MV Island Cement at Bahama Cement Company Loading Dock in 1978
History
NameLogna
Port of registryLiverpool UK
BuilderBergens Mekaniske Verksted Shipyard, Norway
Yard number435
Launched6 February 1958[1]
CompletedJune 1958
In service1958-1969
NameIsland Cement
OwnerBahama Cement Company, GBI
OperatorBahama Cement Company, GBI
Port of registryNassau, Bahamas
RouteBahamas inter-island and East Coast of Florida
Acquired1969
In service1959-1981
Out of service1982
FateScuttled on 16 October 1982
StatusArtificial reef and recreational dive site
NotesCurrent position, Lat: 26.477949 Lng: 78.691635
MV Island Cement (Theo's Wreck) general arrangement plan
General characteristics
Class and typeLloyd's of London
TypeSelf discharge, bulk cement carrier
Tonnage
Length229 ft (70 m)
Beam35 ft (11 m)
Draught15 ft (4.6 m)
Depth20 ft (6.1 m)
Decks1
Installed powerGMB 8, 960 BHP
PropulsionSingle, 4-bladed screw 6.75 ft (2.06 m)
Speed11.75 knots
CrewBritish & Bahamian

MV Logna was built as general cargo ship in Bergens Mekaniske Verksted, Shipyard, Norway in 1958. She transported cargo between Norway and Spain until 1969, when she was acquired by the Bahama Cement Company. In 1970, she was converted to a bulk cement carrier and she was renamed MV Island Cement. She was used to ship bulk cement between Freeport, Bahamas, Fort Pierce, Port Canaveral, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and to Eleuthera and New Providence in the Bahamas. In 1980, the Company conducted an underwater survey and determined that it was not economical to perform required repairs. Instead, the ship was decommissioned and the company planned to sell her for scrap.

The company's port engineer and underwater sports enthusiast Theo (Thanassis) Galanopoulos instead persuaded the company to scuttle the ship as a dive site. After several months of preparation with the assistance of local volunteers and the issuance of a permit by the Government of the Bahamas, the MV Island Cement was towed about 1.5 miles off Williamstown, Grand Bahama Island and scuttled on 16 October 1982. The MV Island Cement became the first ship intentionally sunk as artificial reef and recreational dive site in the Bahamas; the site was named "Theo's Wreck"

MV Island Cement two hours before sinking

Theo's Wreck is 229 ft (70 m) long and 10.670 ft (3.252 m) and rests on her port side at depth of 103 ft (31 m) at MLT, and about 50 ft (15 m) feet from the island's continental shelf. It is approximately two miles offshore of Xanadu Beach Resort & Marina. Two buoys mark the location of "Theo's Wreck". Since 1982, the ship has become home to much marine life.

Diving Theo's Wreck

  1. "Logna (5210650)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 29 October 2019.

26°28′17″N 78°41′08″W / 26.47139°N 78.68556°W / 26.47139; -78.68556

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