Charted as NIKI, 'notable debris' in the Marine zone. A dangerous wreck.
Vessel remains:
Lies in position 50°58.70N, 001°17.36E at a depth of 21m in a general depth of 26m.
Sonar dimension: 80 x 7.2 x 5.2m. Orientation: 125°.
Dispersal operations on the wreckage began in April 1971, and by 8th May her 'mast [had been] removed, upper deck
cut away. Port side and half starboard side anchors, cables and propellers removed.' By November of that year, the
marker vessel and by mid 1972 some of the wreck buoys could be removed because the wreck had been 'clear to
70ft.' (1, 18.6.71, 15.11.71 and 17.5.72 citing Lloyds List 17.5.72)
A 1986 echo sounder examination of the wreckage showed several sections of wreckage, the main measuring 118.9m
long and lying 120/300°, 'a smaller section 37.6m long lying 215° [some] 170m from the main part... [and] four other
distinctive sections of wreckage...'. (1, 3.3.86)
A 2007 multi-beam survey located the wreckage in 50°58.70N, 001°17.36E [WGD], dimensions 28.7 x 7.2 x 5.2 lying
125/305° with debris extending 130m towards 205°. (1, 31.8.07)
Documentary evidence:
'Proceeded into area marked by a wreck marking vessel and a ring of wreck buoys. Struck wreck of steam tankerTEXACO CARIBBEAN and sank with loss of all hands.'
'Sank after colliding with either the stern section of the... TEXACO CARIBBEAN or the wreck of the
BRANDENBURG. The first indication that the NIKI was sinking was a radio message from the tanker HEBRIS,
received at the North Foreland radio station at 8.16pm, reporting that they were at the Mid Varne Buoy and could see
a vessel going down, but still unidentified. Both the Dover and Dungeness lifeboats launched at 9.30pm, the salvage tug
HERMES proceeding from Dover. Following a search of the area a red lifebuoy marked m/s NIKI was found, then a
body on a liferaft, followed by hatch covers and eventually eight [more bodies]. Search and Rescue helicopters and a
Shackleton aircraft joined the search, but it was not until 7.17am on the 29th that the fishing vessel VIKING
WORRIOR found her mast sticking out of the sea. A total of 10 bodies were recovered, nine male and that of the
Chief Engineer's wife.' They were landed at Dover.
'There was little excuse for either of the latter to have struck the TEXACO CARIBBEAN since the wreck was well
buoyed and lit; as it was, several other ships missed disaster only by yards as they steamed at full speed through the
danger area apparently oblivious to the situation.'
'The Channel Shipping Separation lanes had been set up some years before but at the time, observance of the schemes
was voluntary.'
Speculation as to the reason for the NIKI having strayed into the danger zone has included the lack of a proper watch
, but whatever the reason, this final loss in a series of three in very busy waters was the catalyst for the creation of
a mandatory TSS.
A house of commons sitting on March 1st 1971 concluded that given the level of markings around the wrecks of the
TEXACO CARIBBEAN and BRANDENBURG, the third accident involving the NIKI 'should not have occurred.' It
was in this house sitting that a recommendation was made to make the 'two-way flow system compulsory.'
'Action was taken through the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which resulted in the formation of the Dover
Strait Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS). Shipping is separated into two lanes divided by a separation zone. There are
two inshore traffic zones: one English and one French. The scheme was the first to be set up in the world and also the
first to be under radar surveillance.'
Built: 1956
Where built: Bremerhaven
Builder: Weser Seebeck)
LBD: 89 x 13 x 7.5m
Tonnage: 2371 grt ); 2370 grt, 3550 displ.
Propulsion: Screw-driven diesel engine
Speed: 13 knots
Crew: 21
Crew lost: 21
Passengers: 1
Passengers lost: 1
Ownership / registration:
1956 Built as CARL MEENTZEN and registered in Bremen to Carl Meentzen and Company KG ;
1963 Registered in Bremen to Carl Meentzen Schiffahrt u.Handel GmbH ;
1969 Sold to CA Naviera Orinoco - Cano , and registered in La Guaira, Venezuela ;
1970 Sold to Farsa Cia Naviera SA, and registered in Piraeus.