Wrecks in Greece

Express Samina was a RORO passenger ferry (built in 1966) that operated in Greece and sunk in the evening (22.20) on Tuesday 26 September 2000 near the island of Paros.
Eighty of the 500 passengers were lost at sea.

The Samina ran aground on a well-known islet (Portos Island - The Doors). The crew had deployed two stabilisers to counteract the waves; a mechanical failure caused only the starboard (right side) stabilizer to deploy, causing the ship to drift to starboard. When she first hit the rocks it created a large gash on the starboard side 1m high above the water line. When the stabiliser hit the rock, it created a second large hole in the ship below the water line near the engine room. This second hole caused water to flow into the engine room, knocking out power and preventing the water tight doors from being closed remotely. As 9 out of the 11 water tight doors were open, the water was able to flood the ship, causing it to list to starboard. Once she had rolled to a 14 degree angle, water was able to enter the first hole, causing the ship to sink.

The Greek vessel of Paros Island V Century B.C.
The ancient Ship of Paros was a Greek trade vessel carrying a cargo of wine amphorae (right), sunk off Paros Island during the V Century B.C. The remains of the cargo are scattered on the sandy bottom at a depth between -15m and -25m.

HMS PERSEUS Submarine sank near the island of Kefalonia – all hands on board-, in 1941. The British suspect that the sub had hit a an Italian mine, since the anchor of the mine was found near the wreck.
Destroyer Hydra D – 97 Greek destroyer, was sunk in 1941 near the islet Lagousa. Lies at 73 m depth.

HMS BRITANNIC (sister ship of TITANIC), was sunk on the 21st of November 1916 near Kea Island. BRITANNIC is resting at 117 meters depth; it is one of the biggest shipwrecks in the world at 275 meters long.

LIGHT CRUISER ELLI, the legendary light cruiser of the Hellenic Navy ELLI that was sunk on the 15th of August 1940 out of Tinos Island.

STEAMER SHIP ARDENA was sunk in 1943 at the sea area of Kefalonia Island and became the grave of 720 Italian prisoners.

TUGBOAT MIMIS, sank near the island of Aigina when it hit a mine during the Second World war.

PASSENGER VESSEL AGIOS GEORGIOS, 21 meters long wooden passenger vessel sunk in the port of Piraeus.

TUG BOAT CAPTAIN NIKOS which lies at 81 meters depth near the island of Limnos.

MERCHANT SHIP KASSANDRA, Evoikos Gulf. (More info soon).

HMS HURWORTH, sunk at 102 meters depth during the Second World War at the international waters between Hellas and Turkey.

LANDING SHIP L 166 LIEUTENANT MERLIN Location and filming of the ship ‘L 166 Lieutenant MERLIN’ of the Greek Navy, which was sank in 1972 and 44 members of its crew lost their lives. It is consider to be one of the bigger tragedies of the Greek Navy. The legendary wreckship is lying at 95 meters depth.

GERMAN U BOAT 133, sunk in 1942 along with the 45 members of its crew at Saronikos Gulf, after hitting a Greek mine. The wreck lies at 78 meters depth and it is broken in two pieces.

STEAMER SHIP HEIMARA, sank in 1947 at Evoikos Gulf after crashing on a shoal. It is considered to be one of the bigger sea tragedies of Greece since 389 people lost their lives.