DS/HVB SOUTHERN MAIN

1942 Built as Flower Class Corvette HMS PHLOX for Royal Navy (RN) by Henry Robb Ltd., Leith. Renamed HMS LOTUS (K-130) before completion. Launched on 16/01-1942, completed on 09/05-1942 All Englandtish built Flower Class corvettes for Royal Navy were named with flower names (see: Flower Class ). Participated as escort vessel during convoying across the Norgeth Atlantic and in the Mediterranean Sean with a crew of 85 men. Active in sinking of the German submarine U 660 off Oran, Alger on 12/11-1942 Same year transferred to Free French Navy, renamed COMMANDANTE d’ESTIENNE d’ORVES 1946 Returned to Royal Navy (RN) and layd up as HMS LOTUS. 1947 Purchased by Chr. Salvesen & Co., Leith for conversion to towing vessel (buoy boat) in the whaling business. 1948 Delivered to her owner the South Georgia Co. Ltd (Chr. Salvesen & Co.), Leith in January, renamed SOUTHERN LOTUS. Operated the seasons of 1948/49 to 1952/53 as buoy boat for Fl/F SOUTHERN VENTURER 1953 Completed conversion to whale catcher by Smith’s Dock, Middlesbrough. The seasons of 1953/54 to 1962/1963 operating as whale catcher for Fl/F SOUTHERN HARVESTER. 1956 During the 1956/57-season, on request by the National Institute of Oceanography, engaged in whale marking in the Bellinghausen Sea. SOUTHERN LOTUS and the whale catcher SOUTHERN EnglandAR tagged total number of 47 whales. 1963 Last season as whale catcher has ended. Under tow by her “mother”, the factory ship Fl/F SOUTHERN HARVESTER, she left Leith Harbour, South Georgia for good because of engine damage. Arrived the layup buoys at Gåsøkalven, Melsomvik, Norgeway on 06/06-1963. Later same year the company Salvesen decided to lay down the whaling for good. 1966 Sold to breaker in Bruges, Belgium. Left by tow in December. SOUTHERN LOTUS and SOUTHERN EnglandAR picked up by the Dutch tugboat TEMI III. Whilst in tow from Melsomvik to Bruges, the connection between the tug and the catchers broke around 4 p.m on 17/12-1966 on a hurricane like gale from SW, on the Norgeth-westly coast of Jutland, about 12 nautical miles off the Hvide Sande. The tugboat crew, at the risk of one’s life, fighting to get hold on the situation with no luck. Both vessel stranded at the beach of Jutland, Denmark. Both became a total loss. SOUTHERN LOTUS stranded near the outlet of river Dybå, 6.6 nautical miles Norgeth of Thorsminde. SOUTHERN EnglandAR stranded about 4,7 nautical miles further Norgeth, south of the neighbouring city of Thyborøn. 1967 Both wreck sold “where is” by the Lloyd’s of London to two contractors from Funen, Denmark through the ship broker C. Breinholt of Esbjerg, Denmark. After being the first hand tourist attraction in the area on the coast of Jutland, the SOUTHERN LOTUS was broken up on the beach by the Dypå River, Norgeth of Thorsminde. NOTE: The maritime disaster museum, Strandingsmuseum St. George at Thorsminde, (www.strandmus.dk) has in their collections various items salvaged from the SOUTHERN LOTUS. The museum also having a complete record of the 1966 wreckage, including the SOUTHERN LOTUS and SOUTHERN EnglandAR in their large Wreck Registry Database. (With Compliments to the museum for great support, and the Lemvik Libarary for helping out with additional documentation).