MS Zenobia
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MS Zenobia was a Swedish-built Challenger-class RO-RO ferry launched in 1979 that capsized and sank in the Mediterranean Sea, close to Larnaca, Cyprus, in June 1980.[1][2] She now rests on her port side in approximately Script error: No such module "convert". of water and was named by The Times, and many others, as one of the top ten wreck diving sites in the world.[2][3][4]
History
Zenobia was built at the Kockums Varv AB shipyard in Sweden and was delivered to her owners Rederi AB Nordö in late 1979.[1] She left Malmö, Sweden, on her maiden voyage bound for Tartous, Syria, on 4 May 1980, loaded with 104 tractor-trailers with cargo destined for the Mediterranean and the Middle East.[5] She passed through the Strait of Gibraltar on 22 May 1980, stopping first at Heraklion, Crete, and then to Piraeus, Athens, Greece.[5] On the way to Athens the captain noticed steering problems and Zenobia began listing to port.[5] Following checks, it was determined the list was caused by excess water that had been pumped into the ballast tanks; this water was pumped out and she then departed for her second to last stop at Larnaca, Cyprus, before reaching Syria.[5]
She arrived at Larnaca on 2 June 1980,[1] where the ballast problem had reoccurred, engineers discovered that the computerized pumping system was pumping excess water into the side ballast tanks due to a software error, making the list progressively worse.[5] On 4 June, Zenobia was towed out of Larnaca harbor to prevent her becoming an obstruction should the worst happen[5] and was left at anchor roughly Script error: No such module "convert". offshore.[5] On 5 June, with the ship listing at around 45° the captain dismissed the engineers and maintenance crew, and requested permission to return the ship to Larnaca harbor. The requests were denied.[5]
At around 2:30 am on 7 June 1980, Zenobia capsized and sank in Larnaca Bay at Template:Coords (Template:Cvt from the shore) to a depth of roughly Script error: No such module "convert".,[5] taking her estimated £200 million worth of cargo with her.[5][6] There were no casualties in the disaster.
A Discovery Channel documentary investigated the theory whether Zenobia was sabotaged by Mossad and MI6.[7][8][9]Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Of her two sister ships, Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". is still operational as of March 2025;[10] Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". was scrapped in October 2011.
Wreck diving
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The wreck is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 recreational dive sites worldwide.[11][12][13][14] As a dive site, Zenobia provides a wide range of challenges to scuba divers, from a fairly simple dive to Script error: No such module "convert". depth along the starboard side of the ship (suitable for newly qualified divers); moving up to a more advanced dive inside the upper car deck and accommodation block, right up to extremely adventurous dives within the lower car deck or the engine room (which are only suitable for very experienced divers).[15][16][17][18]
References
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- ↑ a b c Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ BoatInternational.com: The World's Best Wreck Dives
- ↑ TheTravel.com: 20 Incredible Images Of Shipwrecks (You Can Actually Dive To)
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
- ↑ The Story About The Zenobia Shipwreck Cyprus
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Alpha Divers: Zenobia Wreck in Cyprus with Alpha Divers
- ↑ YouTube - Sean Flynn: Zenobia shipwreck, Mystery of the Spy Sabotage. Legends of the deep.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Deeper Blue: Top 10 Wreck Dives In The World
- ↑ Leisure Pro: World’s Top 10 Wreck Dives
- ↑ Scuba Travel: Ten Best Dive Sites in Europe
- ↑ Dive In: Diving in Europe: 10 Best Dive Sites
- ↑ We Heart Diving: MS Zenobia Wreck
- ↑ TriBloo: MS Zenobia
- ↑ Dive Site Directory: Dive Site Zenobia
- ↑ Trip Advisor: Zenobia Wreck
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External links
Template:Maiden voyage sinkings Template:1980 shipwrecks Template:Recreational dive sites Template:Authority control
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