Shipwreck off the coast of Paphos

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Shipwreck off the coast of Paphos

by Josh
(United Kingdom)

Paphos shipwreck

I would just like to know if you know anything thing about the shipwreck on the shoreline in Paphos. Just got back from Paphos and saw the boat on the shoreline and just wanted to know if you knew the history of it. How it happened? When etc

Many thanks.

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Shipwreck off the coast of Paphos

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Jan 24, 2012

Shipwreck paphos
by: Xchadx

I went there years ago to the azia and it was there then ,is it still there now january 2012 x

Dec 09, 2011

New shipwreck in Paphos!
by: Anonymous

Yesterday another ship sank near Coral bay..just next to the sea caves..but this time it is very close ( only a few meters) to the coast..it just came too close to the coast, hit the rocks and that's it...smaller than the other shipwreck in Paphos..We were just thinking that it will be perfect during the summer season to jump to the water from it :) if they will not salvage it from the water..

Oct 18, 2011

Paphos shipwreck too rusty to sink!
by: Helen (website owner)

Thought everyone might like an update on the infamous paphos shipwreck.

Authorities have been working with various organisations to try to arrange a sinking of the wreck in order for it to be used as a tourist attraction for divers - to rival the Xenobia wreck off the coast of Larnaca.

Sadly, investigations have concluded that the ship is too rusty to be safely sunk; apparently it would probably break up into many pieces, causing environmental issues and also danger to sealife, swimmers and other sea vessels.

So the priority is now to get the ship removed before it disintegrates - probably not in the short term though as this is Cyprus after all...

Oct 18, 2011

Shipwreck Still There
by: Keith I

Still there when I returned home yesterday from a week at the St George Hotel.

Sep 20, 2011

Still there as of Early September 2011
by: Dom

Could see the wreck from our hotel balcony at Hilltop Gardens - didn't even realise it was a wreck! Interesting to hear more about it, though.

Sep 15, 2011

Glad I came across this site.
by: Anthony

Just come back from Paphos myself and was wondering what the ship on the coastline was, as I passed it most days and it never moved.

So thanks to everyone who has posted details. :o)

Aug 30, 2011

Paphos Shipwreck Story
by: Anonymous

The ship, which was carrying a cargo of lumber, lost engine power and all control in heavy storms. After sending an SOS signal, the ship finally struck coral where it is now, and hasn't been moved since. There are plans to sink the ship and turn it into a diving site for scuba divers.

Aug 28, 2011

The Boat off Paphos
by: Hannah

I went 6 years ago and the boat was there and have just come back this week and it's still there! Why hasn't anyone moved it?

Aug 15, 2011

Paphos wreck
by: Anonymous

yep , just got back from Acteon Beach holiday village ( 14th Aug 2011) and the wreck is most undeniably still sitting there pointing at the coast and going nowhere faster than a depressed sea slug who just lost his job , his house and his Mrs Sea Slug !!

Aug 03, 2011

Paphos shipwreck
by: ian

Just got back from Paphos and was checking out the name of the ship and I discovered it was called the Dimitrous 2 which ran aground in 1998.

But I also found another shipwreck of a ship called Dimitrous which is beached in a town called Gythio on the Greek mainland and I find it amazing that these 2 ships have similar names and have found the same fate. How odd.

Jul 30, 2011

It's still there now!!!
by: Shacks

It's definitely still there, as I am currently looking at it while I am typing this entry from the top floor of the Atlantica Golden Beach Hotel

Jul 30, 2011

Paphos wreck
by: Kate

Hi all,

Just thought I would add that a family friend has heard a completely different story, that the ship was carrying refugees from somewhere and they decided to run it aground in order to claim asylum but got stuck on the rock. Obviously after doing some research I know that's not true but just thought I would share the story.

Jul 26, 2011

Paphos Shipwreck
by: Pedantic 1.

Somebody must have put it back then, cos it was there last week. (21 July 2011).

Jul 24, 2011

Paphos Shipwreck gone?
by: Maria

Should have gone to specsavers mate. I sailed past the wreck just 2 days ago (22/07/11) It's most certainly still there!

Jul 22, 2011

Ship wreck off coast of paphos
by: Anonymous

We were in Paphos at the end of June 2011 and could see the ship from the Tomb of the King's; however it had gone before we left on the 29th june 2011

Jul 18, 2011

Paphos shipwrecks
by: Anonymous

The comment re a previous freighter wreck near the same sight is true. Called Eftikmon (peace), it was there in 1972/3. It was hauled onto the beach with chains and cut up. I have pictures. Phil Ward

May 19, 2011

Paphos Shipwreck
by: Anonymous

Just arrived from Coral Bay Paphos yesterday and was told by a number of people that nothing was going to be done and it would rest there for many years to come

Apr 18, 2011

Paphos shipwreck to become dive wreck
by: Helen (website owner)

Actually Dan, you are partly right. The Paphos area diving community has been pressing for someone to sink the ship so it can be used a prime dive site, to rival the fanous Xenobia wreck off the coast of Larnaca.

The latest report I read a couple of weeks ago was that funding is being pulled together and a survey is being done to quantify both the costs and the safety features to make sinking the wreck viable. Once this is completed, it is expected that the wreck may then be towed to a safe spot and then submerged but not until next year (2012) at the earliest.

I should say, however, that this is Cyprus and nothing ever happens quickly...so don't hold your breath! I'll report here if and when it is ever sunk.

Apr 18, 2011

not for much longer?
by: dan4vans

After questioning most of the people who could speak English I spoke to a cockney fella serving in a restaurant on our last night ..13/4/2011.. he reliably informed me that the final paperwork is underway to re-float the shell of the wreck, tow her out further and sink her this year.. he says she'll be then checked over and prepped to let divers go on.. his estimate was she's been there for 13 years. The name is now too rusty to read even with binnocs.. I'm glad to have found a site like this and will watch for updates.

Mar 30, 2011

It's still there!!!!!
by: Anonymous

Got back from paphos about a week ago and i can assure you it's still there and it most certainly is a wreck I asked a local who told me it's the wreck of the demetrius 11 which got stuck on rocks and was a bit too expensive for the owners to get moved and the authorities refused to take responsibility for it so it will stay there until someone gives in or the ship gives up and leaves by itself. I was led to believe it's been there for at least ten years so I think it's quite comfy and staying put.
Lisa

Jan 16, 2011

Paphos shipwreck mix up
by: Anonymous

I think some of you are geting the Paphos wreck mixed up with the wreck of Zenobia which was anchored about 2km offshore at Larnaca due to a listing problem and ultimately sunk in 1980.

Dec 13, 2010

Wikipedia entry regarding Demetrios II
by: Anonymous

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Demetrios_II

Oct 25, 2010

PAPHOS SHIPWRECK
by: Anonymous

Just back from Paphos and the local boat crews say that the ship foundered after losing its rudder in heavy seas in 1998.
Everything of value has been plundered and it is now too expensive to remove what remains.

Sep 19, 2010

Jess your sooooo wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by: Minty

On 23 March 1998, the Honduran-flagged M/V Demetrios II ran aground off Paphos Lighthouse, close to Chloraka Village, in heavy seas during a voyage from Greece to Syria with a cargo of timber.
Thank you very much!!!

Aug 30, 2010

Missing Propellor
by: Anonymous

Just come back from Paphos, went on Wavedancer. I was informed by the owner of Wavedancer that the timber was stolen along with anything of value a long time ago and more recently a group of males have stolen the propellor!

Aug 19, 2010

More shipwrecks in Cyprus in the Akamas
by: munki

There was also another ship that ran aground,this was almost at the tip of the Akamas peninsular on the Latchi/Polis side.
This is now broken up on the seabed and on the shore and can be snorkeled or dived on by boat or from land.
Talking to locals who date it at pre 1980 I think this may be the 1978 wreck mentioned, as it was intact ,albeit in various states of decay for years.

Aug 04, 2010

Come on now...
by: The Truth

You've already said you made it up. Are you insane? Have you no soul?
It was 1998, I even gave the damn name of the vessel in my comment, now please leave it.
For the record the only reason I ended up at this site is because I was researching grounded ships. Think about that for a minute.

Aug 03, 2010

Not 1998
by: Jess

@Helen. I can assure you now it was certainly there before 1998 as my father was sent to Cyprus in the army from late 1970's and I can be certain that it was most definitely there at least in the 1980's. It was there before my sister was born in 1988 and my father left Cyprus roughly around 1985, having seen the shipwreck whilst on post there. So I'm afraid that whatever sources you have used that tell you it was 1998 are completely mistaken.

To add to this, I was born in 1990 and family members of mine went on holiday to Cyprus 2 years later in 1992. My father took them to see the shipwreck whilst touring the 'Tombs of the kings' area of the Island that also proves that date you have provided is completely wrong.

Aug 02, 2010

Paphos shipwreck is the truth
by: The Truth...

The Truth has already spoken. He does not lie.
Nor does Helen, who's original comment I somehow missed.

Aug 02, 2010

Paphos shipwreck
by: Helen (website owner)

Jess, if you read my original post at the bottom of the page I said 1998 NOT 1978.

A few posts further up I clarified the date and said that if the date of 1978 was seen on a photograph then it was probably a typo..

So sorry but according to all my sources it was 1998.

I'll let the rest of you argue it out as this is my last comment on the subject.

Helen

Aug 01, 2010

Paphos shipwreck
by: Jess

@Everyone, as helen has stated it run aground in 1978. I rest my case

Jul 31, 2010

Paphos shipwreck
by: Helen

Yes I run this website and I posted the correct answer back in April 2008 (after carefully researching and checking all available sources and news archives) as to when, where and how the ship ran aground off the coast of Paphos. You just need to page down to the bottom of the page to read the answer.

It's amusing to see how such an iconic landmark generates such a lot of debate. I do hope they never take it away :)

Jul 30, 2010

Shipwreck of Paphos
by: Anonymous

Just got back from Cyprus and I have seen the wreck for the last 3 years and the lady called Helen is absolutly right about its cargo and date

Jul 29, 2010

Paphos shipwreck
by: Jess

For everyone who is having a go, I made it up? So I'm getting bored of this, either way there's a shipwreck there.

Jul 28, 2010

Observations on the Paphos shipwreck
by: Anonymous

I got back from paphos yesterday, and I could see this from my balcony (Pafian park hotel) and wondered what it was.

It is rather nice to see on the coast
the waves hitting up against the side of it makes it seem like it is part of the land.

Jul 25, 2010

Ship being there since 1970s!!!!???
by: Anonymous

@Jess; to say that your dad saw the shipwreck in Paphos since the 1970's is a load of rubbish. My father was a serving soldier here too in the early 70s and came back frequently on military matters and on holidays from thereafter. He never saw any wreck of a ship in Paphos at that time. I have been coming to Paphos on holidays with my family since 1988 and then emigrated here in 1997 so I know that your statement is completely false I'm afraid. The ship was not grounded at anytime before 1998. It occured in 1998, and unless my memory deceives me, during the world cup. There was a rumour that the crew were all watching a world cup match with no one on the bridge. There was another rumour that the ship was deliberately ran aground for insurance purposes; if you think about it, why would it be that close to the shore when all shipping traffic heading to Limassol port are much much further out!

Jul 15, 2010

Shipwreck
by: Anonymous

I've just got back fom Paphos where I saw the wreck for the first time. It obviously has'nt been there since the 1970s. In any event it wasn't there when I was in Paphos in the late 80s.

Jun 29, 2010

MV Demetrios II
by: The Truth

It's the MV Demetrios II, built in 1964 and ran aground in 1998, indeed with a cargo of timber.
For the record, it's relatively easy to see it's not been there for decades, as a ship left for so long without maintenance would be incredibly rusted.

Jun 21, 2010

Paphos shipwreck
by: Anonymous

I heard it was a drunk Russian captain who ran it aground , not sure when though lol

Apr 26, 2010

70's pictures of the Paphos shipwreck
by: Anonymous

show us a picture of it from the 70s to prove it was there as your dad says

Apr 25, 2010

Ship in Paphos there since 1970's
by: Jess

My father was in the army in cyprus (Dekhalia or however you spell it) back in the 1960's/70's) The ship was grounded there when he was in the army back then so it has been there for over 30 years now. As to how it got there, im not so sure....but for those people who say it run aground in 1998 or whatever are most certainly wrong. My dad has photos of when he was there in the army of the ship was stuck there in humiliation!

Apr 22, 2010

I was there when the Paphos shipwreck ran aground
by: Porky

It actually got stuck on the rocks in a storm in 1998, just a few weeks before I went there. They were still in the process of salvaging its cargo and engines. There was talk of turning it into a nightclub........but obviously didn't!

Mar 18, 2010

Shipwreck, Paphos, Cyprus
by: Tony from Blackburn, Lancashire, England

I thought it was pretty astonishing, I could see it from my hotel balcony(Hill Top Gardens) took photos, and was thinking about how it got there! I thought that boat was a bit close to the shore, then I realised it was stuck on a rock. I visited Paphos in Christmas 2008, the weather was brilliant! can't say the same about the KFC!

Sep 13, 2009

Ship wreck
by: Brian

Hi Josh,

Just got back from holiday in Cyprus,my kids went for a dive lesson with Abyiss dive centre.
I was curious to the ship in the bay and asked one of the divers,he informed me that it ran aground 12 years ago laiden with timber,a local salvage company bought the ship for scrap and has sat there since.
The cyprus government have tried to buy it back but it is now too expensive, this is only what I have been told how true it is I dont know.

Jun 16, 2009

Dimitrious 2 (name of the ship)
by: Rudi

Just back from Cyprus,people over there told me the wreck has been there since 1976,and had something to do with smuggling and went aground during a storm.

Mar 09, 2009

Paphos shipwreck real story
by: Helen

Just see the first entry I made at the bottom of the page for the "real" story - the boat is not Turkish Cypriot...

Mar 09, 2009

Paphos Wreck - Can we have our boat back!
by: Len.

I've just returned from Paphos and, like lots of other people, have been wondering about the ship grounded off the coast there. According to one British person that claims to have been living there for 10 years, the ship was (is) Turkish Cypriot owned and the crew ditched the boat there for who knows what reason. Apparently, the owners of the ship have asked for it's return but, because they can, the Greek Cypriot powers that be, have said "no!" Unsure of when this all took place, I was informed that the cargo of timber is still on board.
There are also stories that the ship has something to do with the Russians. On the other hand, of course, my opinion is that it could have connections with 'little green men' from........errr, you know where!

Oct 03, 2008

Date of Shipwreck
by: Helen

Hi Tony

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 1998.

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

Oct 02, 2008

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.

Jul 03, 2008

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!

Apr 17, 2008

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.

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Shipwreck off the coast of Paphos

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Shipwreck off the coast of Paphos