Dimitrios shipwreck

Dimitrios (Greek Δημήτριος) is a Greek shipwreck famous due to its picturesque location on an easily accessible sandy beach near Gythio, Greece.

"Dimitrios" (previously named "Klintholm"), a small, 67 metre freight ship of 965 tons cargo capacity built in 1950, is registered to the Prefecture of Piraeaus, registration no. 2707.

The ship belonged to 76.75% to the Molaris Brothers (Greek: Αφοί Μόλαρη) and to 23.25% to the Matsinos Brothers (Greek Αφοί Ματσινού).

Dimitrios has been stranded on the beach of Valtaki (Greek Βαλτάκι) in today's Evrotas municipality in the prefecture of Laconia, Greece, since December 23, 1981.



There are many rumors about the ship's origins and how it got stranded on the beach. Most relate that the ship was used to smuggle cigarettes between Turkey and Italy. It was seized by the port authorities of Gythio and then deliberately released from the port and left to be dragged by the sea to the beach of Valtaki, about 5 kilometers from the port of Gythio. It was then set on fire to hide the evidence of cigarette smuggling. Another less common rumor speaks of a ghost ship of unknown origins.

However, according to a book written by the Honorary Chief of the Hellenic Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Christos Ntounis (1935–2010). Ta Navagia stis Ellinikes thalasses (translated as The shipwrecks of the Greek seas) there is more to be said about the true history of the ship.

From Wikipedia