The world-renowned Navagio Beach on the Greek island of Zakynthos will be extended by 30 meters (aprox. 100 ft) towards the sea with gravel to protect the iconic shipwreck from erosion.
The ship that ran aground off the island’s coast on October 1, 1980 gave Navagio Beach its famous nickname, “Shipwreck Beach,” helping transform it into one of the world’s most photographed coastal landmarks. More than four decades later, the iconic wreck has deteriorated significantly due to exposure to the elements. Authorities are now planning a restoration project to stabilize and preserve the ship so it can remain in place for future generations of visitors and photographers.
Its metal hull has largely eroded, allowing waves to gradually wash away the sandy shore surrounding it and threatening the very existence of the natural monument.
Recently, Greece’s Growthfund (the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations S.A. [HCAP])announced on behalf of the Municipality of Zakynthos a bid for the extension of the Navagio Beach by approximately 30 meters towards the sea using gravel. The aim is to protect the shipwreck from erosion and waves. The project, with a budget of approximately 3.9 million euros, is based on a study by the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), although there are scientific reservations about its necessity.
Today, the shipwreck is located approximately 25 meters from the sea. The plan provides for artificial replenishment of the beach, which is 193 meters long, with an extension of 30 meters towards the sea. The intervention will require approximately 45,000 cubic meters of gravel. According to the technical description, “replenishment with appropriate sediment is the mildest form of intervention from a coastal engineering point of view and will contribute to protecting the wreck from the wave action of large normal waves.”
Once the beach extension is completed, restoration work on the shipwreck will begin.
The history of the ship
The ship used to carry contraband goods. On September 12th, 1980 the captain received an order from the owner to sail to Italy to load smuggled cigarettes, which he had to unload in Tunisia. Along with the cargo, the captain had to carry two Sicilian mafiosi who were guarding the “goods”.
The mafiosi realized that instead of Tunisia the ship had set sail for Piraeus, in order to sell the smuggled goods on behalf of the shipowner, as he had ordered the captain to do. In an adventurous journey with threats and setbacks, between September 30th and October 1st, the ship was northwest of Zakynthos, with engine failure and strong winds. The ship, rudderless and unable to sail at will, was driven by the waves near the Volimes area to the deserted coast that later took its name, the “Shipwreck”. Police and the port authority arrested the crew and the mafia members, while the locals busied themselves to collect the “treasure”.
According to the report, 1985 boxes with 50 packs of cigarettes each were distributed on the island and it is said that for four years the residents didn’t have to buy cigarettes.
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