PASS OF BALMAHA
PASS OF BALMAHA
Years Active: 1888-1915+
Vessel Type: Full-rigged steel Ship
Full-rigged
Nationality: Scottish
Damaged after becoming stuck on islets in Port William, East Falkland. Captain and crew abandoned ship without trying to save her. Refloated later.
Main Use:
Cargo
Years Active:
1888-1915+
Power:
Sail
Built:
1888
Size:
1,571 Gross, 1,498 Net tons
74.80 x 11.83 x 6.86 metres
(length, breadth, depth) metres
Design/Build:
R. Duncan & Co. at Port Glasgow, Scotland
Main Use: Cargo
Built: 1888
Power: Sail
Design/Build: R. Duncan & Co. at Port Glasgow, Scotland
Size: 1,571 Gross, 1,498 Net tons
Dimensions: 74.80 x 11.83 x 6.86 metres
On its way to the capital of the Falkland Islands, Port Stanley, the Scottish-built full-rigged steel cargo ship, PASS OF BALMAHA, drifted on to what were then called the William Islets in Port William on 31st January 1897. Now known as the Tussac Islands. Without making any effort to save his ship, the captain gave orders to lower the lifeboats and he and his entire crew got into them with their personal effects. When Stanley’s port pilot arrived at the scene on the schooner CHANCE, he tried to persuade the captain to return to his damaged ship. The captain refused but some of his crew did return to the PASS OF BALMAHA but, according to a witness, “got at the liquor” and were soon “hopelessly drunk” and “a scene of wild confusion ensued”. The ship remained stranded until H.M.S. BASILISK towed her into Stanley harbour on 2nd February. PASS OF BALMAHA was eventually repaired by Royal Navy divers from H.M.S. RETRIBUTION and left for Glasgow nine months later, on 12th November 1897.
On its way to the capital of the Falkland Islands, Port Stanley, the Scottish-built full-rigged steel cargo ship, PASS OF BALMAHA, drifted on to what were then called the William Islets in Port William on 31st January 1897. Now known as the Tussac Islands. Without making any effort to save his ship, the captain gave orders to lower the lifeboats and he and his entire crew got into them with their personal effects. When Stanley’s port pilot arrived at the scene on the schooner CHANCE, he tried to persuade the captain to return to his damaged ship. The captain refused but some of his crew did return to the PASS OF BALMAHA but, according to a witness, “got at the liquor” and were soon “hopelessly drunk” and “a scene of wild confusion ensued”. The ship remained stranded until H.M.S. BASILISK towed her into Stanley harbour on 2nd February. PASS OF BALMAHA was eventually repaired by Royal Navy divers from H.M.S. RETRIBUTION and left for Glasgow nine months later, on 12th November 1897.
