On the 20th January 1980, the Athina-B was on a voyage from the Canaries to Shoreham, when it got into difficulties in a storm, whilst waiting to enter Shoreham Harbour. The vessel lost power and during the night drifted eastwards towards Brighton. After narrowly missing both piers at Brighton, the vessel came to a halt on the beach just eastward of the Palace Pier, in the early hours of the 21st. The vessel was in due course declared a total loss and after its cargo of pumice stone was taken off in situ, it was re-floated and towed to Rainham for breaking.