SS Heraklion: Difference between revisions
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== Background == |
== Background == |
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'''''SS Heraklion''''' was built as the '''SS ''Leicestershire''''' by [[Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company]] in [[Glasgow]] in 1949, for the [[Bibby Line]] to operate the [[UK]] to [[Burma]] route. She was chartered to the [[British India Line]] for some time to the to supplement its [[London]] to [[East Africa]] service. In 1964 she was sold to the Aegean Steam Navigation Co to operate under their [[Typaldos Line]], renamed '''SS ''Heraklion'''''. Once Typaldos Line took ownership, she was refitted as a passenger/car [[ferry]]. The ship had an overall length of 498 ft (152 m), a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of 60 ft (18 m), gross [[tonnage]] of 8.922 tons, |
'''''SS Heraklion''''' was built as the '''SS ''Leicestershire''''' by [[Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company]] in [[Glasgow]] in 1949, for the [[Bibby Line]] to operate the [[UK]] to [[Burma]] route. She was chartered to the [[British India Line]] for some time to the to supplement its [[London]] to [[East Africa]] service. In 1964 she was sold to the Aegean Steam Navigation Co to operate under their [[Typaldos Line]], renamed '''SS ''Heraklion'''''. Once Typaldos Line took ownership, she was refitted as a passenger/car [[ferry]]. The ship had an overall length of 498 ft (152 m), a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of 60 ft (18 m), gross [[tonnage]] of 8.922 tons, single [[Propeller|prop]] reaching a speed of 17 [[knot (speed)|knot]]s. Winter capacity was 35 trucks with an average weight of 10 tons. The SS ''Heraklion'' had its last survey on 29 June 1966. |
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== Sinking == |
== Sinking == |
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Revision as of 14:19, 25 August 2009
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The SS Heraklion was a car ferry that capsized and sank on 8 December 1966 in the Aegean Sea, resulting in the deaths of over 200 people.
Background
SS Heraklion was built as the SS Leicestershire by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in Glasgow in 1949, for the Bibby Line to operate the UK to Burma route. She was chartered to the British India Line for some time to the to supplement its London to East Africa service. In 1964 she was sold to the Aegean Steam Navigation Co to operate under their Typaldos Line, renamed SS Heraklion. Once Typaldos Line took ownership, she was refitted as a passenger/car ferry. The ship had an overall length of 498 ft (152 m), a beam of 60 ft (18 m), gross tonnage of 8.922 tons, single prop reaching a speed of 17 knots. Winter capacity was 35 trucks with an average weight of 10 tons. The SS Heraklion had its last survey on 29 June 1966.
Sinking
On the night of 7 December 1966 the SS Heraklion sailed from the port of Souda - in the city of Chania - to Piraeus in Athens. This route crosses relatively sheltered waters but seas can be surprisingly rough, especially during winter. Halfway through the approximately 100 mile voyage, the ship found herself in poor weather and rough seas. She sank at 2:06am on 8 December 1966, six miles south of Falkonera, a small rocky parcel at 36°52′N 24°8′E / 36.867°N 24.133°E.
The most probable cause for the sinking was determined to be an unsecured refrigerator truck in the garage area repeatedly hitting the midship loading doors, before plummeting into the sea where it was found floating the next morning. The damaged loading door provided an entry point for the sea water, and the ship capsized.
Aftermath
Only 47 of those on board were rescued since most passengers and crew were trapped in their quarters. Officially there were 191 passengers and 73 crew on board, but the exact number is unknown, since at the time it was customary to board the ship without a ticket, which would be issued upon sailing.
The Greek government's investigation found the Typaldos Line guilty of negligence for several reasons; there was no drill for abandoning ship, there was a delay in sending a distress call and there was no organization of rescue work by the ship's officers. The company was also charged with manslaughter and faking documents. Haralamos Typaldos, the owner of the company and Panssyotis Kokkinos, the general manager were both sentenced to jail in 1968. It was also found that twelve of the company's fifteen ships failed inspection under international law. The company's ships were taken over and sold, except two SS Hellas and SS Athinai who attracted no buyers, subsequently laid up for 20 years and broken up.
In the 1990s a sculpture known as "The Monument of the Hand" was erected near the harbour in Chania to commemorate the victims of the accident.