Wreck of an old former British freighter with an interesting story behind:
On a beach besides the port of Arrecife, the capital of the Canary island Lanzarote you still find a relict of a ship disaster of 1981.
On Saturday, 31. of october 1981 a strong storm lashed the Canary Islands. The Panama flag, Greek owned vessel Telamon passed at that day on a voyage from San-Pedro, Ivory Coast to Thessanoliki, Greece, the strait of Bocaina with a cargo of huge wooden logs. Due to heavy seas the vessel encountered a major leak in her hull. The freighter called the port to Los Marmoles, Arrecife, to request permission for emergency assistance to avoid a breaking in two and safe the 29 crew members. The answer of the port authorities to the captain of the Telamon, Manuele Avtigromm, was, that they sent a tuna boat to the vessel, to tow her to a beach near Arrecife, not into the the port of los Mármoles. They feared, that the vessel was sinking in the port and would block the port entrance. For that the vessel was beached in the bight at Las Caletas between Costa Teguise and Arrecife, at position ♁28° 58′ 38″ N, 13° 31′ 24″ W. All 29 crewmembers, mainly Greek people, but as well men from Ghana, Mali and Ivory Coast could been safed. 2 days later the owner of Telamon, Mr. Ninnos, travelled to Lanzarote to examine the dammage. Besides the logs, which easily could be brought to the beach, 260 tons of crude oil and 60 tons of diesel had to be removed. This was done by a small vessel of Compañía Española de Petróleos – CEPSA without any incident and pollution of the area. The owner K. Mitsotakis & Sons finally abandonned the vessel but another company was interested to repair the Telamon and bring her into service again. As they realized the costs of salvage and repair of over 100 million Pesetas, they gave up as well.
A later storm placed her on her actual postition and broke her in two. This must be happened after november 1982, as I found a photo with complete grounded vessel in the net from that date. Later squatters entered the wreck to live there for a while, but soon gave up as it was not too comfortable. In 1996 the foremast was still visible, but now only the superstructure and the back has been left. Since then the vessel ist lying in that bight as attraction for tourists, divers and lots of fishes.
Telamon was launched by Caledon Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. Dundee as yard No. 489 on 24.09.1953. She entered service in february 1954 as Temple Hall by the British company Lambert Bros. Ltd. London.
The vessel, IMO 5354896, has a gross tonnage of 8003 with deadweight of 10.405 tons. Her length overall measures 139,6 m with a beam of 17,9 m. With her diesel engine she could reach as speed of 12,5 knots.
In 1969 she was sold tot he Greek company Demetrios P. Margaronis (Victoria Steamship Co. Ltd. London) and renamed Pantelis. One year later the Panama flag Company Cia. Nav. Para Vijas Sud Amerika S.A took over the vessel, but the Greek flag remained. In 1977 she got her final name and was now owned by Telamon Maritime Co S.A , Panama, still with Greek flag.
Interesting story about the cargo oft he vessel. From part of the logs, which where rotting on the beach for years, the Canarian town planner María Pérez Sánchez formed a sculpture, wich is now standing in the middle of a roundabout in the small village Costa Teguise nearby since june 24, 2009. The name oft he sculpture is „La Hoguera de San Juan“ (fire of St. John’s day). This is a poular festival for midsummer.
In the internet I read, that the wreck should be removed in early 2016, and a contract for scrapping her has been already signed. But on december 29, 2016 I was still able to take that photo. So take your chance to have a look on this relic of a real conventional freighter, maybe she disappears finally.