MV Nimbin

The Nimbin's bridge when constructed

The Nimbin's engine room when constructed

The Nimbin left Copenhagen, her launching port, under the command of Captain R.M. Beedie on June 21 with a cargo of 305,000 superficial feet of Baltic pine from Hargshamn, Sweden, and completed the journey to Sydney in 65 days, arriving on 27 August. During the delivery voyage the vessel ran into a gale in the Red Sea (the so-called “calm belt”) which continued unabated for four days.[2] Upon passing out of the Red Sea, the vessel then encountered the full force of the monsoonal winds, which persisted until it reached Colombo. Then from Colombo to Cape Leeuwin the ship was, in the words of her officers, "under water the whole way," and lost a quantity of her deck cargo of timber. Through it all the Nimbin did not once develop engine trouble.[2]

After arrival, the vessel was taken to Mort's Dock for inspection and was docked for overhaul before being placed in commission and into the so-called North Coast Butter Run to the Clarence and Richmond River.[2] A similar but of lighter draught vessel was then ordered for use in the Macleay River trade.

The North Coast Steam Navigation Company's then new motor ship left Sydney on the afternoon of Tuesday 13 September 1927 on her maiden voyage in the coastal trade. She was the first motor ship to be employed on the New South Wales coast, and ran between Sydney and the Clarence River.[3]

The Nimbin as it appeared in 1931 at Coffs Harbour

Seven weeks after going into service, Frederick Hoskins, the second officer on the ship, was fatally injured on 2 November when he fell down the hold of the vessel while the ship was between Lismore and Ballina.

The crew, under the direction of Hoskins, were erecting a chute for the loading of sugar when, by some unknown means, Hoskins fell the 15 feet into the hold. He was put ashore and taken to Coraki Hospital, where he died the following morning.[4]

Nearly a year later in mid-October 1928, while coming in across the Richmond bar, the Nimbin touched the northern wall lightly, causing the steering gear to be carried away. Some slight damage was done to one of the plates at the water line. Temporary repairs were affected at Ballina. The steamer proceeded up the river. No tug was available to help the disabled vessel and had the accident happened further out, the steamer might have become a wreck.[5]

The Nimbin at Lismore

At 6am on Monday, 22 February 1932, in a heavy fog, the Nimbin went ashore about three miles south of Ballina Heads. The sea was calm at the time, with the fog driving from the north. The ports pilot at Ballina, Captain Lyttle, on learning of the plight of the Nimbin, immediately left port in a motor launch and called upon the dredge Tethys, commanded by Captain Munro, which was ordered to the scene at about 7:30 am, and stood by the stranded vessel. A heavy cable was passed on board and an attempt was made to tow her off, but a fall in the tide had left the Nimbin more firmly wedged on the sand. The attempt was abandoned for the time, and it was decided to await the high tide and the arrival of stronger salvage gear. The dredge returned to port to take on more coal and to take out the cables and anchors available at Ballina for salvage purposes. She returned to the Nimbin in the afternoon, but her efforts met with no success.[6]

The North Coast S.N. Company ordered their steamer Ulmarra, which was close by, to proceed to the Nimbin. It was hoped that she would be able to effect a salvage on the following morning's flood tide, as it should be powerful enough to tow the Nimbin off the sand if the Nimbin's position did not become worse during the night. Additionally the company ordered its steamer Arakoon to leave Sydney with Captain D W Gibson, of the Sydney Marine Underwriters' and Salvage Association, on board the latest salvage gears being taken to Ballina by Captain Gibson on the Arakoon.[6]

After being aground on the beach for 24 hours the Nimbin was successfully refloated under her own power about 9:15am Tuesday, 23 February. The cargo was intact but a quantity of oil was pumped from the tanks. The company's vessel Ulmarra, which had been ordered to the scene, was standing by, and had a tow line aboard, but her assistance was not required. The dredge Tethys from Ballina also stood by. Sea anchors had been placed some distance to seaward, and were secured with lines to the Nimbin. When the tide was at flood, the Nimbin's motors were started, and she hauled on the anchors, and soon slid off the sand. The salvage gear had been taken to the Nimbin on Monday night. After picking up the gear the Nimbin proceeded on the Richmond River, safely negotiating the bar. She then commenced to discharge her Sydney cargo. The Ulmarra proceeded to the Clarence River. Captain Raymer of the Nimbin stated that the vessel was travelling at half speed in a heavy haze, which was hanging low over the sea, when the stranding occurred. He said that no damage had been done to the vessel.[7]

The steamer Arakoon, which had been loaded with a quantity of salvage gear and had dispatched from Sydney late on Monday night to assist the Nimbin, was advised the same morning that the Nimbin had been refloated by a message sent from the lighthouse-keeper at Seal Rocks.[7]

The Nimbin at dock on the river

In late December 1934 the Ulmarra was partly disabled by the loss of a propeller blade which was snapped off by a submerged object in the Clarence River. The Nimbin came to assistance and towed the Ulmarra the voyage of nearly 300 miles. The master of the Ulmarra (Captain Bysanton) said that the Ulmarra was not rendered helpless by the accident, and she could, if necessary, have steamed unaided, but as the motor ship Nimbin was coming down to Sydney from Richmond River, it was considered advisable for her to assist. During the long tow the Ulmarra was able to run her engines, and at times a speed of well over 11 knots was attained.[8]

On Thursday, 9 September 1937, the Nimbin and the small tug Teven collided on the Richmond River near Coraki. Joseph Smith, 72, the engine driver of the tug Teven was killed, and Charles Young, a seaman on the Teven, was seriously injured. The Teven was towing a timber barge when the collision occurred. Young, who was steering, was hurled onto the barge, suffering severe injuries to the back. Smith, who was in charge of the engine, was crushed and flung into the water. His leg was smashed practically to pulp, and he was dead when picked up.[9]

While coming down the coast in July 1938 the Nimbin came across the coastal motor vessel Comara, which had a mechanical breakdown where a bolt had broken and some cogs were partially stripped in the engine room. The vessel had been just north of Seal Rocks and was fortunate to escape into Seal Rocks Bay for shelter. Had the Comara been farther on, shelter would not have been available, and the wind was high at the time. The Nimbin took the Comara in tow at Seal Rocks and brought the vessel into Newcastle during the night.[10]