Empire Grassland (1947/01/18)

North of Carnarvon

ABANDONED TOW.
HOPPER BARGE ARRIVES.
Line Parts in High Seas.
The story of the unsuccessful attempt by the hopper barge Empire Downland to tow a sister ship, the Empire Grassland through heavy weather in the
Indian Ocean was told at Fremantle yesterday when the Empire Downland arrived from Carnarvon. The Empire Grassland broke her tow when about 80 miles north of Carnarvon, and the Empire Downland had to leave her and proceedto Carnarvon to replenish her supplies of fuel, water and stores. Subsequently a search by the Empire Downland and by aircraft was fruitless, and the Empire Grassland is now presumed to have foundered.
The two vessels, which were intended for use by the Melbourne Harbour Trust left Singapore on December 20. They called at Christmas Island for fuel, and left there on December 27 with enough fuel to take them to Shark Bay. However,
very heavy weather was experienced and at the height of it the tow carried away and the Empire Downland had to wait for four days until the seas moderated enough for a new tow to be rigged. By that time the Empire Downland did not
have enough fuel to take her, with the other barge in tow, as far as Carnarvon. It was therefore decided o run for the lee of North-West Cape, where fuel was transferred from the Empire Grassland to the Empire Downland. Once again heavy weather upset the plans, the tow again parting. The Empire Downland then had to go alone to Carnarvon, and nothing more has been seen of the Empire Grassland. It was said yesterday that at no time during the trip had there been any crew aboard the Empire Grassland. The Empire Downland. under
the command of Capt. C. Fraser, carries a crew of 20, most of whom were formerly members of the crew of the steamer Panamanian, five of them being West Australians. Two triple-expansion steam engines drive the Empire Downland at a speed of about nine knots. Repairs to one of them will keep the vessel at Fre mantle for several days.

The hopper barge Empire Downland which left Singapore late in
December, 1946, with the barge Empire Grassland in tow, arrived
at Fremantle yesterday. When about 70 miles off Carnarvon she
abandoned the tow as her fuel and supplies were running low.
Aerial and surface searches have failed to locate the Empire
Grassland and she is now presumed lost.
(West Australian 28/1/1947 p.8)

Lat. and long. estimated when abandonend 23°28 and 113°03 In tow of Empire Downland. Valued at 75,000 pounds.

Possibly shipwreck site off Cape Inscription, Dirk Hartog Island identified incorrectly as HMAS Sydney in 2007.