On visiting the Wreck Centre in Charlestown near St Austell there is a photo of an unidentifed cruise liner wrecked off South Africa in 1978. Its back looks broken and it looks burnt out, anyone know the details, name and cause etc
Al
Are you sure it is a liner? The Pantalis A Lemos went aground and broke up in Saldanha Bay in 1978. She was a bulk carrier I think. Put South African shipwrecks into a search engine as I did; it comes up with a few things.
There is one cruise liner wreck that is well known but the wrong timeline is Oceanos...she was lost on Aug 4, 1991 off South Africa.
She's the one where the crew abandoned ship ahead of the passengers. Thankfully everyone did get off in time but it was a close thing and only due to the bravery of the entertainers who took charge of the evacuation.
We have a thread about oceanos on our sister site, The Cruising Forum. It includes photo's taken from her decks as she sank. Moss Hills, one of the entertainers has built a site which we have linked on TCF and he would like passengers and crew who may recognise themselves to contact him...
What did this ship look like 'IN THE PHOTO' you say its back looks broken, is there two parts in the photo, If it is the 'PANTELIS A. LEMOS' it would just be one piece,But that ship is not a liner!,'cueball44'(Thumb) PS did you view this photo in 1978, or did it say on the photo that it was wrecked in 1978?
It is in one piece with back broken in the middle, the funnel is raked back. The hull is a dark colour with white superstructure..It says " Unidentified cruise liner South Africa 1978"
Not ringing any bells here either! I don't recall any liners wrecking back then. We had small tankers Romelia and Antipolis in '77 and their accom & funnel were situated well aft.
This vessel's aft part is skewed in a similar manner to America Star. However this wrecks wheelhouse appears missing as if destroyed by fire? America Star had twin derrick posts forward which remained on the wreck for a long time. They are missing in this wreck.
The name of this ship is 'BRITANIS', Built as the 'MONTEREY' for the 'MATSON LINE', She was also operated as the 'LURLINE&MATSONIA', Before being sold to 'CHANDRILS' And operated as 'BRITANIS', After being laid up in 'TAMPA' For a number of years, She sank on the way to the scrappers off the South Africa Coast, She was similar to the 'SS AMERICAN STAR(POP)'CUEBALL44'.
This does'nt look at all like the American Star, having followed its destruction at the time. This ship looks a lot younger and appears a bit wider also the funnel is totally different to that ship
The 'ISA DE LOS ESTADOS' Was to small to be the ship in the photo,At only 3,900 tons, And anyway that ship was sunk,(egg)'cueball44'.PS and its not the 'BAHIA BUEN SUCESCO' either.
I reckon, from the photo posted by isleofthanet, that this is the Antilles. Note how the funnel has collapsed aft, as did the funnel of the Antilles. There are several photos of her in the Maritime Casualties Gallery on this site, before and after she broke her back, e.g. http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/126377/title/antilles-fire/cat/523
Only, Antilles grounded and caught fire off Mustique in 1971, not South Africa in 1978. Apart from that, the Wreck Centre's caption would be correct!!
I have just had a look at the pics of the 'ANTILLES' and it looks right, I have been on all the liner sites, round and round in circles, I knew i had seen this pic before, But it was the date and place that was confusing me.(Read)'cueball44'
I've seen this picture before, but unfortunately can't recall the ship's name. However, I agree that this is likely to be the ANTILLES. Minor complication: the ANTILLES had a white hull...
She ( may have been ) built with a black hull- sister Flandres was. The photo linked to previously shows her on fire with a white hull but the paint is blistering off. I think the effect of the fire and the passage of time have removed most signs of the white.... http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/165275/title/antilles/cat/523
She ( may have been ) built with a black hull- sister Flandres was. The photo linked to previously shows her on fire with a white hull but the paint is blistering off. I think the effect of the fire and the passage of time have removed most signs of the white.... https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/165275/title/antilles/cat/523
I do hope our searches have answered all your questions regarding the 'Unidentified cruise liner' Wrecked off the coast of ?, 'cueball44'(Smoke).
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Ships Nostalgia
1.1M posts
124.8K members
Since 2004
A forum community dedicated to Ships, boats, and vessel owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about crew logs, maritime history, shipping lines, shipwrecks, cruise ships, weather, and more!