asked the Minister for Communications if he will make a statement on the loss of the Union Star indicating her age, condition, tonnage and usual sea route; and the nationality of her crew members.
Written Answers. - Loss of Boat.
591.
The Irish registered motor vessel, Union Star, of 934.67 gross registered tonnage was engaged on its maiden voyage — Ijmuiden (Holland) to Arklow — when it was driven aground in a severe storm on the rocks near Tater-du Lighthouse on the south coast of Cornwall on 19 December 1981. A formal investigation held by the UK authorities found that the loss of the Union Star was caused by
(i) the irreparable failure of the ship's engines due to contamination of fuel by sea water while off a dangerous lee shore;
(ii) the extreme severity of the weather, wind and sea; and
(iii) the capsize of the vessel on or shortly after stranding.
The vessel had a crew of five, three British officers and two Portuguese seamen.