Although I've only lived on the island since 2005, I've checked the date from several sources and I firmly believe it did run aground in 1978.
There is an archive story at the local library from the Cyprus Mail which reported the event when it happened.
The picture you saw with an earlier date probably had a typo putting 1978 instead of 1998.
Helen
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Paphos shipwreck by: tony
If the ship has been there since 1992 then its a bit strange how I saw a picture of the shipwreck and the picture was dated 1978. I just want to find out when it really happend.
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Fascination over Paphos shipwreck by: Nikki
We are just back from Coral bay cyprus and were so curious to find out more about the ship, we found it fascinating! we hired a speed boat so we could have a better look & get some pictures. Thanks for the information!
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Paphos shipwreck history by: Helen
The shipwreck off Paphos has become an icon and something of a tourist attraction.
It has been there since March 23rd 1998 when it ran aground during a storm.
Situated near to Paphos lighthouse, in between the village of Chlorakas and Coral bay, the ship was called the MV Demetrios,l came from Honduras and was carrying a load of timber en route from Greece to Syria.
The eight strong crew was airlifted to safety in Paphos when the ship ran aground.
Reports in the Cyprus Mail said that the crews paperwork, including their seafarer licences were forged.
This was confirmed in a report from Lloyds saying that the Greek captain and his first officer, from Pakistan, were using fake documents.
from Liberia.
Whatever the case, the ship remains stranded to this day on the rocks near the lighthouse. It's a true landmark and one of immense curiosity which is why you wanted to know why it was there Josh!
The cost and/or difficulty of removing it would be too great. And Paphos would lose one of its tourist attractions!
Incidentally, I know that somebody applied for permission to turn it into a disco boat a few years back.
But you can probably see why the application was rejected as it's a little dangerous to get anywhere near the boat.
