 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
The History
The Zenobia or ‘Zen’ (Lloyds registration number 7806087) was a roll-on roll-off ferry built in Malmo
Sweden in 1979 to operate in the eastern Mediterranean. It weighed 10,000 tons, was 172 metres long
and 28 metres wide. Its maximum speed was 21.5 knots and was registered to carry 140 passengers.
The Zenobia set off from Malmo on 4th May 1980 headed for Crete where she moored for 2 days, before
departing for Greece. On route to Athens the captain noticed problems with the steering and the ship
water being pumped into the ballast tanks. In Piraeus, Greece the water was pumped out and the
problem believed to be solved. The ship then headed for Larnaca, Cyprus, where she arrived on 3rd
June to find the problem had recurred. In Larnaca it was found that the computerised pump system
was still pumping water into the side ballast tanks and the listing was getting worse.
The Zenobia was towed out of Larnaca harbour as a precaution and was left at anchor about 1500 to
2000 metres offshore. The majority of the crew had left the ship leaving the captain, engineers and
maintenance crew to try and find a solution. On the 5th June the captain dismissed the last of the crew
as the ship was now listing at 45 degrees and it seemed there was no possible solution.
On the 7th June, in the early hours of the morning, the ship began to sink. It took 2 days to sink to its
final resting place at 42 metres. The exact cause has never been proven and no formal investigation
into the sinking has ever been published. The ship sank with a cargo estimated at £200m, which
included cars and over 100 articulated lorries, full of goods. It also included trucks loaded with
livestock, the bones of which can be seen in one of the wagons on the main deck. Since sinking, the
Zenobia has been relatively untouched with no salvage work being allowed.
Diving the Zenobia
This is a 2 dive excursion, leaving about 8am and returning for about 2pm, you will be taken to Larnaca
harbour where we will board the boat which will take us to the dive site, the boat trip takes about
15mins. Once kitted up you’re off down the line where straight away you will be overawed by the
vastness of the wreck. To dive the Zenobia you have to be at least an advanced open water diver, or
doing it as part of your scuba training for your advanced open water certification. There are a number
of different levels of diving available to meet your levels of training. These include fairly simple dives to
18 metres along the starboard side of the ship, advanced dives inside the upper car deck and for the
extremely adventurous, dive within the lower car deck or the accommodation block.
Schools of barracuda circle the ship, with Groupers, Amberjack, Sea Bass and Bream all making the
Zenobia their home.
The Lorries Loaded With
Cargo
Cargo
A Lifeboat On The Zen
