Event 110093

On 16th June 1850 the Norwegian Brig Lyna (Master Collet Geelmuyden) left the Egyptian port of Alexandria laden with 3000 ardebs (594,000litres) of Indian Corn bound for Cork or Falmouth for orders. They proceeded on their voyage steering as the winds and weather permitted and passed Gozzi di Candia (off Crete) on the twenty-eighth. On the 30th it was noticed that the cargo was "emanating a great heat" and the vessel was overrun "weevils and other small insects". By the 1st July the heat increased considerably and by the 3rd the cargo "threw out a very unwholesome effluvia". By the seventh the deck planks became quite warm situation was so bad that no one could remain below deck and the bilge water was black and stinking. On the 8th, at 340 37" N and 160 17" E a meeting of the crew was called and it was decided that "for the preservation of the ship and cargo but more especially this latter, and the health of the people" they should head for Malta. On the 11th, with the Malta lighthouse bearing NW distant about 16 miles, the sea ran high and they had to carry a press of canvas which caused the splitting of the jib and fore topsail which they had to cut away to prevent further damage.

On Friday 12th, with the cargo "burning hot", they entered Valletta harbour with the assistance of a pilot and some tow boats. On the following morning the Master entered his Minutes of Sea Protest in the Chancery of the Norwegian Consulate. A survey of the cargo was subsequently held in the afternoon as far as the Quarantine restrictions permitted in the presence of the Malta Agents for Lloyds and the Liverpool and Glasgow underwriters. The discharge of all the cargo was recommended and this was affected by the 23rd. The corn was then "constantly shovelled over and ventilated until it cooled down" and reloading was completed on 13th July, when the Master requested the Notary and Chancellor to protest against the heating of the cargo, the forced stop at Malta and the expenses incurred in the treatment of the cargo. According to the accounts presented by the Master these expenses amounted to £252-1s-6d consisting of:

Landing storing and reshipping Cargo £125 5s 10d
Sailmakers 36 17s 6d
Ship chandler 28 11s 2d
Crew’s wages and provisions 37 14s 2d
Consul's decrees 3 0s 0d
Notary's fees for average papers etc. 18 12s 10d