Barbary Coast Divers
News and Events
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Since nobody sent me a dive story I decided to see what's happening on the other side of the world:
Dive Club Marlborough, Waikawa Bay, Picton, Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand
MIKHAIL LERMONTOV
going down
Dive the awesome Mikhail Lermontov, the biggest cruise ship that sank
since the Titanic, open for recreational diving.
You can dive this world famous marvelous ship in 14 meter with open water certificate or go deeper or penetrate with your advanced certification
Our story of the sinking of the Russian Cruise ship
model of the wreck
" How can a pilot run a ship onto the rocks, in his own water, in clear weather?" Captain Vladislaw Verobyov, after the event speaking on the bridge of the Wellington ferry.
On 16 February 1986, the Russian ( USSR ) cruise ship the Mikhail Lermontov ($ 25.000.000, 20.000 tons, 155 mtr long, 8 mtr draught, 25 mtr across the beam, 408 passengers, 330 crew) sets off from Picton Harbour at 15.00 hours.
The pilot Don Jamison was on board at 14.50, he was working 80/90 hrs a week at that time, as acting Manager of Marlborough Harbour Authority, Harbour master and as Pilot.
Some alcohol was consumed during lunch, including vodka, and Don stumbled at least once on the bridge.
The films shown in the ships cinema that day were the newest Hollywood blockbusters like the Goonies, Gremlins, Beverly Hills Cops.
The ships route taken led through Shakespeare Bay where it nearly ran aground due to a misunderstanding about the bow thrusters. The Captain warned the pilot not to get too close to the shore anymore.
The Pilot was commenting on the scenery and history of the Marlborough sounds via the public address system. The ship also went into Ships Cove (James Cook anchoring place) ,where again it came close to shore .The course was then set for 40°N, the speed was 15 knots. (About 27 kph, 18 mph).
The Russian refrigeration engineer Purvee Zagliadimov was last seen going into the compressor room deep in the bowels of the ship at 17.30 hrs.
The course was changed to 10°N, by order of the Pilot direct to the Helmsman. The Russian Navigator questioned the change of course but did not further interact.
The ship struck Perham rock (a submerged rock) between Cape Jackson and Jackson Head on its port side at 17.37 hrs.
Although the ship was built for ice breaking, this proved too much strain on the hull.
The damage caused was 2 gashes of 40 feet ( 12 mtr ) long about 100 feet ( 33 mtr ) back from the port beam.
The ships clock stopped at 17.40
The passengers were told that ;"Dinner will be served late" There was further nothing to worry about.
The ship was making water fast and headed for port Gore beach.
Then a kind of a Mayday was sent but this was later cancelled. Nevertheless the Wellington ferry Arahua and LPG tanker Tarahiko both relatively nearby went to see what was going on.
At 18.20 the assistance arrives, the Russian Captains plan was to push the ship onto the beach and drop anchors. This pushing was refused by the LPG tanker. The Navy ship Nimrod also arrives. Passengers started evacuation, the last man was off the ship at 22.25.
737 survivors were counted the next day in Wellington.
The subsequent only enquiry in the affair was a ‘preliminary enquiry‘, called the Ponsford enquiry (enquiry was conducted by the best man at Don Jamisons wedding, Captain Ponsford)
Don Jamison after the event handed in his pilots license as suggested by politicians, but was kept on as Harbour master of Marlborough Harbour Authority (MHA) and still lives in Picton.
The MHA, as Don's employer was shortly after abolished and had to hand over all its assets to pay for damages.
The Marlborough District Council took over the responsibilities of MHA and taxpayers as is usual in these cases apparently eventually paid the bill for the further damages outstanding.
There was extensive communication from the ship with Vladivostock during the sinking, but local vhf radio communications were confusing and had to be relayed.
The Russian Captain was kept ashore until the abolishment of the USSR in 1991, he now commands a ship again.
The Russian navigator was severely fined and had a suspended prison sentence.
The pilot still lives in Picton. He later commanded a livestock ferry.
Putin was working in the Wellington Russian Embassy during the sinking. A Russian spy ship was nearby and on site of the sinking shortly afterwards although its existence was denied.
A subsequently expected full enquiry was never held, documents relating to the incident are still classified.
After the events the executive Manager of the MHA, named Mike Goulter, was sacked (before the Lerm sinking) and was now embroiled in a lengthy tribunal hearing, accusing MHA of wrongful dismissal. The reason for the dismissal was "incompetence". At the hearing some time after the sinking Don Jamison gave evidence against Mike Goulter, as acting Manager of MHA and was told by the adjudicator : "It is astounding, for a pilot who single handedly sank the biggest ship in peacetime since the Titanic to suggest someone else is incompetent."
Certain above facts may be inaccurate, certain facts are based on a variety word of mouth and written information, authenticity is not checked, the above facts may contain errors or mistakes. Although there is no intention to mislead , the above and following has to be seen as an opinion of the events only.
A lot of information and pictures have been gained from Kevin Dekker, the Lermontov expert in New Zealand, however any mistakes are mine. His information is found on a website which http address can be located on our links page.
So you are interested to have a look in this mystery ship ?
On our trips we have the Lermontov experience, artifacts and a Lermontov presentation, and we tell you the really juicy bits we do not dare utter here in public.
Many a deck and veranda in the Marlborough Sounds have got Russian deckchairs as furniture.
Although on our dives we leave things intact for us to enjoy in the future, many interesting items have been taken.
WARNING do not dive this ship without professional dive guides
You are guaranteed to be impressed by the sheer scale and intactness of this ship.
updated 1/15/06