MS City of York

MS City of York

Author’s private collection

City of York departed London in November 1953, and together with her sisters maintained this service until sold to Michael A. Karageorgis, Piraeus in 1971, when she became the Mediterranean Sky. The City of York / Mediterranean Sky, proved to be the most successful of the quartet, remaining in service the longest. Her last voyage was in August 1996, when she sailed from Brindisi to Patras.

Built: 1952 Vickers Armstong, Newcastle, England

Yard: 122

GRT: 13,345-tons

Launched: 30 March 1953

Completed: 26 October 1953

Length: 164.8m - 541ft

Beam: 21.7m – 71.2ft

Engines: Doxford Type Diesels – 12,650 BHP

Propellers: Twin

Speed: 18.8kn max / 16.5kn service speed

Passengers: 107 - First Class

Later Names: Mediterranean Sky 1971

Mediterranean Sky - Unknown

The modern Mediterranean Sky looks better in her all white livery

Photograph by & © Philippe Brebant - Le Havre - France

Due to the companies’ financial situation, the Mediterranean Sky was arrested in 1997, whilst in Patras. She remained in Patras until 1999, when she was towed to Eleusis, and laid up and was virtually abandoned. Then, in late November, 2002, she began to take on water and began to list. In order to stop her sinking, she was towed to shallow water and was grounded. In January 2003, Mediterranean Sky keeled over on her side in Eleusus Bay. She remains there awaiting her fate.

A tragic sight of the Mediterranean Sky on her side in Eleusis bay