MV Panagia Tinou
ex Agios Georgios, Panagia Ekatontapylian, Express Artemis, Panagia Ekatontapyliani, Apollo Express 2, Romilda, Stena Hengist, Hengist
© Fotoflite
Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 1972 at the Arsenal de Brest , (Yard No. CF 1), for the British Railways Board as a Passenger/Car ferry.
Technical Data
- Length: 118.09m (387.3 ft) (overall), 110.19m (361.5 ft) (between perpendiculars)
- Breadth of Hull: 19.84m (65 ft) (extreme), 19.20m (63.2 ft (moulded)
- Depth: 11.23m (36.8 ft)(moulded)
- Draft: 4.117m (mean loaded)
- Tonnage: 5,590 gross, 2,008 net, 1,030 (deadweight)
- Engines: two 16-cylinder Pielstick PC2V400 four-stroke single-acting diesels
- Power: 11,030 kW/15,000 s.h.p. @465 r.p.m.
- Speed: 19.5 knots
- Cabins: 24
- Capacity: 1,400 passengers and 256 cars (or 38 lorries and 80 cars)
- Call Sign: GQAU, SWXF
- IMO Number: 7205063
- Official Number: 343206
- Registry: London/UK 🇬🇧, Piraeus/Greece 🇬🇷
- Sister Ships: Horsa (CF 2), Senlac (CF 3)
History
The first of a trio of ships built in 1972 specifically for the short sea routes and, at the time, the only ferries to have ever been built in a French Navy dockyard
Nigel Thornton Collection (all)
Courtesy of Jim Ashby
October 1970: Ordered.
April 29th 1972: Launched and christened by Mrs Eileen Posner, wife of Sealink’s General Manager.
June 6th 1972: Delivered to Sealink British Rail, London, England.
June 7th 1972: Arrived at Newhaven, en-route from Brest, for three hours of trials, before continuing up the Channel.
© Derek Longly
June 9th 1972: Arrived at Dover.
© A G Jones (Maiden Arrival @ Dover, 09/06/1972)
June 16th 1972: Firstly introduced between Folkestone – Boulogne. Then served between Folkestone – Calais, Folkestone – Ostend, Dover – Boulogne.
June 19th 1972: First sailing (passenger only) Folkestone – Boulogne
Courtesy of Jim Ashby (Left) Courtesy of Simonwp (Right)
July 1st 1972: First sailing (multi-purpose) Folkestone – Ostend
July 1st 1972: First sailing (multi-purpose) Folkestone – Boulogne)
Nigel Thornton Collection
January 10th 1980: Under the command of Capt. Womar, was in collision with the vehicle carrier CANABAL off Calais. HENGIST which had initially stopped engines was going astern with port side bow-thruster also in action. Minor damage was caused to both vessels.
Nigel Thornton Collection
April 3rd 1983: Suffered a small fire in her engine room workshop. Suffered extensive damage to the wiring and the ship was escorted into Dover, Camber berth by DHB tugs DOMINANT and DILIGENT. Withdrawn for repairs.
British Railways Board
April 16th 1983: Left her berth, but more problems made her miss her scheduled sailings that day.
© Ken Larwood
July 18th 1984: Sale of Sealink U.K. to Sea Containers Ltd, Bermuda. Company changed name to Sealink British Ferries U.K. In readiness for privatisation, on their reappearance from overhaul, units of the Sealink U.K. Ltd fleet all appeared without the B.R. double arrow on their funnels. Four ships initially appeared with the all-white livery and blue funnels. From that time the company would trade as Sealink British Ferries and a subsidiary company British Ferries was set up for Channel Island operations.
© Fotoflite (Left) and © Michael Woodland (Right)
© Ken Larwood
Courtesy of Jim Ashby
Matt Murtland Collection
© Frank Heine (Boulogne 02/08/1984) (Left) 🆕 © Simonwp (Folkestone, September 1984) (Right)
October 1984: Operated, for a short time, between Fishguard – Rosslare.
1985 (winter): Received £1 million refit. The ship’s after docking bridge was removed during this period.
Hengist – © Sealink Heritage
October 1985: Operated, for a short time, between Fishguard – Rosslare, before returning to Folkestone.
January 3rd 1986 – January 14th 1986: Refit at Swan Hunter at Hebburn.
Courtesy of Michael Woodland
April 24th 1987: Three French fishermen were drowned when their vessel sank after hitting HENGIST at Boulogne. She was swinging inside Boulogne Harbour and under shore control when struck by the 65 ft trawler which sank almost immediately. The ferry suffered only superficial damage and was later able to continue her crossing to Folkestone, arriving some five hours late.
October 16th 1987: Hurricane gusts struck the vessel whilst she was alongside at Folkestone. With lines constantly snapping she was forced to put to sea where she was hit by a wave of such force that falling machinery caused alternator damage, after which all electrical power in the ship was lost. The SW winds, blowing to hurricane force, drove the stricken vessel onto the Warren (beach between Dover and Folkestone) where she was impaled by a knuckle of the concrete sea wall.
© Dennis Hopkins
© Laurie Yeakes
Nigel Thornton Collection
© Ken Larwood
© A G Jones (Left) and ©🆕 Fotoflite (Courtesy of Nigel Scutt) (Dover 23/10/1987)
© Simonwp (Hull, May 1985)(Left) Seaman (Immingham, 16/04/1986)(Right)
© Laurie Yeakes (Folkestone)
October 22nd 1987: Rescued from the beach by United Towing tug SALVAGEMAN with SEAMAN in attendance. Towed stern first to Dover.
© Mike Sartin (both)
October 27th 1987: Taken in tow to Tilbury for dry-docking and inspection, then towed, by the LADY MOIRA (Humber Tugs), to the Humber for repairs.
January 15th 1988: Returned to service between Folkestone – Boulogne.
Nigel Thornton Collection (@ Chatham)
1989: Refit at Bremerhaven.
© Frank Heine (Bremerhaven, 13/01/1989)
April 1990: Sold to Stena Line, Ab, Göteborg. (Registered to Stena Equipment Ltd. London) Registered and commenced service for Sealink Stena Line.
1991: Stena full takeover of Sealink U.K. Ltd for a sum believed to be in the region of £259 million. The fleets livery was changed to reflect the fact.
January 1st 1991: Renamed STENA HENGIST.
Nigel Thornton Collection (Left) and © Fotoflite (Right)
© Aubrey Dale (Folkestone 01/06/1991)
© Ken Larwood
December 24th 1991: Final day operating Folkestone – Boulogne service.
© Ted Ingham
December 28th 1991: Left Folkestone for the “Final Time” sailed to Birkenhead.
© John Hendy (Folkestone, 28/12/1991)
December 30th 1991 – January 6th 1992: Refit at Birkenhead.
January 9th 1992: Commenced service between Holyhead – Dun Laoghaire.
© Fotoflite (Left) and © Aubrey Dale (Right)
1992 – March 14th 1992: Operated between Stranraer – Larne.
© Aubrey Dale (Larne 23/01/1992) (Left) and (Larne 10/03/1992) (Right)
March 18th 1992: Sold to Flanmare Shipping Inc, Piraeus, Greece. Renamed ROMILDA. Departed Holyhead for Piraeus.
Courtesy of Antonis Lazaris, Maritime Magazine “ARGO” (May 2001).
1992: Commenced operations for GA Ferries.
© Ken Larwood
April 1993: Sold to Ventouris Sea Lines, Piraeus, Greece. Renamed APOLLO EXPRESS 2.
© Bernd Crause (Piraeus 15/07/1994)(Left) and © Frank Heine (Right)
October 1995: Economic problems forced her owners to lay her up in Piraeus.
September 1996: Sold to Milos Naftiki Eteria, Piraeus, Greece.
October 1996: Introduced by Agapitos Lines. Renamed PANAGIA EKATONTAPILIANI. Operating between Piraeus – Paros – Naxos – Ios – Santorini.
Postcard, Nigel Thornton Collection (Left) and © Ton Grootenboer (Right)
November 18th 1999: Sold to Minoan Flying Dolphins, Piraeus, Greece. Renamed EXPRESS ARTEMIS. Began operations for Hellas Ferries
© Ton Grootenboer
June 2001: Renamed PANAGIA EKATONTAPILIANI. She then suffered extreme engine problems and was laid up.
© Ton Grootenboer
© Andreas Wörteler
February 2004: Sold to Vaggelis Ventouris, Piraeus, Greece (Ventouris Sea Lines).
2004: Renamed AGIOS GEORGIOS.
2004: Commenced service between Rafina – Paros – Naxos – Santorini.
October 2004: Operated between Piraeus – Paros – Naxos – Santorini.
© Andreas Wörteler
July 11th 2006: Developed engine trouble while sailing in the region off the islet of Agios Georgios in the Saronic Gulf. The ship, carrying 347 passengers, was reported facing difficulties with its starboard engine. She was heading for the islands of Kithnos, Serifos, Sifnos, Milos and Kimolos, and was ordered to return to the port of Piraeus from which it had sailed early in the afternoon.
July 15th 2006: Returned to service.
© Aleksi Lindström
2009: Major refit with the addition of eight square windows on the sides forward of the enclosed promenade.
© John Wilson
© Frans Truyens (Piraeus 2012) (Left) (Piraeus 13/06/2014)(Right)
July 2014: Still in service as at 20/06/2014.
January 2015: Renamed PANAGIA TINOU for 2015 and rumoured to be sailing between Rafina, Andros, Tinos and Mykonos .
© George Koutsoukis (Piraeus, 16/01/2015)
April 26th 2016: “Shortly after 11:15 am Tuesday informed the Coast Guard that the ship “Panagia Tinou” has tilted from the right side and sunk in the port of Piraeus. The ship is tied to the pier E4 has high water inflow, and this currently located in the space of two harbour tugs. The vessel belonged to Ventouris Sea Lines and was arrested due to financial problems. “.
© Petros Psarras
April 27th 2016: Various rumours circulate that she has been “righted”and hole/s in her hull sealed. However, media reports state ““There was no progress on this matter during the night. A decision will be reached today about the vessels condition and it is expected engineers will restore the vessel, which will then be subsequently pumped out and be towed.”
(Update 17.00 hrs 27/04/2016: “Waterlogged and remaining in situ, with private divers searching for the point of inflow of water………… They intend to identify the exact point in order that it be sealed to start the business of water pumping.”)
February 8th 2017: Work continues in an attempt to re-float her
© George Gbidis (08/02/2017)
© George Gbidis (09/02/2017)
February 12th 2017: Now righted and re-floated. Information suggests that it will be a matter of weeks before she is towed away and scrapped.
© Petros Psarras
© Dimitris Mentakis (23/02/2017)
March 21st 2017: Left Piraeus , under tow from tug PANTOKRATOR, for her last trip to Aliaga,Turkey
© George Gbidis & © Dennis Mortimer (as noted)
March 23rd 2017: Beached at Aliaga.
© Selim San
Hengist
Salvageman
All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions found. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Bernd Crause, Aubrey Dale, Fotoflite, George Gbidis, Ton Grootenboer, Frank Heine, Dennis Hopkins, Ted Ingham, A G Jones, George Koutsoukis, Ken Larwood, Aleksi Lindström, Derek Longly, Dimitris Mentakis, Dennis Mortimer, Matt Murtland, Petros Psarras, Mike Sartin, Nigel Scutt (Dover.Marina.com), Sealink Heritage, Simonwp, Frans Truyens, John Wilson, Michael Woodland, Andreas Wörteler and Laurie Yeakes.
Special thanks go to Jim Ashby, Terry Conybeare, John Hendy, Selim San and Jane Spall for their assistance in compiling this feature.
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
Still on her Pireas, Serifos, Apollonia and surrounding islands itinerary. Not bad for a 41-year old ferry.
Seems to be on a Pireas, Cythera, Antikythera Kissamos (north west Crete) service.
Hopefully someone will take over Horsa/Penelope A
October 23 2015. Heard from a reliable source that both Hengist (at end of season) & Horsa, ( laid up at Rafina) have now been sold for scrap
Any further info???
According to Marine Traffic, she has not moved since 14th March, having previously been on a Piraeus-Crete route. Horsa was towed to Elefsis from Rafina many months ago.
Hengist (as Pinagia Tinu of Ventoris Lines) was photo’ed at Pireaus on 7 Sept at Piraeus – seemingly in service?
Former Hengist, now Panagia Tinou, as of 30/12/2015 rests abandoned at the central part of the port of Piraeus, alongside the active ferries at the Piraeus – Crete and Piraeus – Kithera routes. The ship is totally deserted, and have been reports of looting of her furniture and fittings during the previous months. Meanwhile, she is receiving absolutely no maintenance, and her (during the final years of her service) permanent list to the right seems gradually increasing. The vessel’s owner has claimed inability to pay the seamens’ wages and to generally operate the vessel, and she has been confiscated by the greek state. Generally speaking, her future doesn’t seem bright, and the greek state bureaucracy regarding these cases has proved that the ships rest on the spot where they were confiscated for years, before leaving towed for the nearest breaking yard.
She has been righted and the holes sealed
The Greek Shipfriends website had said that she was subject to a crew sit-in for a year over wages owed. That website went off-line a few days ago
That’s right, unfortunately I wasn’t proved wrong. However it has to be noted that the increasing of her list wasn’t gradual, something extreme happened this morning and the vessel listed so much that water entered from the open stern ramp, listed even more and eventually settled uptight on the port’s bottom. She is now submerged to the first passenger deck. The only way from now on is the breakyard. A sad end to a ship loved both at the Channel and in Greece.
Sad end indeed.
I joined her when she was a few days into her Sealink career, before she operated as a car ferry (the Folkestone terminal wasn’t quite ready) working as a seasonal steward during my summer university vacation and worked on her and Horsa (Penelope A) in subsequent years. I went on board Horsa the day that she was delivered for comparison – Horsa had a more colourful interior. I subsequently travelled on them many time to Boulogne, Calais or Ostend as a passenger. I also visited her on the Warren beach after she was driven ashore in the 1987 ‘Great Storm’
http://en.protothema.gr/drone-footage-from-ship-sinking-in-piraeus-port-video/
Shows a drone video of how she is after getting her a little more upright, but still the water is up to the main cardeck on the port side and pretty much the upper cardeck deckhead on the starboard side.
Very sad to see. I know my grandad would turn in his grave if he was to see that having been the ships Chief Engineer for many years.
So so sad to see. My Father was a Captain when she was known as The Hengist for many years between Folkestone and Boulogne. He turns 88 tomorrow and is saddened she has fallen like this. I have so many happy and fond memories of her. A very sad day indeed.
Sad to see. Went around her several times when I was young. My Grandad was dock foreman in Folkestone and the Captain and crew would take me round the ships in port. Although I was young I have many memories. Sad to her like this.
remember your grandfather well from when i first started as a messenger boy at Folkestone in 1977.
Built as “The Hengist” I was part of the original crew, sent down to pick her up from Brest when she was completed. we sailed to Newhaven and then as part of her maiden voyage we sailed to several BR/Sealink ports around the UK, with her dressed overall. I recall several parties for dignitaries as we arrived at each port, it was great fun.
This is such a sad end for the Hengist. I well remember travelling on her from Folkestone and Dover. As former shore staff at Dover East I recall she basically started the freight revolution when BR Sealink took a risk in 1975 or 76 and ran her at midnight freight run and back to Calais. By end of week she was going out full! (I sent all the telexes ( before Email) to get freight firms/agents to use service) .
Remember also that she; along with the Normannia and Compiegne; ran the short lived Dover East to then new Dunkerque West port summer service. (on one occasion she had to leave early from DKK, blasting out ‘Rule Britannia,’ to nudge past arriving French fishing vessels intent on blockade during strike.
I guess once refloated, she’ll be only fit for towing to scrappage. Followed soon enough by the Horsa (at Elefsis)
master of the ship at the time but her full astern out of calais fishing boats soon moved out of his way .
From shipfriends.gr with Google Translate
Posted 05 May 2016 – 09:52
Tender for the removal of the vessel “Panagia Tinou”
Quote
The tendering procedure for the sale, sale and removal of the partly submerged vessel “Panagia Tinou” from the pier E4 gateway to the port of Piraeus is expected to approve Saturday during the meeting, the board of the PPA.
In view of BG PPA, temporarily halted work on the removal of the ship.
According to PPA members, the “Virgin Mary” is considered dangerous for maritime safety and public interest require the immediate removal at the lowest possible cost.
As reported by the same staff, the Agency from the first time the ship showed a slope of 40 degrees, took the necessary environmental measures and work is due to the urgency of the case had originally been assigned to a private company proceeded to seal and seal the catapult board .
Executives of companies specialized in wrecks, speaking to ANA-MPA reported that the estimated cost for the removal of the “Virgin Mary” is particularly high and may exceed its value.
The business of water pumping from the interior of the ship is expected to launch the new company which will undertake the project in the coming days, the deposit and the relevant permits in the central Piraeus port authority.
The “Virgin Mary” was laid up for some time in the port of Piraeus, as well as NAT had gone to seizure for debt.
According to estimates, based on the ship’s plans, the “Virgin Mary” is filled on one side with 25,000 tons of water.
Around the ship loaded antifouling barrier while until now it has not seen water pollution.
I have just come across this video:
http://www.marinews.com.gr/panagia-tinou-video-of-the-ship-from-the-seabed/
She looks to be lower in the water on the port side so, probably more level but sitting on the bottom still. I am not sure what the newish looking wooden disk is, does this cover the leak?
EDIT LINK
http://www.marinews.eu/panagia-tinou-video-of-the-ship-from-the-seabed/
The Greek shipfriends website is up again. Thanks to Google Translate (although still a bit quirky!)
Piraeus Port Organization on June 14, with a starting price of 360,000 euro proceeded in an open bidding procedure for the sale, sale and removal of shipwreck from the port of Piraeus, but proved fruitless, as no one appeared interested. According to information from the ANA-MPA, the issue of the wreck management will assume the newly created Public Ports Authority to implement what is provided in Law 2881/01 “Regulation of issues salvage shipwrecks and other provisions” and expected a decision by the Governing Board of the PPA. Around the “Virgin Mary” remains the antifouling barrier while it is not possible to access the area, PPA has placed railings. Executives of companies dealing with elevations shipwrecks pointed to ANA-MPA that the estimated cost for the management and removal of the ship, likely to touch 800,000 euros while both stays where not impossible to get and additional heel due to the wave generated by the propellers other ships.
http://www.dikaiologitika.gr
So she still sits on the bottom, nobody is prepared to move her and she seems to be pushed around by shipping movements
i guess no one will reply to this but we live in folkestone kent wear the hengist beached in 1989 we are looking for a ship to hold off the harbour arm off folkestonE to turn into a floting reastrant come casino night club and as the ship has a lot off history in folkestone this could give this boat a new life please get in touch ASAP
Steve,
I have replied to you by email
Rgds
Nigel Thornton
As the Hengist has been sitting on the bottom of Piraeus harbour submerged to the top of its car deck since April, this is probably not a good choice. The former Horsa, a sister of Hengist, is laid up at anchor not far away from Athens and a couple of agents had her for sale a while ago. I’ll post the addresses to the webpages, which are still active, when I get home.
Andrew said:
“she had been semi submerged in Piraeus harbour since April, this was probably not the best idea (€800,000 alone to refloat her plus al the refit and towing costs). I suggested that Horsa/Penelope A could be a better option and promised to post the webpages of the two companies that were trying to sell her. I have tried to post this plus a link to some photos of Hengist taken in July but the message doesn’t get posted. My post is below:
The websites advertising the former Horsa are:
http://www.adriaticandaegeanferries.com/agoudimoslines/pineng.html
and
https://citadelshipping.net/2014/02/20/for-sale-ro-ropassenger-vessel/
A series of photos taken of Hengist/Panagia Tinou in July can be found on
http://hhvferry.com/blog/?s=hengist
I am surprised that other ships moor so close. There are a couple of photos showing the former Viking Viscount alongside as well, nice to see that she is still in use. ”
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Stephen,
Further to your idea of berthing a ship for recreational purposes alongside the newly refurbished Folkestone pier, I would love to see this happen and have thought for a while that the ex Sealink ferry “Horsa” (now “Penelope A”) would be the obvious choice if the funds could be raised to save her from the final journey to the scrapyard. I too live in Folkestone and those ships were part of our town for almost 20 years. Maybe Mr. DeHann and the Folkestone Harbour Company could consider this, although the costs involved would probably be too high. If this were to ever happen, it would be imperative that the ship should be returned to her original BR/Sealink red, white and blue livery. I fear this would be as near unlikely as my other big desire … to see a Concorde returned to flight, but we can dream.
Looking at the Greek Shipfriends website
http://www.shipfriends.gr/forum/topic/5553-%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CE%B7-%CE%BF%CE%B4%CF%8C%CF%82-%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%BF-%CF%80%CE%B5%CF%86%CE%B9%CE%BB%CE%B7%CE%BC%CE%AD%CE%BD%CE%BF-hengist/?page=2#comment-216474
It would appear that the ship should be refloated in the next three weeks and then removed from Piraeus within the next three months, presumably to Aliaga. (Google translate does try but the results are sometimes random!)
https://www.skylinewebcams.com/el/webcam/ellada/atiki/piraeus/piraeus.html
gives a live video feed with her port side to the camera, so you will be able to see when she is moved. Looking at the badly translated comments on the updates to the site in my previous post, there are now 5 pages of comments. Most seem to think that she will be towed to Aliaga although there are several that think she will see further service, even after nearly a year with a submerged car deck. I don’t know if the watertight door to the engine room could have held back water for that long, even if it was shut.
http://www.shipfriends.gr/forum/gallery/image/67724-panagia-tinou/?browse=1 gives the recent images
On
http://www.shipfriends.gr/forum/topic/5553-%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CE%B7-%CE%BF%CE%B4%CF%8C%CF%82-%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%BF-%CF%80%CE%B5%CF%86%CE%B9%CE%BB%CE%B7%CE%BC%CE%AD%CE%BD%CE%BF-hengist/?page=5
there are two time-lapse videos showing her refloating. She went a bit awry on the way up!. Also a photo showing her starboard side after cleaning. The live video feed above shows lights on her at night and often a workboat in the day.
Hi Andrew,
Thank you for the continued updates, greatly appreciated. Antipoluution, the company involved in raising the vessel have also uploaded the videos to Vimeo, they are available at https://vimeo.com/205573235 and https://vimeo.com/205853463
All the best
Ray
End August 2018
Despite the sad demise of the real mv Hengist. A 1/100th scale model of the ferry (parts working apparently) is being donated to FOLKESTONE MUSEUM, in early September 2018. Constructed by a former, now sadly deceased, Chief Engineer, during his retirement; the model has been donated by his wife. The model will eventually be displayed once any restoration that may be required is done.
More details will be forthcoming once model has been received and examined.
http://www.folkestonemuseum.co.uk
will have to check with folkestone museum to see whether this happended ??