to Rio de Janeiro Harbour. The captain retired to bed at about 22:45, leaving written orders to be called when the ship was at a bearing of 315° off the Garituba Lighthouse. As Magdalena was not due at Rio de Janeiro until the morning, her speed was reduced to 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h). At 02:30 on 25 April, she was some 2 to 2.5 nmi (3.7 to 4.6 km) north of her intended position and another adjustment was made to her heading. By 03:30, she was on course and the bearing of 315° to the Guarituba Lighthouse was obtained at 03:49, at which point the captain was called. Having checked that all was well, he left orders to be called at 04:30.^[2]

At 04:00, the watch changed; the incoming watch were informed that the ship's course would mean that it would pass close to the Tijucas Rocks. Shortly before 04:30, a fix was obtained which showed that Magdalena was again ½ nmi (900 m) north of her intended position. The captain was called as ordered and informed that arrival off Palmas Island would be at about 05:07. The first officer then took another fix as he was unsure of the accuracy of the first fix. He had just returned to the bridge when something was seen in the water ahead of them, which the Third Officer took to be a ship without lights. The order "port, 3 degrees" was given, followed by "hard-a-starboard" immediately before Magdalena struck the Tijucas Rocks,^[2] located between the Carragas Islands and the Palmas Islands.^[18] The time of the grounding was 04:40. An SOS was broadcast, which was responded to by the Brazilian Navy, which sent three submarine chasers and three destroyers to the scene. The passengers were ordered to take to the lifeboats.^[15] Tenders and tugs also assisted in the rescue of all passengers from Magdalena without loss of life. The sea conditions at the time were smooth. At 19:00, the steam turbines had to be shut down, and power was then provided by her auxiliary diesel engines.^[2] At about 20:00, the submarine chaser Guaporé arrived and started to rescue the passengers.^[15] Other ships which assisted in the rescue were the tugs Comandante Triunfo, Dorat, Saturno and Trovão,^[19] and also the cargo ship Goiaz.^[20]

Magdalena was refloated at 23:34. Her No.3 compartment was flooded and she was down by the bows.^[2] Tugs were sent to tow her the 15 nautical miles (28 km) into Rio de Janeiro. The tow started at 07:00 on 26 April, making slow progress,^[21] with the ship being towed stern first and making just 3 knots (5.6 km/h). Her bows were drawing 45 feet (14 m) of water.^[22] The ship was abeam of Sugarloaf Mountain when she began to split in two just under her bridge.^[21] This occurred as the ship was passing over a sandbank at the harbour mouth, which lay at a depth of about 45 feet (14 m). The anchors were then dropped.^[22] The remaining passengers and crew abandoned ship, with the last three leaving just before Magdalena broke up.^[21]

The bow section remained at anchor in the Guanabara Bay,^[21] The bow section slowly sank, being noticeably deeper in the water by 29 April.^[23] It finally sank on 30 April, leaving the foremast to mark its position (22°57′05″S 43°7′30″W / 22.95139°S 43.125°W / -22.95139; -43.125 ^[11]).^[24] Much of her cargo of oranges washed up on Copacabana Beach.^[21] Salvage of the bow section was officially abandoned on 7 June.^[25] The wreck now lies in 36 to 44 feet (11 to 13 m) of water.^[26]

The stern section drifted aground at the opposite side to the bay to where the bow section remained.^[21] The passengers' baggage was salvaged, as well as mail being carried.^[24] Of her cargo, 450 long tons (457 t) of frozen meat was salvaged, with hopes that a further 300 long tons (305 t) would also be salvageable, as well as 2,000 of the 12,000 cases of oranges. They were shipped to the United Kingdom on board Highland Brigade.^[27] Salvage operations were abandoned on 25 May,^[28] and it was decided to sell her remains for scrap.^[29]

Magdalena's stern section was towed to Imbuí Bay,^[18] and was sold for £50,000.^[25] Her steam turbines were used for many years to generate electricity for Manaus. The ship's bell and some other small parts, including some portholes are preserved at the Jurujuba Yacht Club, Niterói. The wreck of the bow section was a hazard to shipping until at least the 1970s, but has since been mostly demolished. It is difficult to dive due to strong currents in the area, poor visibility and anchoring in the busy shipping lane being banned.^[11]

On 4 May, Magdalena was declared to be a total loss,^[30] making her the third ship built by Harland & Wolff to be lost on her maiden voyage.^{[31][Note 1]} Her insurers paid out £2,295,000 to Royal Mail Lines by cheque on 16 May. At the time, this was the biggest payout for a marine casualty in the United Kingdom.^[32] It was decided that a replacement ship would not be built.^[33]

Investigation

A preliminary enquiry into the loss of Magdalena was held at Rio de Janeiro by the British Consul-General, who sent a report to the Minister of Transport, who ordered that a Court of Formal Investigation be held.^[34] The enquiry was held at the Royal Courts of Justice, London from 26 to 28 September 1949 with J. V. Naisby KC in charge, assisted by Captains Grimston and Williamson, and a Mr. Gray. Evidence was heard that the ship was seaworthy, and that the provision of rescue equipment on board either met or exceeded the required standard. The course selected was deemed to be correct, but the navigation of the ship was defective, with insufficient attention being paid to compass errors. Her captain had his master's certificate suspended for two years. Her first officer had his certificate suspended for a year, being allowed to hold a second mate's certificate during this time. These suspensions were effective from the date of the report's release on 3 October 1949.^[2]

Reunion

In April 1996, a reunion was held at Belfast of people who had either helped to build or worked on board Magdalena. It was organised by the Lagan Legacy heritage organization. Four of the seven people contacted attended the reunion, with one coming from Australia.^[8]

Notes

1. ^ The others were RMS Titanic in 1912; and RFA Dinsdale in 1942, the latter due to enemy action.^[35]

References