RABAT

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RABAT

Post by shipstamps » Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:16 pm


Built as a cargo vessel under yard No 94 by Martin Jansen Schiffswerft at Leer, Germany, for the Partenrederei INO Schiffahrtskontor at Kiel, Germany.
10 January 1970 launched under the name INO.
Tonnage open/closed shelterdecker 1.184/2.818 gross, 754/937 net, 2.400/4.400dwt., dim. 99.04 x 14.05 x 8.0m., length bpp. 89.6m., draught 4.2/6.3m.
Powered by one 6-cyl. MAN diesel, 3.600hp, speed 14 knots.
1970 Delivered.

Before delivery to owners, renamed in BOSTON EXPRESS (most probably for a time-charter.)
1971 Renamed in INO A, by owners.


The birth of the Sea Malta Company Ltd. dates back to 10 November 1973, when the Memorandum and Articles of Association were signed.
10 October 1974 Ino Schiffahrtskontor of Kiel delivered to Sea Malta Co. Ltd. the freighter INO A, she was renamed in RABAT.
She was the first owned ship of Sea Malta Co. Ltd at Malta.
1980 Sold to Cilicia Shipping Co. S.A., Malta and renamed VICTORIA, later registered in Greece, homeport Piraeus.
1989 Sold to Seawave Cia Nav.. S.A. Greece renamed FLAG THEOFANO.
Thereafter converted in a cement carrier in Greece.
After completing time-chartered by the British Blue Circle Cement Group and used in a weekly service between Le Havre and Southampton.

In the night between 29/30 January 1990 on a loaded voyage from Le Havre to Southampton during bad weather, the FLAG THEOFANO got the advice when approaching Southampton to look for shelter at St Helen near Bembridge, and there to wait for the pilot which would board the vessel the next morning.
Not any distress signals was heard or seen from the vessel, some locals were telling afterwards that they has seen something, but most probably the vessel capsized and sank in a few seconds off Nap Tower before there was any time to send a distress signal.
The crew of 11 from Greece, 7 from the Maldives and 1 from Egypt were lost; two bodies are washed on the beach near West Wittering later and were identified as the Captain and Chief Mate of the FLAG THEOFANO.

In July 1990 the R.M.A.S. SALMAID started salvage operations on the sunken cargo vessel FLAG THEOFANA, the operations were expected to last four months. The SALMAID returned to Portsmouth on 12 December and the salvage operation were suspended due to bad weather till spring 1999.

Salvage operations due to the 4000 tons of cement what hardened were unsuccessful, and the wreck is still there.

Malta 1987 11c sg 810.

Sources: Watercraft Philately. Register of Merchant ships completed in 1970. Marine News.

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