A long-lost shipwreck, the SS Nantes, was recently identified after 140 years by Dominic Robinson, a former military pilot, who used a single broken plate bearing the Cunard Line logo to confirm its identity. The vessel, which sank in the English Channel in 1888, was carrying coal on its route from Liverpool to La Havre, France, and its tragic accident resulted in the deaths of most of its crew.
Robinson, a former British Army officer based in Plymouth, England, identified the wreck after a dive team discovered the site last year. The key to identifying the ship was the broken plate, which linked it to the Cunard Line, a historic British cruise line. Robinson explained that by cross-referencing information from the UK Hydrographic Office and historical records, the team confirmed the ship’s length and confirmed its identity. The discovery highlights the role of maritime archaeology in uncovering historical shipwrecks, as researchers worldwide continue to explore the ocean floor for lost vessels.
Similar recent discoveries include a 16th-century shipwreck found at record depth in French waters and the identification of Captain James Cook’s legendary ship off the coast of New England. These findings underscore the significance of marine archaeology in uncovering historical events and maritime history. The SS Nantes, which collided with the German-flagged Theodor Ruger ship in 1888, was a tragic event that claimed the lives of most of its crew, with only three individuals surviving the wreck. The ship’s remains had been unseen for nearly 140 years, making its recent identification a remarkable event in maritime archaeology.