Dana (1921)

Dana was a Danish research vessel, best known for the circumnavigation of the world in the third Dana expedition 1928–1930. It was built as an Admiralty Mersey-class trawler in 1917 (HMT John Quilliam), but sold to the Danish Government in 1921 and rigged as a deep sea research trawler. It was renamed Dana II, to avoid confusion with the motor schooner Dana, which had served on the first and second Dana expeditions. Dana II replaced the previous Danish research vessel Thor, served until 1935 and was succeeded by Dana III, built in 1937.

Collision and loss 

Dana sunk on the 22nd of June 1935 in the North Sea due to a collision with the German trawler Pickhuben, H.G.92 of Cuxhaven, about 70 km west of Ringkøbing. The collision happened in dense fog at 6:07 AM when Pickhuben hit Dana with great force from the side about midship. None of the 22 persons onboard Dana were injured in the collision and all managed to escape to Pickhuben. The ship sunk ten minutes after captain Hansen left the ship as the last person. All personal belongings and large amounts of scientific material was lost. Dana's captain ordered Pickhuben to the nearby lightship at Horns Reef where the following telegram was radioed to the Danish Government:

"Dana hit by Trawler Pickhuben in fog at 6 AM this morning, sunk immediately, all hands saved onboard the trawler, course towards Esbjerg. Dana lies at approx. 30 meters of water, 55 degrees, 55 minutes northern latitude, approx. 7 degrees eastern longitude. A large buoy with flag was deployed by the trawler at the spot."

At the following inquiry in Esbjerg and later also in Hamburg the full responsibility for the collision was given to the navigator on Pickhuben, who had steamed too fast in the dense fog and had failed to react to Dana's warning signals.

The wreck of Dana was found in 2005 on the northern side of Horns Reef on the Danish west coast.

References 

Category:Research vessels of Denmark
Category:Ships built in Selby
Category:Maritime incidents in 1935
Category:Shipwrecks in the North Sea
Category:Maritime accidents involving fog