Shipwrecks of Ocean Island / Banaba: PART ONE

The following information was provided by the late British Phosphate Commission (BPC) employee, Roger Anderson. The original article was written by Captain John Marine Fisk. Captain Fish had been Master of one of the BPC charter ships, KOMATA, which was sun at Nauru by the German Raiders in December 1940. He became the master of the RIVER BURDEKIN that liberated Nauru and Banaba after the War. [1]

SS MOONSTONE - 27 July 1901

The first recorded shipwreck. She had loaded 2270 tons of phosphate and was steaming towards the loading berth to finish off when she had the misfortune to run on the reef. She sank the same evening at Sydney Point (also known as Solomon Point).

SS ELBA - 3 January 1904 (German)

She was lying at the moorings in Home Bay, when a westerly squall suddenly came up, blowing hard onshore. A severe strain was put on the moorings and they parted. The vessel being light, came right up on the reef and was holed in several places. Strenuous efforts were made to refloat her for several days, the surf being comparatively light and at high spring tide she came off but was taking in water so rapidly that they had to run her on the reef again to prevent sinking.

She slewed right round, the fore part sinking and the stern coming high up in the air, almost overhanging the jetties. She remained like that for nearly two months. As the swell increased the ELBA began to grind a fair bit. She made her final plunge, going where all vessels that have the misfortune to get badly holed on a coral reef should go, to Davey Jones Locker.

Apparently, after sinking, she rolled over and over down the mountain which constitutes the base of Ocean Island (Banaba), breaking up in the operation. Her course was marked by pieces of wreckage shooting high up into the air, owing to the great depth from which they had come.

SS INGER - 20 November 1906 (Norwegian)

It happened before daylight when loading in Home Bay. The moorings parted during a heavy Westerly squall. Ordinarily, the vessel would not have been at the bouy in such weather, but the Captain considered that the squall would not be heavy. During the day the surf increased and the vessel bumping heavily. The Captain endeavoured to move the vessel to sea but the anchor chain became entangled in the propeller. About 1300 tons of phosphate were offloaded at the time, and before matters could be got right, The INGER drifted onto the reef. She rolled heavily and made water freely, forcing the ship to be abandoned.

The wreck was purchased by the Pacific Phosphate Company (PPC) for 20 pounds and the work of discharging the vessel began immediately. However, before the work had proceeded too far, the steamer slipped off the reff and sunk into 200 fathoms of water.

SS OOMA - 8 February 1926

Usually, such disasters are caused by bad weather, but in this case, it was through fine conditions. The edge of the reef is plainly seen with surf breaking on it. But on this occasion due to entirely smooth seas, the reef was hidden. OOMA went on the reef in the bay immediately opposite the native village of Ooma (Uma), after which she was named.

Efforts to refloat her were unsuccessful and she was gradually set along the reef to a particularly bad place off Sydney Point (also known as Solomon Point) becoming a total wreck.

SS OCEAN TRANSPORT - 30 January 1928

The accident happened during unsettled weather and when the vessel was light in ballast. She was lying at the moorings when a squall came up suddenly hauling her around and blowing her onshore.

The vessel left the buoy in order to put to sea but with the force of the squall catching the high bow she could not answer the helm. She was blown around, coming on the reef broadside.

Being so light the surf lifted her right up on the reef. She was badly obstructing the boat harbour at Home Bay, so it was decided to cut her up with oxy-acetylene and drop the pieces over the reef. A long costly operation where a 7000 ton steamer was concerned.

SS KELVINBANK - 6 January 1953

Continued Shipwrecks of Banaba / Ocean Island, Part Two: "Birth and Death of a Liberty Ship". A firsthand comprehensive account by Captain Brant, Master of SS ROWANBANK.

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This article was originally published as the Feature Story in the Banaba/Ocean Island News Issue No. 10, July-August 1994. [1]

A comprehensive account of Banaban history is available - "Te Rii ni Banaba: backbone of Banaba" by Raobeia Ken Sigrah and Stacey M. King.

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