Booya (ship) facts for kids
Booya as Argosy Lemal c. 1940.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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| Name |
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| Owner |
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| Operator |
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| Port of registry |
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| Builder | Gebroeders van Diepen, Waterhuizen, Netherlands |
| Launched | 1917 |
| Identification |
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| Fate | Sank 24 December 1974 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 254 GRT (Argosy Lemal) |
| Length | 117 ft 5 in (35.79 m) |
| Beam | 24 ft 5 in (7.44 m) |
| Draught | 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails, 1 × 2SCSA oil engine, 79 hp (59 kW) (Argosy Lemal) |
| Sail plan | Schooner |
The Booya was a three-masted schooner with a strong steel hull. It was built in the Netherlands in 1917. Its first name was De Lauwers.
The ship was renamed Argosy Lemal in 1920. It kept this name until 1949. During World War II, as Argosy Lemal, it became an important communications ship for the United States Army.
After the war, the ship changed names several times. It was called Ametco, then Clair Crouch, and finally Booya in 1964. The Booya was last seen on 24 December 1974. It was anchored in Darwin Harbour just before Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin. Nearly 29 years later, in October 2003, the ship was found by chance in Darwin Harbour. It was lying on its side about 20 metres underwater.
Contents
Early Life of the Booya (1917-1942)
The ship was built in Waterhuizen, Netherlands, in 1917. Its original name was De Lauwers. The builders were Gebroeders van Diepen. It was an auxiliary schooner, meaning it had both sails and an engine. The ship was 35.8 metres long and weighed 262 tons.
In 1920, the ship was bought by the Argosy Shipping and Coal Company. This company was based in Newcastle upon Tyne in England. The ship was then renamed Argosy Lemal.
In 1923, the Argosy Lemal came to Australia. It was purchased by Yorke Shipping Pty Ltd. The ship played a big part in moving goods along the Australian coast. It visited many ports, including Port Adelaide and Hobart. Later, Yorke Shipping became part of the Adelaide Steamship Company.
Serving in World War II (1942-1949)
In November 1942, the Australian Government took over the Argosy Lemal. It became a vital part of the US Army Small Ships Section. The ship worked as a radio communication vessel. It sailed in the Arafura Sea and Timor Sea during World War II.
The ship had a crew of 12 people. They came from Australia, America, Norway, Scandinavia, Scotland, and Britain. As the war moved into islands north of Australia, the army needed better ways to communicate. General Spencer B. Akin created a small fleet of ships for this purpose. These ships helped relay messages from battle areas back to headquarters.
The Argosy Lemal was one of the first Australian ships chosen for this role. It was turned into a communications ship in 1943. These small communication ships were very useful in army operations. Everyone wanted to use them.
Challenges During War Service
Life on the Argosy Lemal during the war was tough. Sergeant Arthur B. Dunning shared his experiences. He and six other soldiers joined the ship in New Guinea in September 1943. Their job was to handle army radio messages.
The ship's commanders sometimes caused problems. One captain was removed for not being good at his job. Another captain followed rules too strictly. He would not let the crew use their radios at sea. This was because the radios might alert enemy listeners. As a result, the crew sometimes missed important orders from the army.
One time, the ship ran aground on a reef. This happened on the way to Australia. Many crew members were already sick with tropical diseases. Now they had more worries. The ship's radio antennas were damaged. The crew had to build a new antenna to call for help. They also had to pump water out of the ship. It turned out the captain had given the wrong location for the ship. This delayed their rescue.
The Argosy Lemal was eventually rescued and repaired. The crew also received medical care. Sergeant Dunning described the ship as a three-masted sailing vessel. It had a 110-horsepower diesel engine. He said it was the sixth ship taken over by the US Army's Small Ships Section. Its main job was to handle radio messages between battle areas and army headquarters.
Later Years and Final Voyage (1949-1974)
After the war, in 1949, the ship was bought by the Middle East Trading Company. It was renamed Ametco. The Ametco later sank near Low Wooded Island off the Queensland coast. It was salvaged but was in bad condition. It was taken to Melbourne for repairs.
In 1952, a shipping company called MB Crouch & Co Limited bought the ship. They renamed it Clair Crouch, after the owner's daughter. The Clair Crouch sailed around the Australian coast until 1958. Then, it was changed to carry sulphuric acid. It transported acid between Port Pirie and Port Lincoln in South Australia.
In 1964, the ship was sold to the Mornington Island Fishing Company. It was renamed Booya. It was used as a mother ship and fuel supplier for prawn fishing boats in the north. The ship was not used much in 1965-1966. Then, in 1968, it was sold again. The new owner was the Denham Island Transport Company. It mainly carried cargo between Dili and Darwin.
On the evening of 24 December 1974, the Booya was moored near Fort Hill wharf in Darwin. There were four crew members and one guest on board. As Cyclone Tracy came closer, all ships were told to leave the wharves. They were ordered to find a safe place to anchor. The Booya was last seen leaving Fort Hill wharf around 8:00 PM. For the next 29 years, it was missing. It was believed to have sunk with everyone on board during the cyclone. Cyclone Tracy had winds of 300 km/h.
Discovery of the Wreck
On 22 October 2003, divers found the wreck by accident. It was in Darwin Harbour, about 20 metres deep. The ship was lying on its side. It was found five nautical miles (9 km) from shore.
Finding the Booya led to an official investigation. The Government of the Northern Territory declared the wreck site a special area. This meant it was protected under the Heritage Conservation Act. In 2005, the Booya and the area around it became a 'heritage site'.
Police divers searched the Booya. They did not find any human remains. However, they found some personal items. These items were identified by the families of the people who were lost. The investigation concluded that the ship sank because of Cyclone Tracy's strong winds and high seas. The crew was lost at sea late on 24 December or early on 25 December 1974.
Ship Identification Numbers
Official Numbers were like early versions of today's IMO Numbers. They helped identify ships.
The Argosy Lemal had the UK Official Number 144888. It used the Code Letters KGHS from 1930. From 1933, it used the Code Letters VJDF.
