Publicly disclosed information for this event

A ferry with a Gross Register Tonnage (GRT) of 10,000, measuring 72.2 m long and 28 m wide, commenced its maiden voyage from Sweden to Syria in May 1980. Owned by a Swedish company and loaded with a significant amount of cargo, its journey included stops in Gibraltar, Crete, and Athens.

According to sources, as the ship sailed near Athens, it began experiencing steering problems, originating from a software error in its electronic ballast system. This error led to excess water being pumped into the ballast tanks. By the time it reached Larnaca, Cyprus, on 2 June 1980, the listing issue intensified. To prevent potential harbor obstruction, the vessel was towed about 1 km offshore.

Tragically, on 7 June 1980, the situation escalated, and the ship capsized approximately 1500 meters from Larnaca harbor. The consequence of this incident was the sinking of the vessel and a financial loss of an estimated £200 million in cargo.