How Did The World's Most Famous Shipwreck Come To Be?

A stunning island off the southwest coast of

Greece, Zakynthos boasts magnificent beaches, secluded

coves and verdant valleys. But the island is probably more

famous outside Greece for Navagio Beach, a little cove with a

pristine beach and crystal clear waters home to a famous

shipwreck. In this article, discover the story behind this

wayward boat and how it ended up on one of Greeces most

famous beaches.

There is no doubt that Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Beach) is one of the most

famous and most photographed beaches in Greece. Located on the north-west

shore of the Ionian island of Zakynthos (also known as Zante), Navagio Beach,

previously known as Agios Giorgos, became an impromptu ship graveyard when

the MV Panayiotis washed up on its shores in October 1980.

Many theories and speculations arose and while the date is often wrong (some

sources state that the event happened in 1981, 1982 or 1983), most of them claim

that the MV Panayiotis was a smuggler ship, hence its contributing to the name

Smugglers Cove. Some say that the ship was smuggling cigarettes, wine and even

humans, when authorities caught up and cornered it until the cove, where it circled

aground. Others, supporting the theory that the vessel was indeed smuggling

contraband cigarettes, booze and women, lost engine power and was simply

washed ashore in the bay. Another theory supports that the owner of the MV

Panayiotis, Haris Kompotheklas, transported smuggled cigarettes from the ports of

Yugoslavia and Albania in order to send them to Italy. On this particular journey, he

was forced to board two Italian smugglers. Rumour has it the captain was able to

arrest and imprison the two Italians to exploit the smuggled goods for himself, but

because of unexpected bad weather conditions, he was forced to ground the ship in

the bay. And while he and his crew ostensibly tried to salvage the cargo, part of it

was carried away by the waves, bringing bounty to villagers who then hid the
goods. When the authorities got wind of the incident, they came and arrested the

captain and his crew, deported the Italians back to their country and convicted the

parties for smuggling, while the cargo was sold through an auction.

Recently, the captain of the ship, Kefalonia-born Captain Charalambos

KompothekrasKotsoros, released the true account of what happened that night.

According to his recollection on the website, the MV Panayiotis (No. 4512 of

Piraeus) sailed from the port of Argostoli, Cephalonia to the port of Durrs, Albania
on September 6, 1980. When the shipment was ready and set sail for return, during
the evening hours of October 2, 1980, the ship ended at the beach of St George
near Volimes due to bad weather conditions and mechanical failure. I reported the
accident to the authorities, but due to the fact that the beach was not accessible on
foot by land, we were not able to protect the ship from thieves and other dangers.
As a result, part of the shipment was stolen along with various vessel equipment
(radar, VHF radio, etc). I went back to the authorities to report that my property was
stolen and the General Prosecutor of the area in my presence organized a formal
on-site investigation with the local police. The outcome was outstanding as during
the first days of the operation, all stolen items, as well as the stolen part of the
shipment, were found in local villages nearby, and 29 persons in total were
persecuted and jailed during the following months after the trials were completed.

After being cleared from all accusations by the court, he was later forced by the
authorities to remove the vessel by his own means. When he visited the site to see
how he could execute the manoeuvre, he was so astonished by the beauty of the
rusting carcass that he decided to leave it as is.

Now the owner of a villa and apartment complex called Monte & Mare in Kefalonia,
he is living a more relaxed life in his beautiful homeland.

Whatever rumor or story you believe, there is no doubt that whatever happened that
night of October 2nd in 1980 has left a stunning half-manmade, half-natural
monument that has put Zakynthos on the worldwide tourist map.