MV Dara
Encyclopedia
The MV Dara was a Dubai
based passenger liner, built at a shipbuilding yard in Scotland during 1948. The vessel travelled mostly between the Persian Gulf and the Indian subcontinent, carrying expatriate
passengers who were employed in the Gulf States.
The MV Dara sank in the Persian Gulf
on April 8, 1961, as a result of a powerful explosion that caused the deaths of 238 persons from the 819 registered persons on board at the time of the voyage, including 19 officers and 113 crew. Another 565 persons were rescued during an operation by a British Army
tank landing craft, a number of ships of the Royal Navy
, and several British and foreign merchant ships.
, calling at intermediate ports. It had arrived at Dubai on the 7th April and was unloading cargo, embarking and disembarking passengers when a violent storm of wind and rain prevented further work. It was decided by Capt. Elison to take the ship out of harbour to ride the storm. Due to the conditions there had not time to disembark persons on board who did not intend to travel, including relatives and friends seeing off the passengers, cargo labourers and various shipping and immigration officials.
At approximately half past four in the morning on the 8th of April, 1961, a large explosion occurred to the port side of the engine casing between decks, passing through the engine bulkhead
and two upper decks, including the main lounge. The explosion had occurred as the MV Dara was returning to the harbor and started a series of large fires. The explosion having disrupted all electrical, fire-water and steering systems, the fire spread rapidly, aided by the gale
force winds of the storm, and the crew opted to evacuate the ship.
The launching of the lifeboats was chaotic in the rough seas, with one witness describing a lifeboat overcrowded, overturning in the waves. A second lifeboat had been damaged earlier during the storm, this ailing lifeboat would later be intercepted by the lifeboat of a Norwegian tanker
. At the time there were several ships nearby and aid was given by British, German and Japanese vessels also.
In the days following, three British frigates and a US destroyer sent parties on board the MV Dara to extinguish the fires and the vessel was then taken in tow by the Glasgow salvage vessel Ocean Salvor, but sank at twenty minutes past nine on April 10, 1961.
The explosion is theorized to have been caused by a deliberately placed explosive device, planted by an Omani rebel group or individual insurgents. A British Admiralty court
concluded, more than a year after the disaster, that an anti-tank mine, "deliberately placed by a person or persons unknown", had "almost certainly" caused the explosion. This would probably have been related to the Dhofar Rebellion
. However, no forensic evidence has ever been provided proving a bomb was the cause.
The wreck sits at a depth of 21 metres (68.9 ft).
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
based passenger liner, built at a shipbuilding yard in Scotland during 1948. The vessel travelled mostly between the Persian Gulf and the Indian subcontinent, carrying expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
passengers who were employed in the Gulf States.
The MV Dara sank in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
on April 8, 1961, as a result of a powerful explosion that caused the deaths of 238 persons from the 819 registered persons on board at the time of the voyage, including 19 officers and 113 crew. Another 565 persons were rescued during an operation by a British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
tank landing craft, a number of ships of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, and several British and foreign merchant ships.
Sinking
The vessel had sailed from Bombay on the 23rd May on a round trip to BaseraBasera
Basera is a Hindi language soap opera that premiered on the Zee TV channel. The story portrays and illustrates the differences in living with a joint family compared to living in a nuclear family setup. The series was very popular among Indian audiences, especially women, and won one of the best...
, calling at intermediate ports. It had arrived at Dubai on the 7th April and was unloading cargo, embarking and disembarking passengers when a violent storm of wind and rain prevented further work. It was decided by Capt. Elison to take the ship out of harbour to ride the storm. Due to the conditions there had not time to disembark persons on board who did not intend to travel, including relatives and friends seeing off the passengers, cargo labourers and various shipping and immigration officials.
At approximately half past four in the morning on the 8th of April, 1961, a large explosion occurred to the port side of the engine casing between decks, passing through the engine bulkhead
Bulkhead
Bulkhead may refer to:* Bulkhead, a compartment of a building for preventing spread of fires, see Compartmentalization * Bulkhead , a retaining wall used as a form of coastal management, akin to a seawall, or as a structural device such as a bulkhead partition* Bulkhead , a wall within the hull of...
and two upper decks, including the main lounge. The explosion had occurred as the MV Dara was returning to the harbor and started a series of large fires. The explosion having disrupted all electrical, fire-water and steering systems, the fire spread rapidly, aided by the gale
Gale
A gale is a very strong wind. There are conflicting definitions of how strong a wind must be to be considered a gale. The U.S. government's National Weather Service defines a gale as 34–47 knots of sustained surface winds. Forecasters typically issue gale warnings when winds of this strength are...
force winds of the storm, and the crew opted to evacuate the ship.
The launching of the lifeboats was chaotic in the rough seas, with one witness describing a lifeboat overcrowded, overturning in the waves. A second lifeboat had been damaged earlier during the storm, this ailing lifeboat would later be intercepted by the lifeboat of a Norwegian tanker
Tanker (ship)
A tanker is a ship designed to transport liquids in bulk. Major types of tankship include the oil tanker, the chemical tanker, and the liquefied natural gas carrier.-Background:...
. At the time there were several ships nearby and aid was given by British, German and Japanese vessels also.
In the days following, three British frigates and a US destroyer sent parties on board the MV Dara to extinguish the fires and the vessel was then taken in tow by the Glasgow salvage vessel Ocean Salvor, but sank at twenty minutes past nine on April 10, 1961.
The explosion is theorized to have been caused by a deliberately placed explosive device, planted by an Omani rebel group or individual insurgents. A British Admiralty court
Admiralty court
Admiralty courts, also known as maritime courts, are courts exercising jurisdiction over all maritime contracts, torts, injuries and offences.- Admiralty Courts in England and Wales :...
concluded, more than a year after the disaster, that an anti-tank mine, "deliberately placed by a person or persons unknown", had "almost certainly" caused the explosion. This would probably have been related to the Dhofar Rebellion
Dhofar Rebellion
The Dhofar Rebellion was launched in the province of Dhofar against the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, which had British support, from 1962 to 1976. It ended with the defeat of the rebels, but the state of Oman had to be radically reformed and modernised to cope with the campaign.-Background:In...
. However, no forensic evidence has ever been provided proving a bomb was the cause.
The wreck sits at a depth of 21 metres (68.9 ft).