- SS Fazilka
The S.S. Fazilka was a 4,152-ton steamship with a
length of 366 feet, breadth of 48.2 feet and draught of 26.5 feet. She was built by William Doxford and Sons for theBritish-India Steam Navigation Company (B.I.S.N.) in 1890. She had triple expansion, 462 nhp, steam engines with a top speed of 12.5 knots.Indentured labour ship
On
31 October 1904 , the Fazilka was used to carry migrants fromLondon toBrisbane , but she was primarily used for the transportation ofIndia nindenture d labourers to the colonies. Details of some of these voyages are as follows:Troop ship
The Fazilka was used to carry troops from India to South africa during the Boer war. She left Port Natal on Jan 30th 1900 to make the return trip to India. Four daus after passing through the Mozambique Channel the tail shaft broke.The shaft had broken in two places partially rupturing the stern tube, so the first requirement was to shift ballast and get the stern out of the water. Attempts were made to rig sails but progress was slow and after an attempt to tow, the engineers under Mr. Brown worked in intolerable conditions to repair the shaft. The repairs were complicated and after various failures it was decided to take down the high pressure engine and use the bottom end brasses as a clamp. This was effective in holding the shaft and then the rear end breakage was connected by a Thomson coupling.Using the low pressure engines only the Fazilka was able to make Colombo at a speed of 9knots. This was one of the most heroic ship repairs at sea and the Engineers were rewarded accordingly. John Macdonald, the 4th Engineer receiving a Gold watch and the sum of £30.
Fazilka was wrecked on
31 October 1919 , on the east coast ofGreat Nicobar Island. She was on a voyage fromPenang toCalcutta , carrying passengers and a general cargo.See also
*
Indian Indenture Ships to Fiji
*Indian indenture system External links
* [http://members.iinet.net.au/~perthdps/shipping/mig-qld5.htm Queensland Migrant]
* [http://www.rakaia.co.uk/downloads/british-india-history.pdf A History of the British India Steam Navigation Company Limited]
* [http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/bisn.html The Ships List]
* [http://www.biship.com/fleetlists/fleet1890-1899.htm BIShip]References
*cite book
last = Blake
first = George
title = B.I. Centenary
publisher =Collins
year = 1956
id =
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