The Greek Steamer SS Preveza Aground on Chesil Beach — January 1920
In the thick winter fog of 15 January 1920, the Greek steam cargo vessel SS Preveza ran aground on Chesil Beach near Portland, Dorset, after departing Portland for Rotterdam via Cardiff. The ship had called at Portland to take on coal bunkers and stores before attempting to continue her voyage, but dense fog in the English Channel caused her to drift off course and settle high on the pebbles of Chesil Cove late in the afternoon.
At about 3,100 tons, Preveza was a Greek‑registered steamship equipped with a triple‑expansion engine and screw propulsion, typical of early 20th‑century cargo vessels. After she became firmly stuck in the shingle and the tide ebbed, local Portland tugs — including Pilot and Petrel — attempted to tow her free at high tide the next morning, but were unsuccessful. Even the salvage vessel Ellida that came to assist could not pull her off the beach; her own cable became fouled during the effort.
With salvage attempts thwarted and weather conditions worsening, Preveza was eventually abandoned. A larger paddle tug, Albert Victor, tried to help, but when her towing wire snapped the steamer was driven back ashore and soon broke in two. The wreck was ultimately scrapped on the spot over the following weeks. Boiler remains and other fragments of the vessel can still sometimes be found buried in the stones of Chesil Beach after gales.
The scene of Preveza high on the shingle — bow and stern plates collapsed, superstructure distorted — became a striking sight for locals and visitors alike, illustrating both the hazards of coastal navigation in fog and the rugged beauty of the Dorset coastline where sea and shore meet.
