PELINAION
Photos: Pelinaion courtesy William Schell. Boiler by Alan Marquardt.
Pelinaion's engine by Alan Marquardt.
 The Greek steamer, Pelinaion, was built in 1907 by Russell &
Company, Port Glasgow, for Hill SS. Company, Ltd. and originally
named Hill Glen. She was 385 feet in length, had a 49.9 foot
beam, was powered by 384 n.p.h triple expansion engines and
displaced 4,291 gross tons. In 1914, she was sold and re-named
Doonholm. After serving with a number of British tramp owners,
she was sold in 1927 to G.K. Ktistakis, Chios, Greece, and renamed
K. Ktistakis. In 1939, she was re-named once again the
Pelinaion.
On December 22, 1939, the ship sailed from Takiradi, West Africa,
for Baltimore, Maryland, with a cargo of iron ore. On January
16,1939, under the command of Captain Janis Valikos, while heading
for Bermuda to take on fuel, she was wrecked off David's Head,
Bermuda. Captain Valikos was apparently unaware that St. Davids
Light was out due to the war, and he inaccurately calculated the
position of his ship.
Today, the Pelinaion lies scattered in 65 feet of water. Her
engine stands upright coming to within 10 feet of the surface, and
her bow sits in only 20 feet of water. Mike Burke tells us of a
tunnel like cave that starts on the reef, which allows divers to
swim under the ship's hull and end up in her stern. Divers can see
her deck winches, propeller and anchor while exploring this
magnificent shipwreck.
The information listed
above was taken with permission from the Book:
BERMUDA SHIPWRECKS, ISBN # 0-9616167-4-1
A Vacationing Divers Guide to Bermudas Shipwrecks,
by Dan and Denise Berg, 6x9 softcover,73 pages.
Retail $14.95
From the first quarter of the 16th century, Bermuda became a
landmark for Spanish ships sailing back to Spain from the New World.
The desire to sight Bermuda to confirm their position often ended
their voyage as they wrecked on Bermuda's outer reefs. To this day
Bermuda's treacherous reefs have taken their toll on shipping. The
reefs have claimed vessels ranging from ocean lines to small fishing
boats. Bermuda Shipwrecks is the most comprehensive, accurate,
illustrated collection of information, photographs, sketches and
stories ever written about the legendary wrecks around Bermuda.
Bermuda Shipwrecks includes over 100 illustrations comprised of 61
sensational color photos, 17 rare b&w historical images, 19 stamps,
4 sketches plus one map. Bermuda Shipwrecks contains a wealth of
enlightening information that gives the readers a nostalgic glimpse
into the history and present condition of over 55 of Bermuda's most
popular Shipwrecks. |
