MV Sygna

The MV Sygna was a 53,000 tonne Norwegian bulk carrier and now shipwreck on Stockton Beach in the Port Stephens LGA in New South Wales, Australia. The ship ran aground during a major storm on 26 May 1974 and the wreck has become an icon and landmark for the local area.HistoryStormDuring May 1974 the New South Wales coast was being battered by large storms which brought heavy swells off both Sydney and Newcastle ports. Newcastle port reported a swell of over 17m at the entrance.The Sygna was on its maiden voyage, waiting for a load of 50,000 tonnes of coal destined for Europe at the time of the accident. It was anchored 4km off Newcastle when the Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe storm warning and directive for ships to move out to sea. Seven of the ten ships anchored off Newcastle did so, however the Sygna was not one of them.BeachingEarly the following morning, with winds gusting at 165km/h, the captain issued orders to set sail. Unfortunately, even with its engines at full-ahead the Sygna was unable to make any headway and the storm turned it parallel to the beach. It is reported that within 30 minutes it had run aground on Stockton Beach.