Australia’s greatest peacetime naval disaster, HMAS Voyager, will be remembered today, 46 years on. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Alan Griffin said 82 lives were lost when the Voyager and HMAS Melbourne collided off the south-east coast of Australia in 1964.

“On the evening of 10 February 1964, Melbourne, an aircraft carrier, and Voyager, a Daring Class Destroyer, were taking part in training exercises off the coast of Jervis Bay, south east of Sydney when disaster struck,” Mr Griffin said. “At 8.56 pm, while manoeuvring under minimal operational lighting, the Voyager tragically crossed the bows of the Melbourne, colliding in the darkness. The Voyager was sliced in two by the impact and the bow section sank within minutes.”

Fourteen officers, 67 sailors and one civilian dockyard employee lost their lives. There were 232 survivors. Following the last election, the Australian Government sought to progress outstanding compensation claims remaining from this accident, with all now resolved.

“The Voyager disaster is a stark reminder that tragedy can strike not only in war but in peacetime service, undertaking humanitarian assistance or in training and we honour and remember those lost,” Mr Griffin said.