Safir

The Safir was a 9,072 GRT Cargo Ship built at Austin & Pickersgill Shipbuilding Co., Southwick, UK, for the Northern Star Navigation Co. (Mavroleon Brothers), Monrovia, Liberia.

The ship’s keel was laid on 16 August 1972, launched 07 November 1972, and completed on 05 January 1973. The ship was 141 meters in length, 20.5 meters in beam, and 8.86 meters in draught, with a single diesel and shaft for a speed of 14.5 knots.

The ship was renamed Ermioni in 1979 while still owned by the Mavroleon Brothers until being sold in 1982 to Yama Maritime Inc. and renamed Lori R. The ship was one of 8 ships purchased by the then, newly founded, Yama Maritime Inc. which was formed by the Nakash Brothers. The Nakash Brothers are known as the founders and owners of the Jordache clothing line.

The ship was sold again in 1984 to the Seaman International Sg. Co., and renamed Safir.

The ship’s loss:
On 12 September 1989, after having departed Aqaba, Jordan with a cargo of 14,700 tons of rock phosphate, the Safir ran aground on northern edge of Gordon Reef in the Straits of Tiran. Salvage efforts were able to later refloat the ship. However, on 18 September, the ship sank off of Ras Um EL-Sid at position 27.47.00N/34.24.18E in over 1000 meters of water with no loss of life reported.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_&_Pickersgill

Miramar Single Ship Report for 7232391

http://www.answers.com/topic/jordache-enterprises-inc

http://www.touregypt.net/VDC/miscegyptwrecks.htm