M V MOOR (2)

8 April 1941: Mine Explosion Kills 28 Maltese Dockyard Men

ONLY ONE SURVIVOR AS DOCKYARD VESSEL HMS MOOR BLOWS UP
A working dockyard vessel was blown up today at the entrance to Grand Harbour. 28 of the 29-man crew were killed. The Admiralty Mooring Vessel, HMS Moor was carrying out maintenance work on the boom-defence nets protecting the harbour entrance. Shortly after 5.00pm, as the vessel started its engine to return to the dockyard, a deafening explosion shook buildings across the harbour area. People rushed to the Bastions, only to watch as the vessel turned over on her side and rapidly sank.

A ferry boat, several Naval Dockyard and Air Force pinnaces and many dinghies raced to the scene.

Only one survivor, diver/rigger Anthony Mercieca, was plucked from the water by a Naval vessel and taken to Bighi Royal Naval Hospital.

Mr Mercieca later described his escape. He was blown into the air inside the ship’s cabin, before plunging about twenty feet under water. He struggled to force open the jammed cabin door and managed to surface, while debris from the vessel was still flying about.