Where Did the Cruise Ship Oceanos Sink?

By Anna Duncan

The Oceanos was a Greek-registered cruise ship that sank off the coast of South Africa in 1991. The Oceanos was owned by the Epirotiki Line, which operated cruises around the Mediterranean Sea and to South Africa.

On August 4, 1991, the Oceanos began a week-long cruise from East London, South Africa to Durban. A few hours after leaving port, the ship’s captain noticed a leak in one of the engine rooms and ordered an evacuation.

The evacuation process was disorganized and hampered by communication difficulties between the crew and passengers. Many passengers had difficulty locating their life jackets and were unsure of when or where to abandon ship. After about an hour and a half of confusion and panic, all passengers were able to escape onto lifeboats or be rescued by helicopters.

A South African Navy frigate arrived on scene shortly after the evacuation began but was unable to prevent the Oceanos from sinking. The Oceanos eventually sank approximately 70 kilometers off shore in approximately 200 meters of water.

Rescue efforts: Despite indications that something had gone wrong with one of its engines, the Oceanos managed to stay afloat for several hours until it eventually sank at about 8:30 p.m. local time on August 4th. During this time, South African Navy helicopters had begun rescue operations in order to evacuate any remaining passengers or crew onboard.

Cause of sinking: The exact cause of why the Oceanos sank is still unknown; however, it is believed that a combination of factors led to its demise including poor maintenance, inadequate safety procedures, and overcrowding aboard the vessel.

Conclusion: In conclusion, The Oceanos, a Greek-registered cruise ship owned by Epirotiki Line sank approximately 70 kilometers off shore in approximately 200 meters of water near East London, South Africa on August 4th 1991 due to a combination of poor maintenance, inadequate safety procedures, and overcrowding aboard the vessel..