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Coordinates: 25°34′29″N 55°27′58″E / 25.57472°N 55.46611°E / 25.57472; 55.46611
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Reworded for accuracy with later part of article - per existing sources, the explosion was on 8 April and it sunk on 10 April
Revised & expanded infobox. Minor amendments to text. Refined categories.
 
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{{short description|Dubai-based passenger liner}}
{{short description|British passenger & cargo liner that traded in the Indian Ocean}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2024}}
{|{{Infobox Ship Begin}}
{{Infobox Ship Image
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
|Ship image=
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship caption=
|Ship image=
⚫
|Ship caption=
}}
}}
{{Infobox ship career
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship country= United Kingdom
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|government}}
|Ship flag= {{Shipboxflag|United Kingdom|civil}}
|Ship name=''Dara''
|Ship name= ''Dara''
|Ship namesake= [[Dara Island]]<ref name=P&OH>{{cite web |url= https://www.poheritage.com/Upload/Mimsy/Media/factsheet/93033DARA-1948pdf.pdf |title=Dara (1948) |work=P&O Heritage |date=October 2009 |access-date=26 January 2024}}</ref>
|Ship owner=[[British-India Steam Navigation Company]]<ref name="ws"/>
|Ship owner= [[British India Steam Navigation Company|British India SN Co]]<ref name=LR1949>{{cite book |year=1949 |title=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |volume=I. A–L |place=London |publisher=[[Lloyd's Register]] of Shipping |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1950AL/page/n476/mode/1up |via=[[Internet Archive]] |at=DAR}}</ref>
|Ship operator=
|Ship registry=
|Ship operator=
|Ship registry= [[Port of London|London]]<ref name=LR1949/>
⚫
|Ship route=
|Ship route= [[Mumbai Harbour|Bombay]] – [[Persian Gulf]]<ref name=Haws>{{cite book |last=Haws |first=Duncan |year=1987 |title=British India S.N. Co |series=Merchant Fleets |volume=11 |place=Burwash |publisher=Travel Creatours Ltd Publications |pages=160–161 |isbn=0-946378-07-X}}</ref>
|Ship ordered=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[Barclay Curle|Barclay Curle & Company]], Glasgow<ref name="ws"/>
|Ship builder= [[Barclay Curle|Barclay, Curle & Co]], [[Whiteinch]]<ref name=LR1949/>
|Ship original cost=
|Ship yard number=711<ref name="ws"/>
|Ship original cost=
|Ship way number=
|Ship yard number= 711<ref name=P&OH/>
|Ship laid down=
|Ship laid down=
|Ship launched=17 December 1947
|Ship launched= 17 December 1947<ref name=P&OH/>
|Ship completed=30 June 1948
|Ship sponsor=
|Ship completed= June 1948<ref name=LR1949/>
|Ship christened=
|Ship acquired=
|Ship maiden voyage=
|Ship identification= *UK [[official number]] 181938<ref name=LR1949/>
|Ship maiden voyage=
*[[Maritime call sign|call sign]] GDTT<ref name=LR1949/>
|Ship in service=
*{{ICS|Golf}}{{ICS|Delta}}{{ICS|Tango}}{{ICS|Tango}}
|Ship out of service=
|Ship fate= *explosion & fire 8 April 1961
|Ship identification=
|Ship fate=Sunk following massive explosion, 8 April 1961
*sank 10 April 1961
|Ship notes=
|Ship status=
⚫
|Ship notes=
}}
}}
{{Infobox Ship Characteristics
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Header caption=
|Ship class= D-class passenger and cargo ship
|Ship type= [[Passenger liner]]
|Ship tonnage={{GRT|5030}}
|Ship tonnage= {{GRT|5030}}, {{NRT|2766}}, {{DWT|4465}}<ref name=P&OH/>
|Ship displacement=
|Ship displacement=
|Ship length={{convert|121.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="ws"/>
|Ship length= *{{cvt|398.7|ft|abbr=on}} [[Length overall|overall]]
|Ship beam={{convert|16.6|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="ws"/>
*{{cvt|382.3|ft|abbr=on}} registered<ref name=LR1949/>
|Ship beam= {{cvt|54.8|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name=LR1949/>
|Ship height=
|Ship draught=
|Ship draught= {{cvt|21|ft|11+3/4|in|abbr=on|2}}<ref name=LR1949/>
|Ship depth= {{cvt|23.6|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name=LR1949/>
|Ship draft=
|Ship depth=
|Ship decks= 2<ref name=LR1949/>
⚫
|Ship power= {{cvt|4200|bhp|lk=in}}<ref name=P&OH/>
|Ship decks=
|Ship propulsion= *1 × 5-cylinder [[two-stroke diesel engine|2-stroke diesel engine]]<ref name=LR1949/>
|Ship deck clearance=
*1 × [[Propeller|screw]]<ref name=LR1949/>
|Ship ramps=
|Ship speed= {{convert|14|kn|km/h}}<ref name=P&OH/>
|Ship ice class=
|Ship capacity= passengers: 20 × 1st class; 30 × A 2nd class; 24 × B 2nd class; 1,377 deck class<ref name=P&OH/>
|Ship sail plan=
|Ship power=
|Ship crew= 132
|Ship sensors= wireless [[direction finding]], [[echo sounding]] device, [[Marine radar|radar]]<ref name=LR1949/>
⚫
|Ship propulsion=Doxford diesel 1 × 5 cyl {{cvt|4200|bhp|lk=in}}<ref name="ws"/>
|Ship speed={{convert|14|kn|lk=in}}<ref name="ws"/>
|Ship notes=[[sister ship]]s: ''Dumra'', {{MV|Dwarka||2}}, ''Daressa''<ref name=Haws/>
|Ship capacity=
|Ship crew=132
⚫
|Ship notes=
}}
}}
|}
|}


The '''MV ''Dara''''' was a [[Dubai]]-based [[passenger liner]], built in 1948 by [[Barclay Curle|Barclay, Curle & Co. Ltd.]], a shipyard in [[Glasgow]], Scotland.<ref name="ws"/> The {{convert|120|m|adj=on}}, four-decked vessel travelled mostly between the [[Persian Gulf]] and the Indian subcontinent, carrying [[expatriate]] passengers who were employed in the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|nations of the Gulf]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uae.greatestdivesites.com/dubai/mv_dara|title=The MV Dara is a passenger liner which sank and lost 238 passengers when the vessel struck an Omani mine.|website=uae.greatestdivesites.com|access-date=2 September 2018}}</ref>
'''MV ''Dara''''' was a British [[passenger ship]], built in 1948 by [[Barclay Curle|Barclay, Curle & Co. Ltd.]], [[Glasgow]], Scotland.<ref name="ws"/> She travelled mostly between the [[Persian Gulf]] and the Indian subcontinent, carrying [[expatriate]] passengers who were employed in the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|nations of the Gulf]].<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://uae.greatestdivesites.com/dubai/mv_dara |title=The MV Dara is a passenger liner which sank and lost 238 passengers when the vessel struck an Omani mine. |website=uae.greatestdivesites.com |access-date=2 September 2018}}</ref>


Following a powerful explosion on 8 April 1961, ''Dara'' sank in the Persian Gulf on 10 April 1961. The explosion caused the deaths of 238 of the 819 people on board at the time, including 19 officers and 113 crew.<ref name=gndara>{{cite news|last=Al Serkal|first=Mariam|title=Fifty years on, the tragedy of vessel MV Dara lingers|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/fifty-years-on-the-tragedy-of-vessel-mv-dara-lingers-1.789262|accessdate=24 July 2011|newspaper=Gulf News|date=9 April 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Another 565 people 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]].<ref>{{cite news |title=165 Missing From The Dara |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=10 April 1961 |page=1}}</ref><ref name=sinking>{{cite hansard |jurisdiction=United Kingdom |title=Sinking of the M.V. "Dara" |url=http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1961/apr/11/sinking-of-the-mv-dara-1 |house=Lords Sitting |date=11 April 1961 |column=244 |speaker=John Cavendish, Lord Chesham |position=}}</ref>
After a powerful explosion on 8 April 1961, ''Dara'' caught fire and sank in the Persian Gulf on 10 April 1961. The disaster killed 238 of the 819 people aboard at the time, including 19 officers and 113 crew.<ref name=gndara>{{cite news |last=Al Serkal |first=Mariam |title=Fifty years on, the tragedy of vessel MV Dara lingers |url= http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/fifty-years-on-the-tragedy-of-vessel-mv-dara-lingers-1.789262 |access-date=24 July 2011 |newspaper=Gulf News |date=9 April 2011}}</ref> Another 565 people were rescued in an operation by a British [[Landing Ship, Tank]], three [[Royal Navy]] ships, and several British and foreign [[merchant ship]]s.<ref>{{cite news |title=165 Missing From The Dara |newspaper=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Glasgow Herald]] |date=10 April 1961 |page=1}}</ref><ref name=sinking>{{cite hansard |jurisdiction=United Kingdom |title=Sinking of the M.V. "Dara" |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1961/apr/11/sinking-of-the-mv-dara-1 |house=Lords Sitting |date=11 April 1961 |column=244 |speaker=John Cavendish, Lord Chesham |position=}}</ref>


==Sinking==
==Sinking==
The vessel had sailed from [[Bombay]] on 23 May, on a round trip to [[Basra]], calling at intermediate ports. ''Dara'' arrived at [[Dubai]] on 7 April and was unloading cargo, embarking and disembarking passengers when the wind picked up; it quickly reached [[Beaufort scale|force seven]] and prevented further work. The ''Dara'' was hit by another boat which had dragged its anchor in the bad weather and Captain Elson decided to take the ship out of harbour to ride out the storm.<ref name=sinking/> Due to the conditions there had been no opportunity to disembark those people on board who did not intend to travel, including relatives and friends seeing off passengers, cargo handlers and various shipping and immigration officials.<ref name=":0" />
''Dara'' sailed from [[Mumbai Harbour|Bombay]] on 23 March, on a round trip to [[Basra]], calling at intermediate ports. She reached [[Dubai]] on 7 April and was unloading cargo, embarking and disembarking passengers when the wind picked up. It quickly reached [[Beaufort scale|force seven]] and prevented further work. Another ship that had dragged her anchor in the bad weather collided with ''Dara''.


Captain Elson decided to take ''Dara'' out of the anchorage to ride out the storm.<ref name=sinking/> Due to the conditions there had been no opportunity to disembark those people aboard who did not intend to travel, including relatives and friends seeing off passengers, cargo handlers and various shipping and immigration officials.<ref name=":0"/>
⚫
At approximately 04.30 on 8 April 1961, a large explosion struck the port side of the engine casing between decks, passing through the engine [[Bulkhead (partition)|bulkhead]] and two upper decks, including the main lounge. The explosion occurred as ''Dara'' was returning to the harbour and it started a series of large fires. The explosion affected all electrical, fire-water and steering systems, and the fire spread rapidly, aided by the wind. The captain ordered the evacuation of the ship.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title = Father of Dubai|last = Wilson|first = Graeme|publisher = Media Prima|year = 1999|isbn = 9789948856450|location = UAE|pages = 117–119}}</ref>


⚫
At about 04.33 on 8 April 1961, a large explosion struck the port side of the engine casing between decks, passing through the engine [[Bulkhead (partition)|bulkhead]] and two upper decks, including the main lounge. The explosion occurred as ''Dara'' was returning to the harbour and it started several large fires. The explosion jammed the ship's steering and shut down her main generator. The fire spread rapidly, aided by the wind. Elson ordered the evacuation of the ship.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=Father of Dubai |last=Wilson |first=Graeme |publisher=Media Prima |year=1999 |isbn=978-9948856450 |place=UAE |pages=117–119}}</ref>
⚫
Launching the [[Lifeboat (shipboard)|lifeboats]] was chaotic in the rough seas; one witness described an overcrowded lifeboat overturning due to the height of the waves. A second lifeboat which had been damaged earlier during the storm was intercepted by the lifeboat of a Norwegian [[Tanker (ship)|tanker]].There were several ships nearby and aid was given by British, German and Japanese vessels in the vicinity, as well as boats travelling from Dubai, [[Sharjah]], [[Ajman]] and [[Umm Al Qawain]].<ref name=":0" />


⚫
Launching the [[Lifeboat (shipboard)|lifeboats]] was impeded by the rough sea, and by the fire spreading below the boat deck. One witness described an overcrowded lifeboat overturning due to the height of the waves. Another lifeboat that had been damaged earlier during the storm was met by the lifeboat of a Norwegian [[Tanker (ship)|tanker]]. Several ships were nearby and aid was given by British, German and Japanese ships in the vicinity, as well as boats coming from Dubai, [[Sharjah]], [[Ajman]] and [[Umm Al Qawain]].<ref name=":0"/>
⚫
A nearly completed hotel building in Dubai was taken over as a reception centre for the injured, many of whom were suffering from burns, exposure and wounds from flying metal shards. The tide of injured people overwhelmed Al Maktoum Hospital and field stations were opened at Sheikh Rashid's Customs House office block.<ref name=":0" />


⚫
A nearly completed hotel building in Dubai was taken over as a reception centre for the injured, many of whom were suffering from burns, exposure and wounds from flying metal shards. The tide of injured people overwhelmed Al Maktoum Hospital and field stations were opened at Sheikh Rashid's Customs House office block.<ref name=":0"/>
⚫
In the days following, three British [[frigate]]s and a US [[destroyer]] sent parties on board the ''Dara'' to extinguish the fires and the vessel was then taken in tow by the Glasgow salvage vessel ''Ocean Salvor'', but she sank at 09.20 on 10 April 1961.<ref name="ws"/>

⚫
In the days following, three British [[frigate]]s and the US [[destroyer]] {{USS|Laffey}} sent parties aboard ''Dara'' to extinguish the fires and the ship was then taken in tow by the Glasgow [[Salvage tug|salvage vessel]] ''Ocean Salvor'', but she sank at 09.20 on 10 April 1961.<ref name="ws"/>


==Possible cause of explosion==
==Possible cause of explosion==
The explosion is believed to have been caused by a deliberately placed explosive device, planted by an [[Oman]]i rebel group or individual insurgents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/clivebillson/CSD/CSD.html|title=The Ship Wreck Dara|first=Clive|last=Billson|url-status=dead|access-date=27 February 2009|archive-date=10 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310172209/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/clivebillson/CSD/CSD.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.divesitedirectory.co.uk/dive_site_united_arab_emirates_dubai_wreck_mv_dara.html|title=MV Dara|publisher=Diving Dubai, United Arab Emirates |url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Court Finds Bomb Sank Liner With 238 In Persian Gulf |newspaper=Toledo Blade |date=19 April 1962 |page=22}}</ref> British Solicitor General [[John Hobson (politician)|Sir John Hobson]], testifying before the court, said that fighters in the [[Dhofar Rebellion]] were likely to be responsible, having previously sabotaged British assets.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1962/03/20/82041272.pdf | title=Sinking of Liner Laid to Sabotage | newspaper=The New York Times | date=20 March 1962 | access-date=8 April 2017 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> However, no forensic evidence has ever been provided to prove that a bomb was the cause.<ref name="ws">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?31813 |title=MV Dara [+1961] |website=wrecksite.eu |access-date=8 April 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>
The explosion is believed to have been caused by a deliberately placed explosive device, planted by an [[Oman]]i rebel group or individual insurgents.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://homepage.ntlworld.com/clivebillson/CSD/CSD.html|title=The Ship Wreck Dara |first=Clive |last=Billson |url-status=dead |access-date=27 February 2009 |archive-date=10 March 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090310172209/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/clivebillson/CSD/CSD.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.divesitedirectory.co.uk/dive_site_united_arab_emirates_dubai_wreck_mv_dara.html |title=MV Dara |publisher=Diving Dubai, United Arab Emirates }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Court Finds Bomb Sank Liner With 238 In Persian Gulf |newspaper=Toledo Blade |date=19 April 1962 |page=22}}</ref> British Solicitor General [[John Hobson (politician)|Sir John Hobson]], testifying before the court, said that fighters in the [[Dhofar Rebellion]] were likely to be responsible, having previously sabotaged British assets.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1962/03/20/82041272.pdf |title=Sinking of Liner Laid to Sabotage |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=20 March 1962 |access-date=8 April 2017 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> However, no forensic evidence has ever been provided to prove that a bomb was the cause.<ref name="ws">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?31813 |title=MV Dara [+1961] |website=wrecksite.eu |access-date=8 April 2021 }}</ref>


==Wreck==
==Wreck==
The wreck sits at a depth of {{convert|15|m|ft}}.<ref name="ws"/>
The wreck lies at a depth of {{convert|15|m}}.<ref name="ws"/>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |last=Abraham |first=PJ |year=1963 |title=Last Hours on Dara |place=London |publisher=[[Peter Llewelyn Davies|Peter Davies]]}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{cite web|url=http://213.132.44.227/english/dubai/fatherofDubai_triumph1.asp|title=Tragedy and triumph (page 1)|work=Father of Dubai}}
*{{cite web |url= https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?&ref=1848 |title=Dara |work=Scottish Built Ships |publisher=Caledonian Maritime Research Trust}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=4421|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050504201414/http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=4421|url-status=usurped|archive-date=4 May 2005|title=mv DARA built by Barclay Curle & Company Glasgow |publisher=Clydebuilt Ships Database}} (with photo) Warning this website appears to have been hijacked


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{{coord|25|34|29|N|55|27|58|E|display=title}}
{{1961 shipwrecks}}
{{1961 shipwrecks}}
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{{coord|25|34|29|N|55|27|58|E|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dara}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dara}}

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[[Category:1947 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1961]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1961]]
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[[Category:Passenger ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Ship bombings]]
[[Category:Ship bombings]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Persian Gulf]]
[[Category:Ships built in Glasgow]]
[[Category:1947 ships]]
[[Category:Ships of the British India Steam Navigation Company]]
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[[Category:Ships built on the River Clyde]]
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[[Category:Passenger ships]]
[[Category:Acts of sabotage]]

Latest revision as of 10:09, 26 January 2024

History
United Kingdom
NameDara
NamesakeDara Island[1]
OwnerBritish India SN Co[2]
Port of registryLondon[2]
RouteBombay – Persian Gulf[3]
BuilderBarclay, Curle & Co, Whiteinch[2]
Yard number711[1]
Launched17 December 1947[1]
CompletedJune 1948[2]
Identification
Fate
  • explosion & fire 8 April 1961
  • sank 10 April 1961
General characteristics
Class and typeD-class passenger and cargo ship
Tonnage5,030 GRT, 2,766 NRT, 4,465 DWT[1]
Length
  • 398.7 ft (121.5 m) overall
  • 382.3 ft (116.5 m) registered[2]
Beam54.8 ft (16.7 m)[2]
Draught21 ft 11+3⁄4 in (6.70 m)[2]
Depth23.6 ft (7.2 m)[2]
Decks2[2]
Installed power4,200 bhp (3,100 kW)[1]
Propulsion
Speed14 knots (26 km/h)[1]
Capacitypassengers: 20 × 1st class; 30 × A 2nd class; 24 × B 2nd class; 1,377 deck class[1]
Crew132
Sensors and
processing systems		wireless direction finding, echo sounding device, radar[2]
Notessister ships: Dumra, Dwarka, Daressa[3]

MV Dara was a British passenger ship, built in 1948 by Barclay, Curle & Co. Ltd., Glasgow, Scotland.[4] She travelled mostly between the Persian Gulf and the Indian subcontinent, carrying expatriate passengers who were employed in the nations of the Gulf.[5]

After a powerful explosion on 8 April 1961, Dara caught fire and sank in the Persian Gulf on 10 April 1961. The disaster killed 238 of the 819 people aboard at the time, including 19 officers and 113 crew.[6] Another 565 people were rescued in an operation by a British Landing Ship, Tank, three Royal Navy ships, and several British and foreign merchant ships.[7][8]

Sinking

[edit]

Dara sailed from Bombay on 23 March, on a round trip to Basra, calling at intermediate ports. She reached Dubai on 7 April and was unloading cargo, embarking and disembarking passengers when the wind picked up. It quickly reached force seven and prevented further work. Another ship that had dragged her anchor in the bad weather collided with Dara.

Captain Elson decided to take Dara out of the anchorage to ride out the storm.[8] Due to the conditions there had been no opportunity to disembark those people aboard who did not intend to travel, including relatives and friends seeing off passengers, cargo handlers and various shipping and immigration officials.[9]

At about 04.33 on 8 April 1961, a large explosion struck the port side of the engine casing between decks, passing through the engine bulkhead and two upper decks, including the main lounge. The explosion occurred as Dara was returning to the harbour and it started several large fires. The explosion jammed the ship's steering and shut down her main generator. The fire spread rapidly, aided by the wind. Elson ordered the evacuation of the ship.[9]

Launching the lifeboats was impeded by the rough sea, and by the fire spreading below the boat deck. One witness described an overcrowded lifeboat overturning due to the height of the waves. Another lifeboat that had been damaged earlier during the storm was met by the lifeboat of a Norwegian tanker. Several ships were nearby and aid was given by British, German and Japanese ships in the vicinity, as well as boats coming from Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Qawain.[9]

A nearly completed hotel building in Dubai was taken over as a reception centre for the injured, many of whom were suffering from burns, exposure and wounds from flying metal shards. The tide of injured people overwhelmed Al Maktoum Hospital and field stations were opened at Sheikh Rashid's Customs House office block.[9]

In the days following, three British frigates and the US destroyer USS Laffey sent parties aboard Dara to extinguish the fires and the ship was then taken in tow by the Glasgow salvage vessel Ocean Salvor, but she sank at 09.20 on 10 April 1961.[4]

Possible cause of explosion

[edit]

The explosion is believed to have been caused by a deliberately placed explosive device, planted by an Omani rebel group or individual insurgents.[10][11] 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.[12] British Solicitor General Sir John Hobson, testifying before the court, said that fighters in the Dhofar Rebellion were likely to be responsible, having previously sabotaged British assets.[13] However, no forensic evidence has ever been provided to prove that a bomb was the cause.[4]

Wreck

[edit]

The wreck lies at a depth of 15 metres (49 ft).[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Dara (1948)" (PDF). P&O Heritage. October 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Lloyd's Register of Shipping. Vol. I. A–L. London: Lloyd's Register of Shipping. 1949. DAR – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ a b Haws, Duncan (1987). British India S.N. Co. Merchant Fleets. Vol. 11. Burwash: Travel Creatours Ltd Publications. pp. 160–161. ISBN 0-946378-07-X.
  4. ^ a b c d "MV Dara [+1961]". wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  5. ^ "The MV Dara is a passenger liner which sank and lost 238 passengers when the vessel struck an Omani mine". uae.greatestdivesites.com. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  6. ^ Al Serkal, Mariam (9 April 2011). "Fifty years on, the tragedy of vessel MV Dara lingers". Gulf News. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
  7. ^ "165 Missing From The Dara". The Glasgow Herald. 10 April 1961. p. 1.
  8. ^ a b John Cavendish, Lord Chesham (11 April 1961). "Sinking of the M.V. "Dara"". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: Lords Sitting. col. 244.
  9. ^ a b c d Wilson, Graeme (1999). Father of Dubai. UAE: Media Prima. pp. 117–119. ISBN 978-9948856450.
  10. ^ Billson, Clive. "The Ship Wreck Dara". Archived from the original on 10 March 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  11. ^ "MV Dara". Diving Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
  12. ^ "Court Finds Bomb Sank Liner With 238 In Persian Gulf". Toledo Blade. 19 April 1962. p. 22.
  13. ^ "Sinking of Liner Laid to Sabotage" (PDF). The New York Times. 20 March 1962. Retrieved 8 April 2017.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Abraham, PJ (1963). Last Hours on Dara. London: Peter Davies.
[edit]
  • "Dara". Scottish Built Ships. Caledonian Maritime Research Trust.

25°34′29″N 55°27′58″E / 25.57472°N 55.46611°E / 25.57472; 55.46611

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MV_Dara&oldid=1199191568"