''Stella Maris'' (from the Latin for "star of the sea") was a

steamship A steamship, often referred to as a steamer, is a type of steam-powered vessel, typically ocean-faring and seaworthy, that is propelled by one or more steam engines that typically move (turn) propellers or paddlewheels. The first steamships ...

built in 1882 as the Royal Navy gunboat HMS ''Starling'' and converted to steam

tug A tugboat or tug is a marine vessel that manoeuvres other vessels by pushing or pulling them, with direct contact or a tow line. These boats typically tug ships in circumstances where they cannot or should not move under their own power, suc ...

in 1905. ''Stella Maris'' played a major role in the events of the

Halifax Explosion On the morning of 6 December 1917, the French cargo ship collided with the Norwegian vessel in the waters of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The ''Mont-Blanc'', laden with high explosives, caught fire and exploded, devastating the Richmond ...

in 1917. ''Stella Maris'' was built in Poplar, England in 1882 by

Samuda Bios Samuda may refer to: *Isaac de Sequeira Samuda (died 1743), British physician *Jacob Samuda (1811–1844), Jewish English civil engineer born in London *Jacqueline Samuda, Canadian actress, director and writer *Joseph d'Aguilar Samuda (1813–1885) ...

as a Banterer-class gunboat, HMS ''Starling''. The vessel was long, wide, and deep, and had a

tonnage Tonnage is a measure of the cargo-carrying capacity of a ship, and is commonly used to assess fees on commercial shipping. The term derives from the taxation paid on ''tuns'' or casks of wine. In modern maritime usage, "tonnage" specifically ref ...

of 229. ''Starling'' was composite-built (wooden planks on iron frames) and armed with two 6-inch and two 3.75-inch guns. ''Starling'' was sold for merchant service in 1905. As ''Stella Maris'', the tug was owned by Halifax Trading & Sealing Co, run by

James Augustus Farquhar James A. Farquhar was a master mariner and captain in the late 19th and early 20th century Nova Scotia known for his success in sail, steam, sealing and salvage. Early life and family Farquhar was born on October 12, 1842 to James Farquhar and ...

. On 6 December 1917, ''Stella Maris'', with Captain Horatio Harris Brannen and 23 others aboard, was towing two scows near mid-channel in the Narrows of

Halifax Harbour Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality. Halifax largely owes its existence to the harbour, being one of the largest and deepest ice-free natural harbo ...

leading into Bedford Basin. Shortly before the explosion, the tug had to hastily change course to avoid the outbound which was departing Bedford Basin. ''Imo'' then collided with '' Mont Blanc'', a French munitions ship. The collision started a fire on ''Mont Blanc'', forcing the crew to evacuate. The burning ship then began drifting towards Halifax's Pier 6 on the western shore. ''Stella Maris'' anchored its barges to respond to the fire and approached the burning munitions ship, spraying the flames with its fire hose. As the fire was too intense to stop with a single fire hose, the ''Stella Maris''s crew began to prepare a towline to pull the French vessel away from Pier 6 and prevent the fire from spreading ashore. The crew were in the process of retrieving a ten-inch

hawser Hawser () is a nautical term for a thick cable or rope used in mooring or towing a ship. A hawser passes through a hawsehole, also known as a cat hole, located on the hawse.The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, third edition, ...

from the hold to assist a party of volunteers from 's steam

pinnace Pinnace may refer to: * Pinnace (ship's boat), a small vessel used as a tender to larger vessels among other things * Full-rigged pinnace The full-rigged pinnace was the larger of two types of vessel called a pinnace in use from the sixteenth ...

in securing a line to ''Mont Blanc''. Before this could be done, the explosion occurred. The

was the largest man-made blast prior to the Trinity test of the atomic bomb. ''Stella Maris'' was severely damaged and thrown up on the beach near Pier 6 with the bow ashore and the shattered stern submerged. Nineteen of the crew were killed, including Captain Brannen, but five managed to survive and two provided important eyewitness testimony at the investigation into the disaster. The tug was salvaged and rebuilt for service in the First World War.Imo vs Mont Blanc, Volumes 1 & 2, Southern Pacific Whaling Company (principal author) & Compagnie Générale Transatlantique. In the Privy Council on appeal from the Supreme Court of Canada between the ship "Imo" (Southern Pacific Whaling Company, Limited, Owners) (Defendant), appellant and La Compagnie Générale Transatlantique (plaintiff), respondent record of proceedings, volume 1 Constant & Constant ... appellant's solicitors, William A. Crump & Son ... respondent's solicitors, testimony of Walter Brannen and William Nickerson

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stella Maris Tugboats of Canada World War I minesweepers of the United Kingdom 1882 ships Halifax Explosion ships Maritime incidents in 1917 World War I merchant ships of Canada