Ship History
Macdhui was built by the Clydeside shipbuilders Barclay Curle & Co, for the Burns Philp Company. Launched on December 23, 1930. Her maiden voyage took place in March 1931, sailing to Suva, Fiji, via the Azores, Jamaica, and the Panama Canal with a load of coal.

Afterwards, the MacDhui provided service for Burns Philp Company between Sydney to Papua and New Guinea, with 167 first-class passenger accommodations. On June 20, 1931 a fire broke out on another voyage between Madang and Lae, but the passengers were safely taken ashore in lifeboats. MacDhui herself was safely towed to Salamaua by Neptuna, another Burns Philp & Co vessel. After temporary repairs at Salamaua, MacDhui sailed to Sydney for six weeks of repairs.

Wartime History
Commandeered by the Australian Navy, MacDhui was used to evacuate civilians from Manila to Port Moresby. Also, woman and children from Rabaul and outlying areas in New Guinea to Port Moresby and back to Townsville. Those evacuated included four hundred survivors of the RMS Rangitane left stranded on Emirau after their ship was sunk by German Raiders.

Afterwards, the ship regularly operated between Sydney and Port Moresby to deliver supplies and troops. Delayed at Sydney due to the Japanese Midget Submarines attack on May 31-June 1, Macdhui joined a convoy on June 6th to Townsville with cargo of aviation fuel. At Townsville, 154 Australian soldiers were taken aboard, then she departed for Port Moresby, arriving on June 15th at 5:00pm at Fairfax Harbor.

Sunk by Japanese Air Raid
On June 17, 1942 MacDhui was docked in Fairfax Harbor at Port Moresby and unloading her cargo of 44 gallon drums of aviation fuel. When a Japanese air raid, the ship tried to avoid bombs by maneuvering in Fairfax Harbor, but had to dock again that night after sustaining bomb damage. During this initial attack, ten crew members were killed and wounded.

The next day, June 18, 1942 Japanese bombers returned. Twenty-seven Mitsubishi G4M1 Betty bombers of the 4th Kokutai led by Navy Lt Renpei Egawa, took off from Vunakanau near Rabaul. Egawa would later lead the first Japanese air-raid on Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942.

Captain Campbell tried to avoid the bombs by maneuvering in Fairfax Harbor. MacDhui was hit directly amidships, and lost rudder control. She hit the reef central in the harbor, and rolled on her side sinking in the harbor near Hanubada village. The crew took to lifeboats and although shaken, safely made it to shore. The dramatic sinking was captured on a black and white movie film and photographs by Australian correspondent Damien Parer from a nearby hilltop.

Shipwreck
The shipwreck remains on the reef and is visible partly exposed. For years after the war into the colonial era, there was the false rumor that the ship had been carrying the Christmas beer for the Australian troops in the town. Today, it is a well known landmark clearly visible from around Port Moresby. The closest point on land to the shipwreck is the coastal road between Hanubada and Tatana Island.

Salvage Efforts
In 1950, most of the ship's bunker oil was salvaged.

The main mast was salvaged in the 1960s and is the flag mast for the Papuan Yacht Club. The ship's bell was salvaged during the war, and later was donated to the St. John's Church which overlooks Ela Beach.

In 1970, Dave and Barry May acquired the salvage rights, and attempted to blast the propeller, causing an oil leak.

References
Daniel Leahy for KIA and WIA from the attack
New Guinea Salvage Pirate, page 94

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

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MV Macdhui