Nine Dives, Essons Valley, Picton, Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand
03 573 7199 or 021 1146997
MIKHAIL LERMONTOV
Dive the awesome Mikhail Lermontov,
the biggest cruise ship that sank since the
Titanic, open for recreational diving.
You can dive this world famous marvelous ship in 14 meter with open water certificate or go deeper or penetrate with your advanced certification
MИXAИΛ ΛEΡMOHTOB
MIKHAIL LERMONTOV
Our story of the sinking of the Russian Cruise ship
More specific dive information at the bottom of this page
" How can a pilot run a ship onto the rocks, in his own water, in clear weather?" Captain Vladislaw Verobyov, after the event speaking on the bridge of the Wellington ferry.
On 16 February 1986, the Russian ( USSR ) cruise ship the Mikhail Lermontov ($ 25.000.000, 20.000 tons, 155 mtr long, 8 mtr draught, 25 mtr across the beam, 408 passengers, 330 crew) sets off from Picton Harbour at 15.00 hours.
The pilot Don Jamison was on board at 14.50, he was working 80/90 hrs a week at that time, as acting Manager of Marlborough Harbour Authority, Harbour master and as Pilot.
Some alcohol was consumed during lunch, including vodka, and Don stumbled at least once on the bridge.
The films shown in the ships cinema that day were the newest Hollywood blockbusters like the Goonies, Gremlins, Beverly Hills Cops.
The ships route taken led through Shakespeare Bay where it nearly ran aground due to a misunderstanding about the bow thrusters. The Captain warned the pilot not to get too close to the shore anymore.
The Pilot was commenting on the scenery and history of the Marlborough sounds via the public address system. The ship also went into Ships Cove (James Cook anchoring place) ,where again it came close to shore .The course was then set for 40°N, the speed was 15 knots. (About 27 kph, 18 mph).
The Russian refrigeration engineer Purvee Zagliadimov was last seen going into the compressor room deep in the bowels of the ship at 17.30 hrs.
The course was changed to 10°N, by order of the Pilot direct to the Helmsman. The Russian Navigator questioned the change of course but did not further interact.
The ship struck Perham rock (a submerged rock) between Cape Jackson and Jackson Head on its port side at 17.37 hrs.
Although the ship was built for ice breaking, this proved too much strain on the hull.
The damage caused was 2 gashes of 40 feet ( 12 mtr ) long about 100 feet ( 33 mtr ) back from the port beam.
The ships clock stopped at 17.40
The passengers were told that ;"Dinner will be served late" There was further nothing to worry about.
The ship was making water fast and headed for port Gore beach.
Then a kind of a Mayday was sent but this was later cancelled. Nevertheless the Wellington ferry Arahua and LPG tanker Tarahiko both relatively nearby went to see what was going on.
At 18.20 the assistance arrives, the Russian Captains plan was to push the ship onto the beach and drop anchors. This pushing was refused by the LPG tanker. The Navy ship Nimrod also arrives. Passengers started evacuation, the last man was off the ship at 22.25.
737 survivors were counted the next day in Wellington.
The subsequent only enquiry in the affair was a ‘preliminary enquiry‘, called the Ponsford enquiry (enquiry was conducted by the best man at Don Jamisons wedding, Captain Ponsford)
Don Jamison after the event handed in his pilots license as suggested by politicians, but was kept on as Harbour master of Marlborough Harbour Authority (MHA) and still lives in Picton.
The MHA, as Don's employer was shortly after abolished and had to hand over all its assets to pay for damages.
The Marlborough District Council took over the responsibilities of MHA and taxpayers as is usual in these cases apparently eventually paid the bill for the further damages outstanding.
There was extensive communication from the ship with Vladivostock during the sinking, but local vhf radio communications were confusing and had to be relayed.
The Russian Captain was kept ashore until the abolishment of the USSR in 1991, he now commands a ship again.
The Russian navigator was severely fined and had a suspended prison sentence.
The pilot still lives in Picton. He later commanded a livestock ferry.
Putin was working in the Wellington Russian Embassy during the sinking. A Russian spy ship was nearby and on site of the sinking shortly afterwards although its existence was denied.
A subsequently expected full enquiry was never held, documents relating to the incident are still classified.
After the events the executive Manager of the MHA, named Mike Goulter, was sacked (before the Lerm sinking) and was now embroiled in a lengthy tribunal hearing, accusing MHA of wrongful dismissal. The reason for the dismissal was "incompetence". At the hearing some time after the sinking Don Jamison gave evidence against Mike Goulter, as acting Manager of MHA and was told by the adjudicator : "It is astounding, for a pilot who single handedly sank the biggest ship in peacetime since the Titanic to suggest someone else is incompetent."
3 NZ divers died subsequently whilst recreational diving on the ship, 1 in 1987 and 2 in 1989, one diver has not yet been recovered.
Certain above facts may be inaccurate, certain facts are based on a variety word of mouth and written information, authenticity is not checked, the above facts may contain errors or mistakes. Although there is no intention to mislead , the above and following has to be seen as an opinion of the events only.
A lot of information and pictures have been gained from Kevin Dekker, the Lermontov expert in New Zealand, however any mistakes are mine. His information is found on a website which http address can be located on our links page.
So you are interested to have a look in this mystery ship ?
Come and join us on a 2 dive trip with delicious lunch on board of our specially designed shark cat dive boat,
( Our boat has a toilet, and comfy sheltered seats )
or call in New Zealand 03 5737199
Discover the Marlborough Sounds on our outward trip, the area is famous for its dolphins, penguins, Orcas, seals and whales and has stunning New Zealand scenery.
We are the all-round dive providers and dive specialists in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zeeland , we have trips every day on our fleet of dedicated dive boats, compare us with the others and find out we are the best choice by far.
We already have offered fantastic days diving to divers from many dive training organizations and offer our services to all divers worldwide.
On our trips we have the Lermontov experience, artifacts and a Lermontov presentation, and we tell you the really juicy bits we do not dare utter here in public.
We speak English, Wir sprechen Deutsch, Wij spreken Nederlands
The Diveshop is based in the gateway to the sounds, right in the marina, nearer to the water than any other dive center in Marlborough, we are the Marlborough Sounds specialists on the South Island, fun to dive with and we are also the best for your budget.
Call us international on 0064 3573 9181 ( during office hours, about 10 hours difference with Europe )
or free in New Zealand 0800 463 483
Nine Dives, Essons Valley, Picton, Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand
03 573 7199
A
Diver discovering the 5 meter high propeller of the Mikhail Lermontov
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More specific diving information
Viz is usual at 3-5 mtr, sometimes significantly more, more viz inside the wreck, but beware of silting in several area's, a torch is very useful, there can be some current, usual precautions need to be taken, divers safety bottle at 5 meter is advised, there are 3 fixed moorings for use by professional dive boat, the Lermontov is laying port side up on it's side about 1800 meter from shore in about 40 meters of water, a good dive can be had at the 14 meter level by Open Water divers or equivalent, further depths and area's like the swimming pool, Bolshoi lounge, companion way, and bridge can be penetrated by confident advanced divers or wreck divers, preferably dive this with an alternate air source and redundant system, On the outside the propeller, damaged area, bow-thrusters, funnel, bow and radio mast make an interesting feature to explore. You can easily have 6 dives on this ship due to it's size. The keen wrekkies come back again and again, this is a real wreck not a scuttled ship, so it has glass, carpets and lots of stuff in and around the ship. Passengers personal effects and luggage are still on board and so are two safes. The fridge in the bar is still full of cans of soft drinks, the harder stuff being liberated.
Many a deck and veranda in the Marlborough Sounds have got Russian deckchairs as furniture.
Although on our dives we leave things intact for us to enjoy in the future, many interesting items have been taken.
Plans useful in navigating the ship by divers below
WARNING do not dive this ship without professional dive guides
You are guaranteed to be impressed by the sheer scale and intactness of this ship.
recovered items from the Mikhail Lermontov
inside the Mikhail Lermontov
email us or give us a call on
International on 0064 3573 7199 or 03 573 7199 or 021 1146997 in New Zealand