MS Zenobia

MS Zenobia‏‎ was a Swedish built Roll-on/roll-off ferry launched in 1979 and operated by Rederi AB Nordö. On her maiden voyage, she capsized and sank in the Mediterranean Sea, close to Larnaca, Cyprus, in June 1980, due to a problem with the ballast tanks. Today, the wreck of MS Zenobia is a popular site for scuba diving.

Construction and design

MS Zenobia was built by Kockums in Malmö, Sweden, for Rederi AB Nordö. The ferry was designed as a roll-on/roll-off ferry, with facilities to carry 104 trailers and 46 passengers. The ship was powered by two Pielstick 12-cylinder diesel engines, which could propel the ship at a speed of 21.5 knots.

Maiden voyage and sinking

MS Zenobia left Malmö for her maiden voyage in May 1980, bound for Syria. During the voyage, problems were encountered with the ballast tanks. Despite repairs in Crete, the problems persisted and on 2 June 1980, the ship began listing to port. On 7 June, the ship capsized and sank in Larnaca Bay. There were no casualties.

Wreck

The wreck of MS Zenobia lies on her port side in approximately 42 meters of water. The site is popular with scuba divers due to the clear water, the abundance of marine life, and the accessibility of the wreck. Divers can explore the cargo of trucks still chained to the deck, the ship's cafeteria, and the upper deck.

See also

• List of shipwrecks
• Maritime archaeology
• Underwater archaeology