Zenobia Shipwreck
Cyprus
At the time of her travels, the Zenobia ferry was thought to be a ‘top of the range’ vessel with several automated systems. However, when she began to list to port, the systems over compensated and she began to list to the starboard side instead. Several times, this was corrected, only to find Zenobia would list to the other side and, nearing the port of Larnaca, Cyprus, the list was too marked to correct.
All computer systems were removed and the crew were taken to shore while Zenobia began to sink in Cyprus waters. A request was made to tow her in to shallower waters but the approval did not arrive in time for the Zenobia and by sunrise on the seventh of June, she lay on the seabed.
The cargo from the Zenobia can still be found on the seabed, scattered around the wreck;chicken eggs, tables, chairs and even... playmobil Toys!
The trucks and trailers can still be explored today, still hanging from chains on the main deck, on the sandy bottom (42m) and in the main and lower lorry decks.
Deep penetration of the wreck requires specialist training, which can be provided by
Scuba Tech Diving Centre, Cyprus
The Zenobia is a roll on-roll off ferry, which sank on her maiden voyage from Malmo,
Sweden, to Syria, on the 7th June 1980.
At the time, she was loaded with one hundred and four fully loaded articulated trucks with trailers and all the cargo sank with this amazing ship. All told, the total value of the lorries and their cargo is said to be as much several hundred million dollars. Since then no salvage has been done and the Zenobia still sits today on the seabed, just off the coast of Cyprus, near Larnaca.
