Million Hope - Sunk for a decade
Posted By Mark Jones on 24 July 2006
The Million Hope was a phosphate carrier that sank in 1996 when it stuck the Sinai shore just north of the famous reef system of Gordon, Thomas, Woodhouse & Jackson, in the Straits of Tiran. Shortly after sailing from Aqaba in Jordan, the Million Hope hit the fringing reef plate in the narrow part of the Enterprise Passage, by Nabq, and promptly sank in the shallows, spilling its phosphates. The cause of the accident was an uncontrollable fire that quickly raced through the ship causing it to lose control. The carrier finally came to rest less than 5ms from the shoreline reef and at just 24m deep, leaving a large amount of the ship's superstructure still visible above the waves.
The ship can easily be seen from the moorings at Jackson reef on a clear day and is often remarked upon by the visiting divers. The wreck itself is not often dived as the area where it rests prohibits it from regular diving. The site is on the point where the straits open up and without the shelter of the coastline it is often the recipient of rough sea, high swells and strong currents. Additionally, its proximity to the shore makes it quite hazardous to dive as the currents can whip along the narrow passageways tossing the unwary diver both against the fragile reef and the razor sharp wreckage.
- Bookmark with :
- what are these?
