BBC China
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
| {{Infobox ship begin |display title=ital}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = | Ship caption = }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship name = * Beluga Superstition (2001)
| Ship owner = | Ship operator = | Ship registry = {{flagicon|Antigua & Barbuda}} Antigua & Barbuda | Ship route = | Ship ordered = | Ship builder = Qingshan Shipyard, Wuhan, China | Ship original cost = | Ship yard number = | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = 28 February 2000 | Ship launched = 4 November 2000 | Ship completed = 4 July 2001 | Ship christened = | Ship acquired = | Ship maiden voyage = | Ship in service = | Ship out of service = | Ship identification = {{IMO Number|9219082}} | Ship fate = Ran aground off South African coast on 16 October 2004 | Ship notes = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Cargo ship | Ship tonnage = * {{GT|5,548}}
| Ship length = * {{cvt|122.2|m|ftin}} (oa)
| Ship beam = {{cvt|18.5|m|ftin}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = | Ship draft = | Ship depth = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = Diesel engine, one shaft | Ship speed = {{convert|16.5|kn|lk=in}} | Ship capacity = | Ship crew = | Ship notes = }} |
File:Libya centrifuges 2003 (at_Y12).jpg
MV BBC China was a {{GT|5,548}} 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.
Description
BBC China was a cargo ship measured at {{GT|5,548|disp=long}} and {{DWT|6500|disp=long}}. The vessel was {{convert|122.2|m|ftin}} long overall and {{cvt|117.3|m|ftin}} between perpendiculars with a beam of {{cvt|18.5|m|ftin}}. The ship was powered by a diesel engine turning one shaft. BBC China had a maximum speed of {{convert|16.5|kn|lk=in}}.{{csr|register=MSI|id=9219082|shipname=Beluga Superstition|accessdate=28 February 2020}}
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. 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.{{csr|register=E|id=9219082|shipname=BBC China|accessdate=28 February 2020}}
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.{{Cite news |title=Ship Incident May Have Swayed Libya |first=Robin |last=Wright |newspaper=Washington Post |date=1 January 2004 |pages=A18 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2004/01/01/ship-incident-may-have-swayed-libya/69244c5f-c895-4ec5-87bc-e17d34bffbe8/ |access-date=28 February 2020}}{{cite web |url=http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2005_07-08/Interdiction_Misrepresented |title=Key U.S. Interdiction Initiative Claim Misrepresented |work=Arms Control Association |access-date=28 February 2020}} 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.
BBC China, while sailing from Durban, South Africa to Spain, ran aground near Port Grosvenor at {{coord|31.3851960|S|29.9076156|E|name=BBC China|display=title,inline}} on 16 October 2004.{{cite web |url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/oct2004/2004-10-29-01.html |title=Weather Pounds Shipwreck Against South Africa's Wild Coast |website=ens.newswire.com |date=29 October 2004 |access-date=28 February 2020}} The vessel was declared constructive total loss and subsequently demolished with explosives.{{Cite web|title='BBC China' |url=http://www.smit.com/sitefactor/page.asp?pageid=682 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601135312/http://www.smit.com/sitefactor/page.asp?pageid=682 |archivedate=1 June 2012 }}{{Cite web|title=B.B.C. China Salvage |url=http://www.demex.us/BBCChinaPage/BBCChinaPage.htm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413085007/http://www.demex.us/BBCChinaPage/BBCChinaPage.htm |archivedate=13 April 2008 }}{{Cite web |title=Cargo ship aground off Wild Coast |date=17 October 2004 |work=Ports & Ships |url=http://ports.co.za/news/article_2004_10_17_2444.html }}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{2004 shipwrecks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:BBC China}}
Category:Maritime incidents in 2003
Category:Maritime incidents in 2004
Category:Nuclear proliferation