Diaz Ordaz ferry, history and shipwreck that occurred in Mazatlan

The Diaz Ordaz Ferry provided passenger and cargo service during the 70's and 80's

The Diaz Ordaz ferry was originally called "Cort Adeler", built in Norway in 1961, was sold in 1970 to Mexico and renamed "Presidente Diaz Ordaz", all this for the ferry service of the Santa Rosalia BCS route to Guaymas Son. which operated from 1972 to 1984. In those years, the federal government company SETRA that operated the maritime routes sold services to SEMATUR (Servicios Marítimos Turíscos), a company that provided passenger and cargo service for more than 50 years due to the growth of trade between the Baja California peninsula and the coasts of Sonora and Sinaloa. The service extended to cities such as La Paz, Los Cabos, Mazatlan, Topolobambo and Guaymas, where in addition to the Diaz Ordaz ship, there were other ships such as the Azteca, Coromuel, Benito Juarez, Loreto and Guaycura that operated until 2003. Other of the ships was the Puerto Vallarta, which unfortunately caught fire in 2008 while docked in the Port of Mazatlan.

Diaz Ordaz Ferry, the commercial bonanza of the Sea of Cortez

According to witnesses, the ship returned in just a few minutes to dock again, but no one knew why, all the information was very hermetic, people who used to go to say goodbye to their families from the dock very close to the departure offices, were immediately removed of the area. The ship managed to reach the dock again, but minutes later the ship suddenly began to list (tilt), leaving many adrift who did not manage to get off the ship. A multitude of people came out on deck through the passageways, others who were already outside due to fear of death jumped into the water, other people calculated that the worst had passed and hoped to escape the danger by walking along the inclined side of the ship. For those moments, Elements of the Secretary of the Navy were already aware of what happened and began help and rescue efforts for the passengers and crew. According to the first official reports, two people were reported dead and 30 people were injured. Additionally, according to reports from the port administration, the ship was carrying 437 passengers and 69 crew members who were rescued. But despite this, and according to witnesses, in later hours the rescuers and divers continued their search for possible bodies. There were hours of total anguish, the sirens of the rescue vehicles could be heard throughout the port, and the news began to spread. In the end, the ship remained tilted, (listing) in marine terms, in a bell turn. Thus, in that position, for several weeks it could be observed from Av. Emilio Barragan in a very traditional area of ??"La Puntilla" in Mazatlan and in addition, the patios of the shipping company's offices were full of trailers and cars in process of rust, which had already been rescued from the ship, 43 cargo vehicles and 32 automobiles that the ship was carrying with it.

The Diaz Ordaz Ferry provided passenger and cargo service during the 70's and 80's

The Gustavo Diaz Ordaz Ferry, in 1990, was refloated, stabilized and transferred to be scrapped and sunk again north of San Carlos Sonora. Today it is located approximately 50 to 60 meters underwater as an artificial reef, where hundreds of diving tourists enjoy its structure.

Technical data: Shipyard: Trondheims Mekaniske Verksted Construction site: Trondheim, Norway. Hull no.: 245, Distinctive marking: .60, Draft: 4.12, Vehicles: 120, Fuel capacity: 155 m³, Two Nohab-Polar M67T diesel engines; 2T; 7 cylinders (500 x 700); Nydqvist & Holm A/B, Trollhattan, Norway. 4,178 KW. Propellers: 2, Speed: 18.0 knots.

1961. March 3. Launched for A/S Larvik-Frederikshavn Lijn, Larvik. Named CORT ADELER. (Norway)

1961. June 10. Enlisted.

1970. Sold to Federal Roads and Bridges of Income and Related Services, Mexico City. Renamed PRESIDENT DÍAZ ORDÁZ. (Mexico)

1984. August 10. Shipwrecked after ramming a dock in Mazatlán, Mexico. Two victims. He turns around while being beached to avoid his shipwreck.

1985. January. Refloated. Used as a pontoon.

1990. Scrapped. San Carlos Reef Sonora