BRITISH LANTERN

I sailed with the Chief Officer who was aboard at the time and he spoke of how the 16 tugs swarmed around the ship shortly after she ran aground and tried to push her off. After that failed soundings were taken and it was found if they had pulled with the engines ahead they would have been in deep water as she was nearly over the spit of sand. The two barges used to lighten ship were "Black Oil" vessels and not used for 'flammable' cargoes. The officers aboard British Lantern warned the barges several times not to smoke or use the Galley fires after they looked down and saw that was happening. The discharge finally finished and as the Navigating Apprentice screwed the last ullage cap down the one of the barges blew up throwing blazing oil on the deck of British Lantern. Crew were present at each end of the main deck and quickly had the fire hoses going and washed the fire overboard. One barge sank and the other cast drifted ashore.


I have posted the story from BP Magazine of the incident ...
https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/858178/title/british-lantern/cat/523


David