Built as a polar cargo vessel under yard No. 109 on the Aalborg Værft A/S. Aalborg, Denmark for Rederiet Ocean A/S (one of the Lauritzen companies), Copenhagen.
Her intended name was JETTA DAN but before launching changed.
13 June 1961 launched under the name NELLA DAN.
Tonnage 2.206 gross, 1.060 net, 2.200 dwt, dim. 75.2 x 14.4 x 7.3m., draught 6.6m. Length bpp. 69.1m.
Powered by one B&W 8-cyl 2 S.C.SA diesel engine, manufactured by A/S Burmeister & Wains Maskin- og Skibsbyggeri, Copenhagen.
Passenger accommodation for 42 passengers.
Ice strengthened.
Crew 30.
04 October 1961 delivered to owners.
In the Antarctic summer season from 1961 to 1962 she carried an Australian expedition under the leadership of Mr. D. F. Styles to the various Australian stations, and also used for exploration work and survey work along the coast and waters of Antarctic.
31 July 1968 transferred to Dampskipsselskabet Vesterhavet.
11 April 1980 company name changed in J. Lauritzen Holding A/S.
From 07 May 1980 till 25 June 1980 rebuilt by Aalborg Værft A/S, tonnage changed to 2.187 gross, 1.073 net, 2.150 dwt.
15 January 1981 transferred to J. Lauritzen A/S.
27 November 1987 she sailed from Hobart, Tasmania bound for the Australian Antarctic with on board stores and equipment for the Australian basis camps there.
03 December when at anchor in Buckles Bay, Macquarie Island, during heavy weather her anchor started to drag and she grounded on rocks in Buckles Bay, when she was transferring fuel to the shore base.
Her hull got badly holed and her engine room flooded, there were not any injuries to the 50 scientific passengers and 33 crew. All not necessary crew and passengers were landed and found shelter in the weather station, what normally housed only 32 people.
27 Crew and 48 expedition staff were taken off the island by the icebreaker/supply vessel ICEBERG returning them to Hobart where they arrived on 11 December.
The captain and 5 officers of the ship and a few scientific stayed on the island.
21 December 1987 the NELLA DAN was refloated by salvors, one of the most southerly salvage operations ever happens.
After refloated she anchored again in Buckles Bay, where she took a heavy list. Those on board abandoned her
Most probably due to overheating of two diesel generators on deck used for pumping out the water, she caught fire.
She was towed out 4 miles to sea sinking in flames in a position of 54 37Z 159 13E on 24 December 1987, taking with her salvage and scientific equipment valued at about Aus$600.000.
Average she made every year four trips to the Antarctic, and in this year’s 70 voyages were made by her to the Antarctic.
On Australian Antarctic Territory 1979 35c sg 47. 1988 37c sg 79 and 2003 $1.45 sg?
Source: J. Lauritzen 1884-1984 by Søren Thorsøe. Marine News. Modern Shipping Disasters 1963-1987 by Norman Hooke.