THE EDRO III SHIPWRECK

On October 8th, 2011, the Edro III left the port of Limassol, heading for the Greek island of Rhodes. Bad weather conditions, resulting from a freak storm, however, damaged the vessel, which then ran aground in the bay of Peyia just north of the City of Paphos. All nine crew members were eventually airlifted to safety by a local British military helicopter. The ship, which was carrying building materials, has remained perched on the coast ever since.

The safe removal of all diesel, hydrocarbons and marine pollutants on board the vessel has since taken place, and the hull of the ship was subsequently made watertight in October 2013. These actions were part of the numerous efforts by the Municipality of Peyia, which is the regional administrative authority where Edro III resides, to tow the shipwreck. All efforts to remove the vessel have since been abandoned, due to the difficulty of the project, and there are officially no current plans for its removal. 

The notable shipwreck that has since become a Paphos landmark has gone on to shape the local marine tourism in the area. The rusty remains attract some unique marine life that has helped the site to become a revered diving site. The notable shipwreck, which lies just 15 metres off the coast, also provides a fantastic photo opportunity for several visitors to the area, who often use the setting as a backdrop for photos, especially at sunset. The Edro III currently holds the accolade of being the most photographed ship in Cyprus.