MV ''Fairwind'' (MSL 251) was an Australian Motor Stores Lighter wrecked off the New South Wales coast in 1950. MSL 251 and her sister ship, MSL 252 (later ), were built by Tulloch's Pty Ltd for the Australian Army. Completed in September 1946, the vessel was loaned to the Department of External Affairs and used for fishery surveys by the Papua and New Guinea Administration. The Department renamed the vessel MV ''Fairwind''.

Loss

In 1950, while on passage from Port Moresby to

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

, ''Fairwind'' disappeared off the mid-north coast of New South Wales during a

cyclone In meteorology, a cyclone () is a large air mass that rotates around a strong center of low atmospheric pressure, counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere as viewed from above (opposite to an anti ...

. She was last sighted near

Smoky Cape Smoky Cape is a headland in Australia on the New South Wales Mid-North Coast. It lies just east of the town of South West Rocks, New South Wales, South West Rocks, and within the Hat Head National Park. Cape The cape was named ''Smoky Cape'' ...

. The ship's last communication was a radio report on 23 June, where she indicated that she was seeking shelter behind

North Solitary Island North Solitary Island is one of the largest islands found off the New South Wales coast and inside the continental shelf. It is located 40 km north-east of Coffs Harbour and about 13 km east-south-east of Wooli. The island is divided in ...

short of fuel, but that she would attempt to reach

Coffs Harbour Coffs Harbour is a city on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, north of Sydney, and south of Brisbane. It is one of the largest urban centres on the North Coast, with a population of 78,759 as per 2021 census. The Gumbaynggirr ...

. Despite an extensive land and air search, the crew of 17, including 12 Papuans, were not found. It is official that all of the ''Fairwinds crew lost their lives in the sinking.

Rediscovery

The fate of MV ''Fairwind'' was not positively established until August 2009, when her wreck was found in deep water off South West Rocks by a team of amateur divers. The wreck sits upright at a depth of . The wreck itself is mostly intact, with the forward and aft king posts projecting from the seabed.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fairwind, MV Shipwrecks of the Mid North Coast Region Ships built in New South Wales Iron and steel steamships of Australia 1946 ships Maritime incidents in 1950 1950 in Australia Cargo ships of the Australian Army Ships lost with all hands