The RMS HIGHLAND HOPE, 166m/ 14.129gt / 15kn; 10/01/1930 completed by Harland & Wolff, Ltd, Belfast, for Nelson Line, Ltd., Liverpool, for its UK/River Plate service; 19/11/1930, the most serious peace-time casualty in the history of the Nelson Line occurred, when the new RMS HIGHLAND HOPE was totally wrecked on the Farilhões Rocks, Berlengas Islands, near Cape Carvoeiro, in the Portuguese coast, due dense fog, only 10 months after her completion, while on a voyage London, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Vigo, Lisbon, Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, Buenos Aires. All 380 passengers and 170 crewmembers were safely taken off by ship's life-boats towed by small trawler MARIA LUIZA and others local fishing boats, which in the occasion fortunately were working in the area, landing them in the nearest fishing port of Peniche. The only victim of the accident was a Spanish passenger, died already in the Hospital at Lisbon The loss of this almost brand new ship was a grievous blow to the company, coming as it did at a time when they were doing all they could to meet the competition of the Blue Star liners. Nevertheless a replacement was ordered without delay from Harland and Wolff Ltd., Belfast, and she was completed in 1932 as the RMS HIGHLAND PATRIOT. Sister-ships HIGHLAND BRIGADE, CHIEFTAIN, MONARCH, PRINCESS, PATRIOT.
Seen aground in Farilhões Rocks. |
Rui Amaro
