Conversations Best of 2025: Mike Doleman on surving the Blythe Star
Dec 19, 2025
Mick Dolman, a seafarer and survivor of the 1973 Blythe Star shipwreck, shares his harrowing experience of survival in the Southern Ocean. He recounts the captain's dubious decisions and the ship's dangerous state before sinking. Stranded in a life raft, Mick highlights the challenges of limited rations and harsh weather, including a tragic death among the crew. He discusses the subsequent inquiry which revealed major safety failures and reflects on his journey towards advocating for maritime safety reforms.
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Youth Survives Blythe Star Sinking
- At 18, Mick Dolman survived the Blythe Star capsizing and spent days afloat in the Southern Ocean with nine crewmates.
- The crew endured freezing storms, overcrowded rafts, and institutional mismanagement before rescue.
Ignored Overloading And Risky Route Choice
- The Blythe Star sailed dangerously low and took the shorter, treacherous west coast route despite clear stability risks.
- Crew concerns about overloading and stability were raised but dismissed by management and the bosun.
Ship Broke, Sank Vertically, Then Vanished
- The ship listed heavily as cargo shifted and hatch locking bars were missing, letting tonnes of water sweep the decks.
- The Blythe Star suddenly went upright and sank while the raft watched yards away, leaving no surface debris.