MV Holmglen
Encyclopedia
MV Holmglen II was a steel hull coastal trader built in 1956 by Maartenshoek, Netherlands
based shipyard Bodewes Scheepswerven for the Holm Shipping Company of New Zealand
.
It was 485 gross tons, max speed 9 knots powered by four diesel engines.
On November 23, 1959, the ship left Dunedin, New Zealand for Wanganui
via Wellington
, under the command of Captain Edward Joseph Eugene Regnaud. On the evening of November 24, a mayday
from Holmglen was received by the Taiaroa Head Signal and Radio Station
, and a voice believed to be that of the captain reported, "am heeling heavily to port....accommodation awash .... preparing to launch boat." The message was acknowledged by Taiaroa and answered by Holmglen who said to standby for further, but this was the last communication and she was not heard from again.
A sea and air search was conducted and the wreck of Holmglen was found by another Holm Shipping Company vessel, MV Holmburn. After the crew of Holmburn spotted an oil slick, they used sonar to locate the exact position, which was later confirmed by the Royal New Zealand Navy underwater video and divers. Holmglen lies in 30 fathoms of water about 22 miles south east of Timaru
,and all 15 lives were lost. An investigation by Maritime New Zealand
was unable to determine the cause for the sinking.
On 10 November 2008, Blenheim dive master, Kevin Bailey died while diving the wreck.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
based shipyard Bodewes Scheepswerven for the Holm Shipping Company of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
It was 485 gross tons, max speed 9 knots powered by four diesel engines.
On November 23, 1959, the ship left Dunedin, New Zealand for Wanganui
Wanganui
Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
via Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, under the command of Captain Edward Joseph Eugene Regnaud. On the evening of November 24, a mayday
Mayday (distress signal)
Mayday is an emergency procedure word used internationally as a distress signal in voice procedure radio communications. It derives from the French venez m'aider, meaning "come help me"....
from Holmglen was received by the Taiaroa Head Signal and Radio Station
Taiaroa Head
Taiaroa Head is a headland at the end of the Otago Peninsula in New Zealand, overlooking the mouth of the Otago Harbour. It lies within the city limits of Dunedin...
, and a voice believed to be that of the captain reported, "am heeling heavily to port....accommodation awash .... preparing to launch boat." The message was acknowledged by Taiaroa and answered by Holmglen who said to standby for further, but this was the last communication and she was not heard from again.
A sea and air search was conducted and the wreck of Holmglen was found by another Holm Shipping Company vessel, MV Holmburn. After the crew of Holmburn spotted an oil slick, they used sonar to locate the exact position, which was later confirmed by the Royal New Zealand Navy underwater video and divers. Holmglen lies in 30 fathoms of water about 22 miles south east of Timaru
Timaru
TimaruUrban AreaPopulation:27,200Extent:Former Timaru City CouncilTerritorial AuthorityName:Timaru District CouncilPopulation:42,867 Land area:2,736.54 km² Mayor:Janie AnnearWebsite:...
,and all 15 lives were lost. An investigation by Maritime New Zealand
Maritime New Zealand
Maritime New Zealand is a Crown entity responsible for protecting the maritime environment within New Zealand and maintaining safety and security....
was unable to determine the cause for the sinking.
On 10 November 2008, Blenheim dive master, Kevin Bailey died while diving the wreck.
Further reading
- New Zealand Shipwrecks - C.W.N. Ingram (Reed Publishers)
- New Zealand Tragedies, Shipwrecks and Maritime Disasters - Gavin McLean 1991 Grantham House Publishing
- The Wreck Book, Rediscovered Shipwrecks - Steve Locker-Lampson & Ian Francis 1994 Halcyon Publishing
- New Zealand National Archives - Archives Reference: ABPL 7464 Volume 4
- Archives M 1 13/2860 Holmglen foundering missing from Archives
- Nelson Evening Mail - November/December 1959