Seawise University (RMS Queen Elizabeth) Fire in Hong Komg Harbour 1972

Introduction

The Seawise University was neglected for two years and as a result the ship had suffered further severe dilapidation as the Chinese had never encountered a ship as large as the Seawise University. Commodore Geoffrey Marr and chief engineer Ted Philip were asked to come out from retirement to join their old ship in Florida to advise on repairs.

When they arrived in Florida, they were appalled to see the dilapidated state of the “Pride of Britain.”

The Seawise University was ready to sail to Hong Kong in February 1971, but during the voyage there were many problems with her engines. With the help of two tugs she was pulled out to deep water and towed to a safe anchorage. C. Y. Tung visited the ship and ordered that the boilers should be cleaned and restored.

The Seawise University arrived in Hong Kong on 15 July 1971. Once in Hong Kong, work started on turning her into a floating university. Her hull was painted white and the funnels were painted orange. The boilers were reconditioned and restored to their former glory.

Seawise University Fire and Capsize

On 9 January 1972, several fires broke out through the ship. Unfortunately, the fire protection system had not been completed. The ships firefighting crew found it difficult to tackle the fire which spread rapidly and quickly took hold of the ship.

Thick smoke could be seen from the mainland. The ship was abandoned by her crew; nothing more could be done to save her. Fireboats pumped water over the burning ship which made her list to starboard. The Seawise University was suffering the same fate as the Normandie 30 years before.

By the next morning, she had rolled over and was now lying on her side on the bottom of the harbour. A year later she was still there.

In 1974, the Seawise University briefly appeared in the James Bond movie “The Man with the Golden Gun”, where she served as the secret Hong Kong headquarters of MI6.

Once oil started to leak from the fuel tanks, C.Y. Tung was asked to move the wreck. Salvage would have cost millions of pounds so he decided to scrap her. Mementos were taken. The two 18 inch letters “Q” and “E” from the ship’s nameplate were used in a memorial plaque outside the headquarters of Seawise University venture. The Parker Pen Company made a number of limited edition green/gold fountain pens which are highly sought after today.

The boilers and keel and sections of hull remained at the bottom of the harbour until the late 1990s when the final remains of the wreck were buried during land reclamation prior to construction of the dock extensions.