SS Lake Illawarra

Lake Illawarra was built by BHP, Whyalla, South Australia. Her keel was laid in June 1956, and she was launched on 28 September 1957. She was delivered from the shipyard on 28 March 1958. Lake Illawarra measured and , with a length of and a beam of . She was powered by a steam turbine that drove a single propeller and gave her a speed of . ==Collision and sinking==

Lake Illawarra was loaded with zinc concentrate, for EZ Industries' Risdon Zinc Works, about up the River Derwent from the bridge. The subsequent Court of Marine Inquiry found that Lake Illawarra was capable of passing beneath the bridge's central navigation span, but the captain instead attempted to pass through one of the eastern spans, due to a combination of strong tidal currents and inattention. The Court found that Pelc had not handled Lake Illawarra in a proper and seamanlike manner, and suspended his master's certificate for six months. A pilot service was introduced in response to the court's findings. ==Memorial==

A memorial plaque is dedicated to the SS Lake Illawarra at the Tasmanian Seafarers Memorial at Triabunna on the east coast of Tasmania, approximately north-east of Hobart. The plaque contains the following text: S.S. "Lake Illawarra" 5.1.1975 on Derwent River, Hobart 7274 ton steam turbine bulk carrier crew of 42, cargo 10,000 tons of zinc collided with Tasman Bridge and sank causing loss of 7 crew*, 5 motorists. A.Campbell*, A.Robinson*, C.Maddigan* L.Mendizabel*, T.Sheridan*, R.Rezek J.Stokoe, A.Sward, P.Sward Missing G.Kemp*, R.Turner*, Dr T.Jones~ ==References==