Built as a general cargo vessel under yard no 412 by Naikai Zosen, Setoda, Japan for Cie. Tunisienne de Nav., Tunis.
04 March 1977 launched under the name EL JEM.
Tonnage 6.469 gross, 3.776 net, 8.626dwt., dim. 127 3 x 18.0x 10.49m., between pp 118.0. Draught 8.035m.
One oil engine 2SA 9 cyl., 7.900 bhp.. Manufactured by Hitachi Zosen-Sakurajima Works, Osaka, one screw, speed 18 knots.
Bunker capacity 737m³
Three holds. For loading and discharging the vessel has 2 cranes 16 ton, 2 cranes 31 ton.
Cargo capacity 11.083 grain, 10.322 bale.
May 1977 completed.
1997 Sold to Socca Nav. Ltd., St Vincent, renamed SEA GEM. (Marine News 1998/224 has also a photo of the ship)
1999 Sold to Eritrean Shipping Lines, Eritrea, renamed DENDEN. (Marine News 2000/105)
2006 given by http://www.equasis.org in service by the Eritrean Shipping Lines, Asmara, Eritrea.
Tonnage given as 6.977 gross, 3.290 net, 8.626 dwt. IMO No. 7611690.
On 21 June 2007 she sailed from port Mangalore, India after she had loaded some furnace oil from Kisko on the 19th June.
She was bound for Dubai when outside the port she got engine trouble and anchored, first Captain Abraham Kuhan refused help and told they could repair the engine, but when weather deteriorated and the anchor started to drag, he urgently called for help, but it was to late, the DENDEN drifted to the beach.
23 June 2007 she beached and capsized, the crew abandoned the vessel and swam to shore, and were rescued by local fishermen. Two crewmembers were killed and one was missing, and never found again.
2007 A photo gives that she is a complete wreck, and mostly has disappeared.
Eritrea 2000 10c sg?, scott341
source: register of Merchant Ships Completed in 1977. and some web-sites.