The Marcus

a.k.a. 'The Tile Wreck'

Built in Bremen (Germany) in 1956, this 2699 ton (3100 gross) general cargo vessel was fitted with Man diesel engines. She was a German registered vessel and sailed under several names, including 'Naguilan', 'Nordhaff' and 'Atlas' until 1971, when after an extensive fire, she was declared a total constructive loss. She was then sold to Greek interests and again went through several changes in ownership and name changes. The vessel finally took on the name 'Marcus' in 1978.

Constructed: 1956 (Germany)
Wrecked: 1978
Length of ship: ?
Wreck location: Abu Nuhas, Egypt.
Depth range of wreck: 27m to 5m

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Final Voyage

The vessel left Italy after taking on a cargo of granite floor tiles. After passing through the Suez Canal bound for Jeddah, she ran aground during a storm in May 1978. The official report stated that the vessel had encountered difficulty in steering.

Stephan Jablonski, an engineer on board, had finished his shift and was in bed: "I was awakened in the early hours by a tremendous noise of screeching metal, utter panic and crew running everywhere. We had run aground on a reef. For the next 6 hours we tried to prevent water from flooding the ship. The engine room was in 6ft of water and she was settling by the stern. We abandoned the ship and were taken on board a passing cargo ship bound for Suez”.

(Stephan Jablonski would later serve on the Chrisoula K and find himself ship-wrecked once again, on the same piece of reef, under suspicously similar circumstances.)

(The owner of this shipping line, Demitris P Kavadas, was later to be found guilty of insurance fraud involving several other vessels including the Viki K and Elpinki K - both reported to have sunk around the same time as the Chrisoula K, the later being owned by the Clarion Marine, which Kavadas had financial connections with!)

Peter Collings comments: "In 1978 I was part of a BS-AC group visiting the Red Sea for the first time. The skipper of our boat, Saleem Hussan, took us to Abu Huhas - he wanted to recover some tiles from a recent wreck. During our dives the ships bell was recovered and retained by Saleem. As well as bearing her original name, the date and port of registry, were marked clearly. The painted name on her hull and wooden boards reading Marcus. We were totally unaware that only 200 metres along the reef lay the Carnatic - it would be 7 years before she was to be found."

The Wreck Today

For years the Marcus had been mistaken for the Chrisoula K which, by coincidence, arrived on the same reef three years later - a similar ship, similar cargo and a similar journey. The broken-off bow of the Chrisoula K sitting on top of the reef next to The Tile Wreck simply added to the confusion - deliberate or coincidence?! The Marcus however, never did break in two - her bow section still lies in place.

The Marcus' starboard anchor chain is clearly visible spilled out over the reef. Her hull continues down the slope in one continuous wall of steel to the aft hold where a crack in the hull has allowed some of the cargo to fall over and onto the sea floor. The intact stern, complete with rudder and prop lies in 27 metres of water and lies over to starboard.

The main section from the bow to the stern castle sits upright. The upper part of her bow lies on the top of the reef, in 3 metres. The two forward holds, like the aft hold, are full of tiles stamped "MADE IN ITALY". The cross bracing girders of #1 hold have collapsed due to impact damage, but from #2 hold aft the wreck is relatively intact, although the bridge has collapsed, and the stern section aft of the hold lies over to starboard, with the weather deck, companionways and winch still discernible.

On the port side in the lower engine room compartment is a drill stand draped in a golden coat of concretion. A single sunbeam illuminates the scene through a hole in the wreck. Her fore and aft derricks have fallen over to starboard. Hard coral adorns the hull and there is a resident shoal of ever-curious Batfish. Her funnel has sheared off and lies on the seabed along with other debris including a toilet.

Entering her engine room is via the bridge skylights and should only be under taken by very experienced divers using proper wreck penetration techniques. For those who venture in, the sight is quite amazing - natural light percolates through creating a surreal atmosphere, and a challenging photo opportunity.

The upper section of the engine room is quite open but it is possible to enter the lower decks of the generator plants and engines themselves. An opening through to the transmission tunnel beckons but should not be entered - a huge grouper lurks here as a guardian to the foolish! Gliding over walkways, and around the intact workings of this vessel, is a thrilling experience for the cool headed, but it is no place for mistakes or uncertainties.

What is left of the bridge area offers some nice swim throughs and this can be accessed from the engine room or from the skylights above.

Swimming back along the starboard side, into shallower water, there are a second set of bows, anchors and chains lying in very shallow water. These are the remains of the bow section of the Chrisoula K. Masts from the Chrisoula K lie on top of, and across, those from the Marcus - another of the many clues to the existence of two tile wrecks.

Diving the Wreck

The mooring is usually placed amidships above the superstructure. The wreck slopes down into deeper water, so it is easy to locate the stern.

Swim out over her port side through a crack in the hull down (hull on the left) to her massive prop and rudder (27m). Swim out a few metres and take in the view. This section has broken at the bulkhead and leans over to starboard. Beneath the weather deck are store rooms and accommodation areas over two floors - room for two divers at a time! (24m).

Swim around the companionway on her starboard side through to the last hold. Over to the right is her funnel (note the difference between this one and that of the Chrisoula K) and a field of sand eels. From here locate a crack in the hull - winches and piles of tiles rise up into the #3 hold. Ahead is a supporting girder running port-starboard. By swimming under this (12m) the workshop comes into view - lathe, pillar drill and tool store - often full of hatchets. Note the door on your right - it’s the entrance to the engine room. Glide through the work shop then u-turn back and the entrance to the engine room will be to your left.

For those with overhead environment experience the lower part of the engine room can be accessed via a stairwell located in the forward port corner - so turn right once through the door. The stair well leads down into the generator room. Four huge generators can be seen, with the huge engine block centrally placed (12-14 m). Corridors forward and aft of the engine take you through into the pump room. There are fire hoses, tools, gauges and valves. A good torch is essential, although light filters through from above. Exit via the same stairwell.

A less demanding route can be used by swimming straight across the landing to another door opposite. This leads to the galley (left and left again), out through to the port side to swim forward to the forward holds. The cargo has shifted and has formed a corridor with the hull. Light usually streams in here. Watch out for some big groupers. Swim over to the starboard side out and along the hull (10m). You will see the hull has no break and the bow is still attached (take care if a swell is running) as you swim forward you will see two sets of masts/derricks. Those on top lead to a second bow - well dispersed - these are from the Chrisoula K, you will also see two sets of anchors and chains. Turn back now with the hull of the Marcus now on your right and swim back over the holds to the superstructure (8m) to finish off the dive.

This is an easy dive when the weather is right - in a heavy swell the rib is in danger of ending up on the reef. The usual considerations, training equipment and experience must be taken into account before a penetration dive is carried out. Good timing will also enhance the dive.

A tale of two Bows...

There is controversy over her identity - is this the wreck of the Marcus or the Chrisoula K? Both ships wrecked in this location, both were carrying a cargo of tiles and both ships looked very similar. We firmly believe that this is the MARCUS. These two images help to prove this...
- The bow of the Chrisoula K on the left (her name visible). Only the bow remained on the reef when this photo was taken (80's) - the tear can be seen at the end of the bow and that is all there is to her. Also note that her anchor chain is out on the port side only.
- The bow of the Marcus. This wreck is complete - this is not just a bow! Also note that her anchor chain is out on the starboard side only.

The controversy over her identity will no doubt rage on, but all the evidence is there and it adds flavour to a dive on the MARCUS – the tile wreck.

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