-Famous Shipwrecks-
There are an estimated three million undiscovered shipwrecks scattered on the oceans’ floor across the world, some of which are thousands of years old. Even the figures for the known wrecks are impressive. For example, the website Wrecksite.eu contains records of more than 148,000 wrecks at the time of this writing. A large number of shipwrecks are historically significant and protected under UNESCO as underwater cultural heritage. Many are abandoned and remain either submerged or grounded near beaches, sometimes gracefully, sometimes not, rotting under the elements of nature. Some of them have turned into tourist attractions because of the many photographic opportunities they offer.
The most recent shipwreck that acquired much media attention was Costa Concordia that turned turtle in the waters near Isola del Giglio, on the western coast of Italy, in January 2012. The capsized ship drew thousands of eager tourist to the area. Salvaging operations were started on mid-2013 and are still on, and it won’t be long before the ship is towed out of the bay.
World Discoverer
There are an estimated three million undiscovered shipwrecks scattered on the oceans’ floor across the world, some of which are thousands of years old. Even the figures for the known wrecks are impressive. For example, the website Wrecksite.eu contains records of more than 148,000 wrecks at the time of this writing. A large number of shipwrecks are historically significant and protected under UNESCO as underwater cultural heritage. Many are abandoned and remain either submerged or grounded near beaches, sometimes gracefully, sometimes not, rotting under the elements of nature. Some of them have turned into tourist attractions because of the many photographic opportunities they offer.
The most recent shipwreck that acquired much media attention was Costa Concordia that turned turtle in the waters near Isola del Giglio, on the western coast of Italy, in January 2012. The capsized ship drew thousands of eager tourist to the area. Salvaging operations were started on mid-2013 and are still on, and it won’t be long before the ship is towed out of the bay.
World Discoverer
The MS World Discoverer was a cruise ship built in 1974, that made periodic voyages to the Antarctic polar regions to allow its passengers to observe ice floe movements. The vessel had a double hull construction that provided protection for minor impacts. But the rock that punctured the hull on April 30, 2000, was a large uncharted rock in Solomon Islands. After the passengers were safely dispatched via a ferry, the captain steered the ship into Roderick Bay and grounded it to avoid sinking. By the time salvage companies got to it, the ship was ransacked by the locals. The World Discoverer still sits in Roderick Bay on Nggela Island with a 46° list.
Mediterranean Sky
Mediterranean Sky
Mediterranean Sky was originally called City of York when she was built in 1952 in Newcastle, England. The Cruise liner departed London in November 1953, and maintained its service until sold in 1971, when she became the Mediterranean Sky. Her last voyage was in August 1996, when she sailed from Brindisi to Patras.
Due to the companies’ financial situation, the Mediterranean Sky was arrested in 1997, whilst in Patras. Two years later she was towed to Eleusus Gulf in Greece, where she lay abandoned. In late 2002, the ship began to take on water and started to tilt. In order to stop her sinking, she was towed to shallow water and was grounded. In January 2003, Mediterranean Sky keeled over on her side where she remains awaiting her fate.
MV Captayannis
Due to the companies’ financial situation, the Mediterranean Sky was arrested in 1997, whilst in Patras. Two years later she was towed to Eleusus Gulf in Greece, where she lay abandoned. In late 2002, the ship began to take on water and started to tilt. In order to stop her sinking, she was towed to shallow water and was grounded. In January 2003, Mediterranean Sky keeled over on her side where she remains awaiting her fate.
MV Captayannis
The Captayannis was a Greek sugar-carrying vessel that sank in the River Clyde in Scotland in 1974 after colliding with a BP tanker when a severe gale hit the west coast. The tanker suffered no damage but her anchor chains holed Captayannis allowing water to pour in. Captayannis's captain tried to beach her in the shallow waters over the sandbank and steered to the desired spot where she stuck fast. The ship rolled over the next morning, and has lain there ever since. Most, if not all of her more valuable metals and fittings have been removed by looters, leaving little of the split-style superstructure.
Although the wreck lies in relatively shallow waters there has never been any attempt to salvage the remains, as issues such as ownership and insurance were never satisfactorily resolved. Through time Captayannis has become home to marine life and birds. She is known to many locals simply as the "sugar boat".
SS America
Although the wreck lies in relatively shallow waters there has never been any attempt to salvage the remains, as issues such as ownership and insurance were never satisfactorily resolved. Through time Captayannis has become home to marine life and birds. She is known to many locals simply as the "sugar boat".
SS America
SS America was an ocean liner built in 1940. After a long career of more than fifty years, the liner was sold in 1993 with the intention of being refitted to become a five-star hotel ship off Phuket, in Thailand. It was at this time she was renamed “American Star”, although she never sailed by her new name. The ship was towed out of Greece towards the Atlantic to be refitted, but a hundred days later the ship together with the Ukrainian tugboat entered a thunderstorm. The tow lines broke and all attempts to reattach the emergency tow lines proved unsuccessful. The crew aboard American Star was rescued by helicopter but the ship was left adrift. On January 18, the ship ran aground off the west coast of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands.
Within the first 48 hours of grounding the pounding surf of the Atlantic broke the ship in two just past the second funnel. The stern section collapsed completely to port and sank in 1996, while the bow remained intact. In November 2005, the port side of the bow section collapsed and the hull to begin to break up. By 2007 the entire ship had collapsed and fallen into the sea. Since then, what little remained has been slowly disappearing beneath the waves. As of March 2013, the wreck is only visible during low tide.
The deterioration of the remains of American Star between 2005 and 2007. The stern broke off and sank in 1996, leaving only the bow section on the sandbar. Since that time, the ship has developed a greater list to port, and the funnel has detached and sunk.
Dimitrios
Within the first 48 hours of grounding the pounding surf of the Atlantic broke the ship in two just past the second funnel. The stern section collapsed completely to port and sank in 1996, while the bow remained intact. In November 2005, the port side of the bow section collapsed and the hull to begin to break up. By 2007 the entire ship had collapsed and fallen into the sea. Since then, what little remained has been slowly disappearing beneath the waves. As of March 2013, the wreck is only visible during low tide.
The deterioration of the remains of American Star between 2005 and 2007. The stern broke off and sank in 1996, leaving only the bow section on the sandbar. Since that time, the ship has developed a greater list to port, and the funnel has detached and sunk.
Dimitrios
Dimitrios (previously named "Klintholm"), is a small, 67 meter freight ship built in 1950, that has been stranded on the beach of Valtaki in the prefecture of Laconia in Greece, since December 23, 1981.
There are many rumors about the ship's origins and how it got stranded on the beach. Most relate that the ship was used to smuggle cigarettes between Turkey and Italy. It was seized by the port authorities of Gythio and then deliberately released from the port and left to be dragged by the sea to the beach of Valtaki, about 5 kilometers from the port of Gythio. It was then set on fire to hide the evidence of cigarette smuggling.
However, according to a book written by the Honorary Chief of the Hellenic Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Christos Ntounis the ship had to dock to the port of Gythio on 4 December 1980 in emergency because its captain needed access to a hospital due to a serious illness. After the ship's docking, financial problems arose with the crew as well as various engine problems, coupled with insurance measures imposed by various lenders. The crew was then fired and the ship was side docked to the port of Gythio, where it remained until June 1981 when it was declared unsafe.
The ship was dislodged from its position and swept away to the sea numerous times before being stranded at its current location on the beach of Valtaki. The ship remains abandoned and there has been no attempts to recover it.
There are many rumors about the ship's origins and how it got stranded on the beach. Most relate that the ship was used to smuggle cigarettes between Turkey and Italy. It was seized by the port authorities of Gythio and then deliberately released from the port and left to be dragged by the sea to the beach of Valtaki, about 5 kilometers from the port of Gythio. It was then set on fire to hide the evidence of cigarette smuggling.
However, according to a book written by the Honorary Chief of the Hellenic Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Christos Ntounis the ship had to dock to the port of Gythio on 4 December 1980 in emergency because its captain needed access to a hospital due to a serious illness. After the ship's docking, financial problems arose with the crew as well as various engine problems, coupled with insurance measures imposed by various lenders. The crew was then fired and the ship was side docked to the port of Gythio, where it remained until June 1981 when it was declared unsafe.
The ship was dislodged from its position and swept away to the sea numerous times before being stranded at its current location on the beach of Valtaki. The ship remains abandoned and there has been no attempts to recover it.
