Vessel ID: 1179930
ON: 179930
Names:
KURUTAL (L)
WAIMATE (1972)
EASTERN PLANET (1977)
SKYLUCK (1977)
KYLU (1979)
SKYLUCK (1979)
Type: Motor vessel
Built: 1951
Tonnage: 3,506 gross
Owner: Union Steam Ship Company Limited
Remarks: This former NZ vessel became the
center of a struggle by large numbers of Vietnamese refugees to gain entry to
Hong Kong on February 8th, 1979. Over 2,600 refugees were aboard
when her anchor cables were cut and she was wrecked in Hong Kong Harbor Lamma
Island on June 29th, 1979. In September 1979, the authorities made
the decision to scrap her where she lay hard aground and badly damaged at Lamma
Island.
Reported
activities include incidents involving boat people, selling and renaming of
vessel, sinking and vessel sent to demolition on 5/14/1980. Remaining scraps
were purchased by vessel-demolition company for about 500 thousands HK dollars.