| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Port of registry |  Antigua & Barbuda |
| Builder | Qingshan Shipyard,Wuhan, China |
| Laid down | 28 February 2000 |
| Launched | 4 November 2000 |
| Completed | 4 July 2001 |
| Identification | IMO number: 9219082 |
| Fate | Ran aground off South African coast on 16 October 2004 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Cargo ship |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | |
| Beam | 18.5 m (60 ft 8 in) |
| Propulsion | Diesel engine, oneshaft |
| Speed | 16.5knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) |
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MVBBC China was a 5,548 GT generalcargo vessel constructed in China that was completed in 2000. The ship was initially namedBeluga Superstition, being renamed in 2002. The vessel gained notoriety after it was caught carryinggas centrifuges foruranium enrichment to Libya in 2003. In 2004, the vessel ran aground off the coast of South Africa. The wreck was subsequently demolished with explosives.
BBC China was acargo ship measured at 5,548 gross tonnage (GT) and 6,500 tonsdeadweight (DWT). The vessel was 122.2 metres (400 ft 11 in)long overall and 117.3 m (384 ft 10 in)between perpendiculars with abeam of 18.5 m (60 ft 8 in). The ship was powered by adiesel engine turning oneshaft.BBC China had a maximum speed of 16.5knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph).[1]
The cargo ship'skeel waslaid down at Qingshan Shipyard inWuhan, China on 28 February 2000. While under construction the ship was namedBeluga Superstition. The vessel waslaunched on 4 November 2000 and was completed on 4 July 2001.[1] On 1 October 2002, the ship was renamedBBC China.BBC China was operated by Beluga Shipping GMBH ofBremen, Germany, andflagged inAntigua & Barbuda.[2]
In October 2003 the ship was diverted to Italy while carryinggas centrifuges and nuclear components foruranium enrichment fromScomi Precision Engineering andA. Q. Khan'sKhan Research Laboratories viaDubai to Libya.[3][4] With the aid of the German shipping company and the German government, the vessel was redirected to Italy where US government personnel boarded the vessel and discovered the centrifuges, which had not been on the vessel's manifest.[3]
BBC China, while sailing fromDurban, South Africa to Spain, ran aground nearPort Grosvenor at31°23′07″S29°54′27″E / 31.3851960°S 29.9076156°E /-31.3851960; 29.9076156 (BBC China) on 16 October 2004.[1][5] The vessel was declaredconstructive total loss and subsequently demolished with explosives.[6][7][8]
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 2004 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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