SAD END FOR THE LONDRES

A Greek Tragedy

By Derek Longly

The Londres followed many of the other ferries serving the English Channel when she was sold to Greek owners, in this instance Typaldos Lines.

This company had grown exponentially offering cruises in a variety of older ships shed by British, French, Canadian and American companies and was at its height when the Londres joined them.  However, all was to come to a sudden and dramatic end when the company's ship Heraklion, the former liner Leicestershire of the Bibby Line, which had been converted to a car ferry for the run to Crete from Piraeus, foundered during a storm and the Company were held to blame for the considerable loss of life involved.

Other ships of the Company also came to 'sticky' ends and one of these was the ex Londres now re-named Sofoclis Venizelos.  Only recently completely refurbished by Typaldos with a new bow she looked immaculate when she lay at Piraeus shortly after entering service as shown in the first photo.

However, tragedy overcame her only a short while later when she was completely destroyed by fire and the second photo depicts her sad wreck after she had been put ashore.  Although it was not unknown for the Greeks to salve a wreck and put it back into service, in the case of the Sofoclis Venizelos she was declared a total loss and was broken up.