The FV Margaret Jane was a Canadian stern trawler based out of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Built in 1965 at Snyder's Shipyard in Dayspring, she was owned by fishing company Adams & Knickle.[3][4][5][6]
| History | |
|---|---|
 Canada | |
| Name | "Margaret Jane" |
| Owner | Adams & Knickle |
| Port of registry | Lunenburg, Nova Scotia |
| Builder | Snyders Shipyard |
| Launched | 1965 |
| Identification | IMO number: 6621222 |
| Fate | Collision with Cape Beaver on July 31, 1980 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 108 tons[1] |
| Length | 105 ft (32 m)[2] |
| Sail plan | Stern trawler |
Collision and sinking
editOn July 31, 1980, Margaret Jane was returning an injured crew member to Lunenburg after three days of scallop fishing with an 18-member crew.[4][7][8] Cape Beaver, a steel-plated 160-foot wetfish trawler owned by National Sea Products, was undergoing her first shakedown cruise in Nova Scotia waters and had dignitaries on board.[2][4][9][10]
At approximately 12:00 p.m. (ADT), Margaret Jane was hit on the port side by Cape Beaver in dense fog.[10][11] The incident occurred about six kilometers from Lunenburg, near West Ironbound Island.[4][11] The large ice-cutting ball on the bow of Cape Beaver sliced through the side of the Margaret Jane.[2] After the collision, some crewmembers jumped overboard into the Atlantic Ocean and others scrambled into the boat's life raft.[10] Within two minutes, the Margaret Jane was submerged by water and sank.[2][11] Four crewmembers of the Margaret Jane died in the incident.[11] Some crew members from Cape Beaver jumped into a life boat and helped rescue survivors.[2] The Cape Beaver boat and crew was not injured and returned to the National Sea Products wharf with rescued crew members from the Margaret Jane.[4] Four injured men were taken to hospital in the incident and the other 10 members of the crew were unharmed after being rescued.[4]
A television film crew from CBC was aboard Cape Beaver and captured footage of the collision and aftermath.[12] The video footage was aired on national television across the United States.[13][14][15]
Casualties
editThree of the four crew members who died were originally from Newfoundland.[4] The fourth was Kelly Crouse, a 16-year-old from Brockville, Ontario who went on the fishing trip while on vacation with his parents.[11]
| Name | Age | Hometown | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Crouse | 16 | Brockville, Ontario | [11] |
| Aloysius J. Hinks | 34 | Chester | [11] |
| Manuel Joseph Jesso | 41 | Stephenville, Newfoundland | [11] |
| Leonard Snook | 55 | English Harbour, Newfoundland | [11] |
Inquiry
editOn September 4, 1980, Transport Minister Jean-Luc Pépin ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident.[16] The inquiry was held before Justice A. Gordon Cooper of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court Appeals Division.[17] Captain Morris Nowe, skipper of the Cape Beaver, testified that there was no liquor aboard the ship when it collided with the Margaret Jane.[17]
References
edit- ^ Marine Heritage Database: Margaret Jane – 1980 Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
- ^ a b c d e "Search continues for crewmen, inquiry into ship collision begins". Chronicle Herald. Halifax, Nova Scotia. August 1, 1980. p. One & Two.
- ^ Snyders Shipyard - Margaret Jane snydersshipyard.com
- ^ a b c d e f g Mason, Linda (July 31, 1980). "Four missing". Chronicle Herald. Halifax, Nova Scotia. p. One.
- ^ Maritime Connector: Margaret Jane
- ^ Margaret Jane (+1980) Wrecksite.eu
- ^ "2 boats collide, 1 sinks". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. August 1, 1980. p. 22.
- ^ "Four missing in sea mishap". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. August 1, 1980. p. Four.
- ^ "4 missing after sea collision". Montreal Gazette. Montreal, Quebec. August 1, 1980. p. One.
- ^ a b c "Debris spotted but 4 still missing after sea collision". Montreal Gazette. Montreal, Quebec. August 2, 1980. p. One.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Searchers comb sea for four missing after boats collide". Montreal Gazette. August 1, 1980. p. 43.
- ^ AT SEA: FISHING TRAWLER SINKS IN MINUTES DRAGGING DOWN CREW, AFTER COLLIDING WITH OTHER TRAWLER ITN Source
- ^ NBC Evening News for Thursday, Jul 31, 1980 Vanderbilt Television News Archive
- ^ NBC Evening News for Friday, Aug 01, 1980 Vanderbilt Television News Archive
- ^ "Collision". Lakeland Ledger. Lakeland, Florida. August 2, 1980. p. 6A.
- ^ "Pepin orders inquiry". Montreal Gazette. Montreal, Quebec. September 4, 1980. p. 22.
- ^ a b "No liquor aboard in crash: Captain". Montreal Gazette. Montreal, Quebec. February 2, 1981. p. 11.