Aida

The Aida was built as a Lighthouse/Bouy Tender for Egyptian Ports and Lighthouses Administration at the Loire shipyard (Yard No. 454), Nantes, Western France. Completed in June of 1911, she was 1,426 or 1,428 GRT ,with a length75.1 meters, beam of 9.7 meters, draught of 7 meters, and a single triple-expansion engine for a speed of 9 knots. The Aida was transferred at some point during her career to the Egyptian Marina in order to be used as a troop carrier (dates unknown).

Here we will have to rely on the research of Mr. Ned Middleton concerning the ship’s history:

An entry in the official British War Diary dated 08 October 1941 reads as follows:

“Egypt and Canal Area:
S.S. Rosalie Moller was sunk by enemy air attack on Anchorage H. between 0045B and 0140B. S.S. Aida       (Ports and Lights vessel) was sunk at Zafarana Anchorage by H.E. III which crashed at the same time       after hitting Aida’s mast. S.S. Aida can be salved.”

The attack by the German aircraft did indeed sink the Rosalie Moller. However, the attack on the Aida was a near miss. The Captain of the ship, thinking quickly, beached the ship before she could sink. The Aida was later refloated, repaired, and continued service until her loss in 1957.

On 15 September 1957 the Aida was directed to deliver personnel and supplies to the Egyptian Coast Guard station located on Big Brothers Island. The drop off point was the jetty located on the south-east coast of the island. On this particular day there was heavy weather and high seas and, on approach to the jetty, the ship was slammed into the rocks and immediately began to sink. The Captain then gave the abandon ship order. Another tugboat responded to the emergency and rescued 77 personnel, including the Captain. The Aida drifted to the northwest before her bow embedded itself into a reef. The stern then sank and the ship came to rest at an extreme angle down on the reef known as Big Brothers Rocks at position 26.19N/34.50E.

Diving Information

The Aida is on the recreational dive itinerary of local dive operators. The wreck lies with her bow up at 25 meters and her stern at 60 meters. For a full description for diving the wreck we will refer you to 3 sources written by divers who are very familiar with the wreck. These sources are listed below with asterisks (*) beside them.

References:

http://www.redseadivers.com/a%C3%AFda.htm*

www.deeplens.com/wrecks.htm*

Miramar Single Ship Report for 6103975

Shipwrecks of the Red Sea * (by Ned Middleton)