SEDCO Helen wreck
In January 1970 a large oil well blow out led to an attempt to drill a relief well nearby. The SEDCO Helen was positioning mooring buoys for floating drilling rig SEDCO 135G when the propeller fouled the buoy cable and the buoy punctured the ship’s hull, flooding the engine room and causing it to sink in minutes with the loss of 9 lives. A large scale search was carried out using RAN patrol boat HMAS Assail, RAAF Neptune aircraft A89-281, tugs Rode Zee and Super Tide and oil rig supply boat Cookshore. The bulk ore carrier Musgrave Ranger bound from Darwin to Japan also turned back to join the search. The Rode Zee picked up the 11 survivors. Salvage divers used a diving bell (famously used in the RMS Niagara gold salvage during World War II and reconditioned for the work) to assess the possibility of salvaging the SEDCO Helen but it was considered too dangerous. The wreck was relocated by Santos Ltd using side scan sonar survey in June 2010. Shoalest depth 82m, seafloor depth 320 ft/ 97m
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Country Built Australia
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Port Built Newcastle
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When Built 1969
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Length 61.00
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TONA 837.00
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When Lost 1970/01/31
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Where Lost 800m SE Petrel 1 well, Petrel Field, Bonaparte Gulf
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Sinking Holed and sunk
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Sunk Code Foundered
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Port From Darwin
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Port To Petrel Field, Bonaparte Gulf
Museum Reference
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wreck SEDCO Helen
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Protected Not protected
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Found Y
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Inspected N
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Confidential NO
Artefact information
| wreck | SEDCO Helen |
|---|---|
| When Lost | 1970/01/31 |
| Protected | Not protected |
| Found | Y |
| Inspected | N |
| Where Lost | 800m SE Petrel 1 well, Petrel Field, Bonaparte Gulf |
| Latitude Max | -12.83 |
| Longitude Max | 128.48 |
| TONA | 837.00 |
| Country Built | Australia |
| Port Built | Newcastle |
| When Built | 1969 |
| Port Registered | Panama |
| Length | 61.00 |
| Deaths | 9 |
| Crew | 20 |
| Sinking | Holed and sunk |
| Sunk Code | Foundered |
| Port From | Darwin |
| Port To | Petrel Field, Bonaparte Gulf |
| Owner | SEDCO |
| Comments | In January 1970 a large oil well blow out led to an attempt to drill a relief well nearby. The SEDCO Helen was positioning mooring buoys for floating drilling rig SEDCO 135G when the propeller fouled the buoy cable and the buoy punctured the ship’s hull, flooding the engine room and causing it to sink in minutes with the loss of 9 lives. A large scale search was carried out using RAN patrol boat HMAS Assail, RAAF Neptune aircraft A89-281, tugs Rode Zee and Super Tide and oil rig supply boat Cookshore. The bulk ore carrier Musgrave Ranger bound from Darwin to Japan also turned back to join the search. The Rode Zee picked up the 11 survivors. Salvage divers used a diving bell (famously used in the RMS Niagara gold salvage during World War II and reconditioned for the work) to assess the possibility of salvaging the SEDCO Helen but it was considered too dangerous. The wreck was relocated by Santos Ltd using side scan sonar survey in June 2010. Shoalest depth 82m, seafloor depth 320 ft/ 97m |
| Sources | The NT News, Monday February 2 1970 Lewis, T., Wrecks in Darwin waters http://oceans1.customer.netspace.net.au/northwa-wrecks.html http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/pms-shocking-tip/story-e6frg9jf-1225794071297 |
| Length of site | 69.00 |
| Minimum Depth of site | 82.00 |
| Confidential | NO |
| URL | http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/maritime-archaeology-db/wrecks/sedco-helen |