A shipwreck that occurred almost 50 years ago has been discovered in the Gulf of Megara, at a depth of 222 meters. The wreck belongs to the cargo ship “MINI LORD,” which sank on November 20, 1976, following a collision with another vessel.
Researcher Kostas Thoctarides told the Athens News Agency that the wreck was found 7.67 nautical miles east of the Isthmus Canal. “It lies at a depth of 222 meters with a 4-degree list to the left. On the port side of the bow, a breach can be seen in the hull of the Mini Lord. Over the 48 years, fishing lines, nets, and longlines have covered it… It is a shipwreck with unusual design lines that made a mark in commercial shipping,” he said.
How the MINI LORD Shipwreck Happened
At 22:40 on the night of November 20, 1976, the ship had just exited the Corinth Canal. The vessel was carrying 2,545 tons of iron, traveling from Trieste, Italy, to Tartus, Syria, with a stop in Piraeus for refueling.
Meanwhile, another ship, the cargo vessel COSTIS TAF, had departed at 21:30 the same day with a 12-member crew, from the anchorage of Perama, empty of cargo, heading to Koper, Slovenia. At 23:50, the two ships, on crossing courses, collided. COSTIS struck the port bow of the MINI LORD, causing a breach.
In a matter of moments, the MINI LORD sank rapidly by the bow as both its engines continued to run at full speed. Along with it, all eight crew members were lost forever.
“Despite the rapid mobilization,” reported the newspaper Makedonia at the time, “speedboats of the coast guard, all the tugs from Vardinogiannis’ refineries, nearby vessels, and rescue boats from Piraeus and Elefsina all converged. A military plane dropped flares, illuminating the area of the wreck… everyone encountered the same scene: wood, oil slicks, life vests, scattered objects from the ship, an overturned lifeboat, but no sign of the eight crew members…”
COSTIS Suffered Only Minor Damage to its Bow Section
According to the findings of the Marine Accident Investigation Board (MASB), the main responsibility for the accident lay with the captain of the MINI LORD. Until two minutes before the collision, he had been in telephone communication via VHF (the radio was on the port side of the bridge) and, due to the presence of a crane midship, could not monitor the starboard side from his position. When he finally completed his call and realized the COSTIS was close, he was startled and turned the helm hard to starboard…
This type of ship was known in the 1970s as a MINI Bulk Carrier, well-equipped with advanced navigation instruments for the time. Moreover, it was highly maneuverable, having two main engines and two rudders.
Shipwreck found in Greek waters at 222 meters – This is the sunken’s “MINI LORD” tale (ieidiseis.gr)
