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Agios Minas: Portnahaven, Islay, Atlantic
Steamship (20th Century)
Site Name Agios Minas: Portnahaven, Islay, Atlantic
Classification Steamship (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Egee; Asimi; Asime; Rhinns Of Islay Lighthouse; Rubha Na Faing; Cill Cleit; North Channel; Agios Minas; Agios Minas (Ex. Egee, Asimi)
Canmore ID 115654
Site Number NR15SE 8011
NGR NR 16695 54574
NGR Description NR c. 166 545
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/115654
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish Maritime - Argyll And Bute
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
NR15SE 8011 c. 166 545
N55 42.1 W6 30.6
NLO: Portnahaven [name: NR 167 522]
Rhinns of Islay [name centred NR 21 57]
Islay [name centred NR 38 60].
Possibly on map sheet NR15NE.
Location formerly entered as NR 1653 5438 [N55 42.1 W6 30.75] and NR c. 16 54 [N55 42 W6 31].
(Location cited as NR 165 546 [N55 42.1 W6 30.8]).
G Ridley 1984.
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 CRUISER was withdrawn on Monday when early refloating attempts failed, as it appeared impossible to pull the freighter free without tearing her bottom.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.
The location assigned to this record is essentially tentative. Rhinns of Islay (Orsay or Oversay) Lighthouse (NR15SE 15) is at NR 16345 51414.
No detailed description of the wreck remains is apparently available.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 8 February 2007.
Loss (8 September 1968)
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.
Evidence Of Loss (1984)
(Location cited as NR 165 546 [N55 42.1 W6 30.8]).
G Ridley 1984.
Note (8 February 2007)
The location assigned to this record is essentially tentative. Rhinns of Islay (Orsay or Oversay) Lighthouse (NR15SE 15) is at NR 16345 51414.
No detailed description of the wreck remains is apparently available.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 8 February 2007.
Reference (2011)
Whittaker ID : 790
Name : AGIOS MINAS (EX. EGEE, ASIMI)
Latitude : 554206
Longitude : 63036
Date Built : 1940
Registration : GREEK
Type : SS (STEEL)
Tonnage : 2677
Tonnage Code : G
Length : 98
Beam : 13
Draught : 5m
Position : Exact Position
Loss Day : 8
Loss Month : 9
Loss Year : 1968
Comment : Stranded 3.5 degs 1.73 miles from Rhinns Lt. (LIBERIAN ?) (2444G ?)
Cargo : TIMBER
Reference (19 April 2012)
UKHO Identifier : 003699
Feature Class : Wreck
Wreck Category : Wreck showing any portion of hull or superstructure
State : LIVE
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 55.70167,-6.51000
Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 55.70159,-6.51094
WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)
Position Method : Compass Bearing and Radar Range
Position Quality : Precisely known
Depth Quality : Depth unknown
Water Depth : 10
Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name : AGIOS MINAS
Type : SS
Flag : GREEK
Length : 98.5
Beam : 13.1
Draught : 5.5
Tonnage : 2766
Tonnage Type : Gross
Cargo : TIMBER
Date Sunk : 08/09/1968
Contact Description : Entire wreck
Original Sensor : Observed Sinking
Original Detection Year : 1968
Original Source : Other
Circumstances of Loss : **STRANDED IN THE NIGHT AND SUBSEQUENT REFLOATING ATTEMPTS FAILED. DECK CARGO & CARGO IN AFTER HOLDS LOST. ABOUT 400TONS TIMBER SALVAGED FROM FORWARD HOLDS. CREW OF 16 RESCUED BY ISLAY LIFEBOAT. PASSAGE ARCHANGEL TO BRISTOL.
Surveying Details : **H453/67 14.10.68 POSN 003.5DEG 1.73M OF RHIRMS OF ISLAY LT. (AUTHORITY NOT NOTED). INS AS ST IN 504206N, 063036W. BR STD.
**20.1.69 HAS BEEN SOLD TO A MR BURT OF ISLAY AND WILL BE BROKEN UP. (LL 10.1.69)
**23.2.96 LIES PARALLEL TO THE SHORE, WELL BROKEN UP, WITH THE STERN SECTION ABOUT 125YDS OFF THE ROCKS. POSN 554206N, 063036W. (SHIPWRECKS OF THE W OF SCOTLAND, B BAIRD).
**H453/67 7.12.73 INS ST ON 3116 (MISSED SCALE). - NM 2445/73.
Chart Symbol : ST
Date Last Amended : 18/12/1978
