Loss

Date 8 September 1968

Event ID 587167

Category Documentary Reference

Type Loss

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/587167

Liberian vessel wrecked on rocks off Islay. The Liberian freighter AGIOS MINAS was still stuck fast on rocks off south west Islay yesterday, three days after running aground in poor weather. At 5.00am on Sunday, the 2677 ton vessel came to grief about 2 miles north of Portnahaven. It was very misty at the time. AGIOS MINAS was carrying a 15ft high deck cargo of wood from Archangel on the White Sea to Bristol.

The ship is stuck firmly by the bows and is listing to port. She is believed to be holed in three places. The eight man crew of Islay lifeboat and the Kilchoman lifesaving team stood by all day Sunday as a powerful Clyde tug sped to the rescue. AGIOS MINAS's crew of sixteen - all Greek nationals - were taken off temporarily on Sunday night to await the arrival of the tug CRUISER. On Monday they were again taken off by Islay lifeboat and taken to Port Askaig to await repatriation. CRUISER was withdrawn on Monday when early refloating attempts failed, as it appeared impossible to pull the freighter free without tearing her bottom. Later in the day, AGIOS MINAS was officially declared a wreck, and therefore crown property. Port Charlotte coastguard station took precautions against looting.

Said Captain Antonios Plintznakopolous, whose first command AGIOS MINAS was, 'None of my men were injured, and we decided to abandon ship once the engine and boiler room had filled with water. There was nothing we could do to help save the ship by staying on board'.

Source: Oban Times, 12 September 1968.

(Classified as steel steamship, with cargo of timber: former names cited as Egee and Asimi, and date of loss as 8 September 1968). Agios Minas: this vesse; stranded 3.5 degrees 1.73 miles from Rhinns [of Islay] Light[house]. Liberian? 2444grt?

Registration: Greek. Built 1940. 2677grt. Length: 98m. Beam: 13m.

(Location of loss cited as N55 42.10 W6 30.60).

I G Whittaker 1998.