Divers have recently discovered a shipwreck that sank nearly 140 years ago. Dominique Robinson, a former British Army officer from Plymouth, England, has identified the vessel as the SS Nantes, which was constructed in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1874.
Robinson, who previously served as a military helicopter pilot, shared with Jam Press that the Nantes was involved in a collision with the German ship Theodor Ruger in 1888. The unfortunate incident resulted in a tragic loss of life, with many of the crew perishing in the English Channel.
“It was transporting coal from Liverpool to La Havre, France when it went down,” Robinson explained. Most of the Nantes’ crew, he said, didn’t survive. “I think it’s really sad that almost every soul aboard the Nantes is no longer with us,” he added.
Amidst the chaos, three individuals did survive—their luck varied. Two managed to leap onto the Theodore Ruger, while one stayed aboard the Nantes in an attempt to keep the vessel afloat. Robinson noted that, unfortunately, the Nantes sank some ten hours later, and it was the latter survivor who was eventually rescued.
This ship had remained unseen for close to 140 years until a local diving team stumbled upon the wreck last year. However, they were initially unable to determine its name.
A key factor in identifying the SS Nantes was a broken plate featuring the Cunard Line’s logo. Robinson noted, “Of course, that plate provided us with the most crucial clues.” To pinpoint the wreck, he referenced historical records of Cunard ships known to have sunk, focusing on smaller and older vessels.
With some help from the UK Waterways Bureau, the length of the Nantes was confirmed to be approximately 260 feet. Combining this measurement with the plate’s details allowed for a clearer identification.
This discovery coincides with a growing number of shipwrecks being uncovered around the globe each year. Not long ago, French authorities announced their own find of a 16th-century shipwreck in deep waters, while Australian researchers pinpointed the location of Captain James Cook’s famous ship off New England.
Robinson reflected on the excitement of finding such a significant piece of maritime history, though it’s bittersweet given the tragic stories attached to these lost vessels.
