Built: 1961
Shipbuilder: Colingwood Shipyards
Port of Registry: St. John's, Newfoundland
Length: 188 feet
Beam: 38 feet
Draught: 13 feet
Gross Tonnes: 1135
Passengers: 98
Sister ship(s): M.V. Petite Forte, M.V. Hopedale
Auto(s): none
Truck(s): none
Interesting Facts:
Named after the community of Hopedale in Newfoundland
The M.V. Hopedale sank on March 16, 1984 after burning for more than 36 hours at the coastal dock in Port aux Basques. The fire was reported to begun in the engine room, and the fire created enough heat to catch the second deck a fire. The vessel began to list due to heavy fire foam and water, while the fire burned away flammable packing around porthole allowing harbour water to flood the ship. The ropes and cables which had the ship tied to the dock began to snap and the ship sunk on Thursday, March 15.
It took nearly 7 weeks for salvours to float the vessel so she could be laid to rest 12.5 nautical miles southwest of Port aux Basques.
The M.V. Hopedale made her last voyage out of Port aux Basques harbour on June 22, 1984, as she was towed out of the harbour by three fisheries Products International vessels for a burial at sea
