A WATERY GRAVE
AN ILL-FATED SHIP
The ill-fated MV Dimitrios II is one of two notable recent Paphos shipwrecks that are both perched along the Paphos coastline. The other is the EDRO III, which also ran aground off the Paphos coast on October 11th 2011. This particular general cargo ship, which measures a total of 66 metres, is German in origin. Although it was built by J.J. Sietas K.G. Schiffswerft Gmbh of Hamburg, Germany. Its 6-cylinder 4-stroke diesel engines were developed and then installed by Motoren Werke Mannheim A. G. of Mannheim, Germany. These powerful engines allowed the fully laden cargo ship to achieve an impressive 9.5 knots in calm seas.
PRIDE OF GERMANY
The general cargo ship mainly operated in a North European theatre until 1978. Its first owner, Martin Leistikow, first registered the ship in a port in Germany in 1964. Beginning life as the Arn X, it made its maiden voyage in the same year. In 1970, the new owner, Wilhelm Baumgarten renamed the ship MV Luhe. Tor Nordia then acquired the vessel in 1976, renaming to MV Tor Nordia. 1978 saw the ship’s name changed yet again to MV Luhedeich.
PURCHASED BY GREEKS
The Sofia-S Shipping Co acquired the ship in 1987, registering the ship in a port in Greece under the name of MV Sofia S. The general cargo ship began to operate in Southern Europe and Middle Eastern theatre. The Semiramis Shipping Co, who took ownership of it a year later, renamed it again to MV Anastasia. It remained in Greek Hands until 1996 when Silver Star Shipping acquired it. Although it continued to operate in Southern Europe and Middle Eastern theatre, it was registered in a port in Honduras under the name of MV Dimitrios II.
OFF THE COAST OF PAPHOS
The MV Dimitrios II set off from Greece on the morning of March 22nd 1998. It was carrying a cargo of timber en-route to Syria. The captain and his crew had negotiated the route several times previously, so they remained unfazed when they received reports of stormy weather approaching. As the storm developed a day later, rough seas forced the captain and his crew to change course. This meant that they headed for the nearest port, which was Cyprus. The ship, in desperation, then ran aground off the coast of Paphos on the evening of March 23rd.
ADDED CONTROVERSY
The stranded crew then sent a mayday, and all eight crew members were airlifted to safety by a British military helicopter. It later emerged that both the captain’s and the first officer’s seafaring certificates for competency were forged. This added controversy to the disaster at sea. The wreck of the MV Dimitrios II has since become somewhat of a Paphos landmark. It can be seen perched on the coast whilst travelling along the Coral Bay coastal road.
