MS Athina B

Last updated

Athina B.jpg
History
Flag of Japan.svg Japan
NameMS Kojima Maru
BuilderUjina, Hiroshima
Yard number479
Launched1968
CompletedMarch 1968
Renamed
  • MS Hung Wei (1973)
  • MS Nina Pa (1976)
  • MS Athina B (1979 – reflagged)
Identification IMO number:  6818148
Flag of Greece.svg Greece
NameMS Athina B
Out of service21 January 1980
Homeport Piraeus
Identification IMO number:  6818148
FateScrapped February 1980
General characteristics
Tonnage3,468 tons
Length89.7 m (294 ft 3 in)
Beam12.8 m (42 ft 0 in)
Speed12 knots

The Athina B was a merchant ship. On 21 January 1980 she suffered engine failure in bad weather and beached at the English seaside resort of Brighton, to the east of the town's Palace Pier. The ship was a temporary tourist attraction, with the Volk's Electric Railway opening out of season to serve the large number of sightseers. [1] The anchor of the ship is on display on Brighton seafront. [2] [3] A restaurant in Brighton bears the name of the ship [4] and a painting of Athena B by Dennis Roxby Bott is in Brighton Museum. [5]

Contents

Career

Built as the Kojima Maru at Hiroshima in 1968, she initially sailed under the Japanese flag. She was renamed Hung Wei in 1973 and Nina Pa in 1976, before being sold and renamed the Athina B in 1979, sailing under the Greek flag. [6]

Final voyage

The Athina B left the Azores on 11 December 1979 laden with 3,000 tonnes of pumice. Her destination was the port at Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex. During the voyage, she had problems with her generator, gyro compass and radar, and put in at La Rochelle in France for repairs. On arrival at Shoreham on 20 January, force seven or eight winds meant she was unable to enter harbour. Her engines failed, and a Mayday call was issued. The Shoreham lifeboat Dorothy and Philip Constance took off half the crew and the captain's family, with the rest being rescued on the morning of 21 January. Four missions were needed to rescue all those on board. The ship drifted eastwards and eventually ran aground to the east of the Palace Pier. The ship broke her back and was declared a write-off. [2] [7] [8]

Awards

Coxwain Ken Voice was awarded a RNLI Silver Medal; Crew members Ken Everard, Michael Fox, Peter Huxtable, John Landale, Jack Silverson and Geoff Tugwell were awarded the RNLI's Thanks of the Institution on Vellum; Crew members Peter Everard and Derek Silverson received letters of thanks signed by the director of the RNLI for their part in the rescue of the crew of the Athina B. [8]

Salvage

The ship remained on the beach for a month, guarded by the police to prevent looting. After a mobile crane was used to remove the cargo, she was refloated and towed to a scrapyard at Rainham, Kent on 21 February 1980, where she was scrapped. [2] [6] [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal National Lifeboat Institution</span> Rescue charity operating in Britain and Ireland

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the largest of the lifeboat services operating around the coasts of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, as well as on some inland waterways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southport and St Anne's lifeboats disaster</span>

The Southport and St Anne's lifeboats disaster, commonly known as the Mexico disaster after the ship involved, occurred on the evening of the 9th December 1886. In all, 27 lifeboat men lost their lives trying to save the crew of the ship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Padstow Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat Station is based at Trevose Head west of Padstow

Padstow Lifeboat Station has been at Trevose Head west of Padstow, Cornwall, since 1967. Before that it was at Hawker's Cove on the Camel estuary between the town and the sea. The lifeboat station is run by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), and since 2006 has been the base for Tamar-class RNLB Spirit of Padstow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walmer Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station on the East coast of England in the UK

Walmer Lifeboat Station is located on The Strand on Walmer promenade, in the county of Kent.

Over the years, a number of ships have foundered off Southport. For the purposes of this article, the Southport area shall be considered as Southwards from Lytham St Annes to Freshfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torbay Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Devon, England

Torbay Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Brixham, Devon in England. Brixham Lifeboat Station was opened in 1866 but since 1924 has been known as 'Torbay'. Since 2005 it has operated a Severn-class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) together with a D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat (ILB).

RNLB <i>Foresters Centenary</i> (ON 786) Ship

RNLB Foresters Centenary is a retired Liverpool-class lifeboat of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), stationed in the English coastal town of Sheringham in the county of Norfolk in the United Kingdom. The lifeboat was on station for 25 years between 1936 and 1961 when she was sold. She has been restored to her original condition and is exhibited in Sheringham Museum.

RNLB <i>Cecil Paine</i> (ON 850)

RNLB Cecil Paine is a retired Liverpool-class non-self-righting lifeboat of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. It was the second motor lifeboat to be stationed in the English coastal town of Wells-next-the-Sea in the county of Norfolk in the United Kingdom, and was on station at Wells from 25 July 1945 until she was sold in June 1965.

Henry Ramey Upcher Historic lifeboat in Norfolk

Henry Ramey Upcher was the second private lifeboat to be stationed in the English town of Sheringham in the county of Norfolk. She was launched on 4 September 1894 and stayed on station for 41 years until she was slowly retired from duty and by 1935 had ceased rescue work completely. The lifeboat is now on permanent display in her converted original boat shed.

RNLB <i>Freddie Cooper</i> (ON 1193)

RNLB Freddie Cooper is the current all-weather lifeboat on station in the town of Aldeburgh in the English county of Suffolk. The Freddie Cooper has the operation No: 12-34 and has been on station since 1993. She is a Mersey-class fast carriage lifeboat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margate Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Kent, England

Margate Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located in Margate in the English county of Kent. The station is over 160 years old. Its crews have earned a number of gallantry awards, including five silver and 1 bronze RNLI medals for bravery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walton and Frinton Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Essex, England

Walton and Frinton Lifeboat Station is an RNLI station located in the town of Walton-on-the-Naze in the English county of Essex.

RNLB <i>Emma Constance</i> (ON 693)

RNLB Emma Constance was a Barnett-class lifeboat stationed at Aberdeen Lifeboat Station, in the Scottish city of Aberdeen from 1927 until August 1951. The lifeboat was designed by James R. Barnett who was a consulting naval architect to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skegness Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Lincolnshire, England

Skegness Lifeboat Station is a lifeboat station located in the town of Skegness, Lincolnshire, England, operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). The station is located on the seafront of the south-east coast, north of the Wash and south of the Humber Estuary. This area of the British coastline is characterised by many shoals and constantly changing sandbanks, many of which lie between the town and the East Dudgeon Lightship. The building dates from 1990 and was the first in the British Isles constructed especially for a Mersey-class lifeboat. The boathouse also accommodates an Inshore Lifeboat and a souvenir shop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shoreham Harbour Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in West Sussex, England

Shoreham Harbour Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located in the town of Shoreham-by-Sea in the English county of West Sussex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastbourne Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in East Sussex, England

Eastbourne Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station in the town of Eastbourne in East Sussex. Founded two years before the RNLI was established, the station has operated continuously since 1822 and its lifeboats have been responsible for saving over 700 lives. There are two active lifeboat stations in Eastbourne, an all-weather station with the Trent-class 14-02 Esme Anderson at Sovereign Harbour and the D-class (IB1) The David H (D-876) at the inshore lifeboat station a couple of miles to the west at Fisherman's Green. An older lifeboat station, west of Eastbourne Pier, is now used as an RNLI museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in East Sussex, England

Brighton Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located in Brighton in the English county of East Sussex in the United Kingdom. It was originally established in 1825 as an all-weather lifeboat station. This lifeboat was withdrawn in 1931, and the station now operates as an inshore lifeboat station. As of 2012, the current lifeboat is the B-class Random Harvest (B-852).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitby Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in North Yorkshire, England

Whitby Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station located in Whitby, North Yorkshire, England. It is one of nine situated along the Yorkshire coast. Whitby has had a lifeboat station since 1802, with the RNLI responsible since 1861. In its 200 plus year history, Whitby has had five different lifeboat stations. A sixth lifeboat and station was located at Upgang, just up the coast from Whitby, and whilst it was considered separate from Whitby, it was crewed by men from the Whitby lifeboat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redcar Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in North Yorkshire, England

Redcar Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station based in the town of Redcar in North Yorkshire, England. The station is the furthest north in Yorkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bude Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Bude, United Kingdom

Bude Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Bude, Cornwall in the United Kingdom. It operates a D-class (IB1) lifeboats, which since 2012 has been the George Bird (D-756).

References