BBC China

MV BBC China was a 5,548 GT general cargo vessel constructed in China that was completed in 2000. The ship was initially named Beluga Superstition, being renamed in 2002. The vessel gained notoriety after it was caught carrying gas centrifuges for uranium enrichment to Libya in 2003. In 2004, the vessel ran aground off the coast of South Africa. The wreck was subsequently demolished with explosives.

History
Name
  • Beluga Superstition (2001)
  • BBC China (2002–2004)
Port of registryAntigua and Barbuda Antigua & Barbuda
BuilderQingshan Shipyard, Wuhan, China
Laid down28 February 2000
Launched4 November 2000
Completed4 July 2001
IdentificationIMO number: 9219082
FateRan aground off South African coast on 16 October 2004
General characteristics
TypeCargo ship
Tonnage
Length
  • 122.2 m (400 ft 11 in) (oa)
  • 117.3 m (384 ft 10 in) (pp)
Beam18.5 m (60 ft 8 in)
PropulsionDiesel engine, one shaft
Speed16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph)
Gas centrifuges for uranium enrichment recovered from BBC China in Italy, en route to Libya in 2003

Description

BBC China was a cargo ship measured at 5,548 gross tonnage (GT) and 6,500 tons deadweight (DWT). The vessel was 122.2 metres (400 ft 11 in) long overall and 117.3 m (384 ft 10 in) between perpendiculars with a beam of 18.5 m (60 ft 8 in). The ship was powered by a diesel engine turning one shaft. BBC China had a maximum speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph).[1]

Construction and career

The cargo ship's keel was laid down at Qingshan Shipyard in Wuhan, China on 28 February 2000. While under construction the ship was named Beluga Superstition. The vessel was launched on 4 November 2000 and was completed on 4 July 2001.[1] On 1 October 2002, the ship was renamed BBC China. BBC China was operated by Beluga Shipping GMBH of Bremen, Germany, and flagged in Antigua & Barbuda.[2]

In October 2003 the ship was diverted to Italy while carrying gas centrifuges and nuclear components for uranium enrichment from Scomi Precision Engineering and A. Q. Khan's Khan Research Laboratories via Dubai 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 from Durban, South Africa to Spain, ran aground near Port Grosvenor at 31.3851960°S 29.9076156°E / -31.3851960; 29.9076156 (BBC China) on 16 October 2004.[1][5] The vessel was declared constructive total loss and subsequently demolished with explosives.[6][7][8]

See also

References
  1. "Beluga Superstition (9219082)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  2. "BBC China (9219082)". Equasis. French Ministry for Transport. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  3. Wright, Robin (1 January 2004). "Ship Incident May Have Swayed Libya". Washington Post. pp. A18. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  4. "Key U.S. Interdiction Initiative Claim Misrepresented". Arms Control Association. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  5. "Weather Pounds Shipwreck Against South Africa's Wild Coast". ens.newswire.com. 29 October 2004. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  6. "'BBC China'". Archived from the original on 1 June 2012.
  7. "B.B.C. China Salvage". Archived from the original on 13 April 2008.
  8. "Cargo ship aground off Wild Coast". Ports & Ships. 17 October 2004.
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