SS Melika
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The SS Melika was a Liberian registered 20,551 grt cargo vessel, which was involved in a collision with the French registered 10,715 grt Fernand Gilabert off the coast of Oman on 13 September 1958, causing a major maritime disaster. Fire broke out on both ships and there were 21 fatal casualties. Melika was abandoned but, as her engines were not stopped, she proceeded under her own power on auto-pilot for 20 miles before being sited by aircraft. A salvage party from HMS Puma then went on board. Subsequently, HMS Bulwark towed the Melika to Muscat, where 20,000 tons of her cargo was discharged into a Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker. [1]
No 845 Squadron FAA were awarded the Boyd Trophy for their participation in the salvage of the Melika. [2]
References
- ↑ Naval History Net
- ↑ Page 488 Ray Sturtivant Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm. Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN: 0-85130-120-7
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