M.V. Aboudy

Built in 1960 as the 'Ville De Tenes' by Handel SCHPSB Kramer & Body. Originally designed to carry wine, she was 76m long, 11.4m beam, 490 tons, and fitted with a 7 cylinder diesel oil engine. In 1962 she became the 'Captain Saint Jean' until 1979 when she was bought by Nakhia & Sado Marine Services (Egypt) and was finally named the ABOUDY.

Final Voyage

While carrying a general cargo of 120 tons of aluminium and livestock, the ABOUDY ran aground in heavy weather on the 7th May 1988. She eventually capsized on to her port side and sank. She and was deemed a total constructive loss.

The Aboudy was located on September 13th 2005 by Peter Collings and members of Bromley BS-AC.

Constructed: 1960 (Germany)
Wrecked: 1988
Length of ship: 76m (250ft)
Wreck location: Ras Gharib, Egypt.
Depth range of wreck: surface 10m

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The Wreck Today

The wreck lies on its port side in a north south attitude with the bows to the north and her keel to seaward.

The bridge and superstructure are located aft and have collapsed. The holds, which run continuously through the ship, still contain some of her cargo - hundreds of 120ml bottles of cough medicine lie in the silt and the surrounding sand, and long lengths of aluminium extrusion lie in twisted heaps. Two huge and very photogenic A-frame derricks run horizontal, flanking the holds. A radio mast runs out from the bridge area. The fo’c’sle has evidence of other items of cargo stored there. Handrails and flagstaffs are intact, and several bulk head lamps can still be seen. The prop and rudder are still in place in only 7 metres of water. Several mast lamps, complete with lenses, remain in their appropriate place.

Given the shallow depth there is plenty of time to explore this fascinating shipwreck - with the bonus of strong sunlight and varied marine life which includes shoaling barracuda and fusiliers, emperor angle fish, crocodile fish, torpedo rays as well as encrusting corals and sponges on the hull and fittings. However, the site is subject to swell as the seabed is sandy and visibility can be greatly reduced in poor weather.

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