A WATERY GRAVE
ILL FATED
The ill fated MV Dimitrios II was built by J.J. Sietas K.G. Schiffswerft Gmbh of Hamburg, Germany and its engines were built by Motoren Werke Mannheim A. G. of Mannheim, Germany. The general cargo ship measured a total of 66 metres in length, and the 6 cylinder 4 stroke diesel engines enabled the fully laden ship to achieve an impressive 9.5 knots in calm seas.
PRIDE OF GERMANY
Its first owner, Martin Leistikow, first registered the ship in a port of Germany in 1964 and the vessel began life as the Arn X. It was launched and made its maiden voyage in the same year. The ship would be renamed the MV Luhe when it was acquired by Wilhelm Baumgarten Reederei OHG in 1970. Tor Nordia then took ownership in 1976 and renamed it MV Tor Nordia. 1978 saw the ship’s name change again to MV Luhedeich. The general cargo ship mainly operated in a North European theatre until 1978.
PURCHASED BY GREEKS
The Sofia-S Shipping Co, acquired the ship in 1987, renamed it to MV Sofia S, and registered it in a port of Greece. The general cargo ship began to operate in the Southern Europe and Middle Eastern theatre. The Semiramis Shipping Co then took ownership a year later and re-registered the vessel in a port of Greece under the name of MV Anastasia. The ship remained in Greek Hands until 1996 when the Silver Star Shipping acquired it and registered it in a port of Honduras under the name of MV Dimitrios II. The cargo ship continued to operate in a Southern Europe and Middle Eastern theatre.
OFF THE COAST OF PAPHOS
The MV Dimitrios II set off from Greece on the morning of March 22nd 1998 carrying a cargo of timber en-route to Syria. The captain and his crew had negotiated the route many times, so remained unfazed when reports of stormy weather reached them. Rough seas a day later however, forced the captain and his crew to change course and they headed for the nearest port, which was Cyprus. The ship nearly made it into port, but inevitably ran aground off the coast of Paphos on the evening of March 23rd. The stranded crew sent a mayday and all eight were airlifted to safety by a British military helicopter. It later emerged that the Captain and first officer’s seafaring certificates for competency were forged adding controversy to the disaster at sea. The wreck of the MV Dimitrios II has since become somewhat of a Paphos landmark and can clearly be seen whilst travelling along the Coral Bay coastal Road.
