Page 52 - Greystones Archaeological Historical Society

THE ACCIDENT THAT TIME FORGOT

05.30 25/11. The damage to the stern doors did not delay the
landing and loading of milk tankers.

Temporary repairs will be made as quickly as possible.’

Incident 4: 2 November 1952
nd
The final accident, although minor in nature, was to be a
contributory factor to the January 1953 disaster although no
significance was attached to it at the time of its occurrence. On
2 November 1952, while the vessel was tied up at the mail pier
in Larne, she was struck on the starboard side by the SS Empire
Gaelic outward bound for Preston. The for’ard moorings of the
MV Princess Victoria were carried away by the collision and she
drifted backwards and struck the pier and ramp with her stern.
Taken out of service, she was sailed to Henderson’s Yard in
Glasgow where a full examination revealed that her bow and hull
had been damaged as had the guide rails of the sliding door
which could still move and down but could not be locked in place
over the stern doors as was its original purpose. The ship
surveyor advised that the damage to the rails could be repaired
at the owners’ convenience. The MV Princess Victoria was then
returned to service with this damage remaining un-repaired. This

meant that the shield could not be lowered to prevent sea spray
getting on the open rear car deck.

The Final Voyage

At the end of January 1953 a massive storm began forming
in the North Atlantic which would later cause great devastation
along the East Coast of England and in Holland. As it grew in
th
intensity, on Friday 30 January the B.B.C. [British Broadcasting
Corporation] broadcast a gale warning which was subsequently
re-broadcast by various maritime radio stations, including
Portpatrick Radio. More warnings were transmitted on Saturday

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