‘Terrace Star’, 1994

The fishing vessel ‘Terrace Star’ ran aground and sank near Green Cape Lighthouse on 10th August 1994, evidently at 4am.

Two of the crew members tried to swim to shore but were drowned.

A third crew member stayed aboard the boat and was later hauled to shore by the lighthouse keeper at Green Cape.

One positive from the sinking of the 'Terrace Star' was that permission was finally granted (after many years of delays) for the construction of a Seaphone facility atop of Mount Imlay. Evidently those on board the 'Terrace Star' unsuccessfully tried to get help using a mobile phone. Had the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) marine VHF channels 16 & 67 been available along this part of the coastline they could easily have connected with specialised Telstra Radio Officers who coordinated all Maydays with the Marine Operations Centre (MOC) in Canberra, and they could then have alerted other vessels in the area that help was immediately needed. The value of the new service was well-appreciated, with hundreds turning up to the formal launch of the Seaphone service at the Eden Fishermans Club.