Thirty-six years ago this week, the SS Marine Electric sank off the coast of Virginia with the loss of 34 officers and crew. There were only three survivors. The tragedy resulted in major reforms in ship inspections and operations and ultimately saved many lives. Last month, a new documentary series premiered on the Smithsonian Channel, Disasters at Sea. The second episode … [Read more...]
SS Marine Electric: The Shipwreck that Changed the Coast Guard
By Petty Officer 2nd Class Corinne Zilnicki - When the clock tolled 12 a.m. on Feb. 12, 1983, the 605-foot cargo ship Marine Electric trekked northward 30 miles off Virginia's Eastern Shore, plowing slowly through the gale-force winds and waves stirred up by a winter storm. An able-bodied seaman relieved the watch and peered forward, noticing for the first time that the … [Read more...]
Oldest Intact Shipwreck Known to Man Discovered in Black Sea
An international team scientists led by researchers from the University of Southampton in the UK have discovered the world’s oldest intact shipwreck lying in over a mile of water in the Black Sea. The shipwreck was discovered in late 2017 as part of three year mapping expedition known as the Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project, which surveyed over 1,200 sq miles of seabed … [Read more...]
Shipwrecks Found in Greek Waters Tell Tale of Ancient Trade Routes
By Vassilis Triandafyllou and Idyli Tsakiri FOURNI, Greece, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Archaeologists in Greece have discovered at least 58 shipwrecks, many laden with antiquities, in what they say may be the largest concentration of ancient wrecks ever found in the Aegean and possibly the whole of the Mediterranean. The wrecks lie in the small island archipelago of Fournoi, in the … [Read more...]
400-Year-Old Shipwreck ‘Discovery of Decade’ for Portugal
By Catarina Demony CASCAIS, Portugal, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Archaeologists searching Portugal's coast have found a 400-year-old shipwreck believed to have sunk near Lisbon after returning from India laden with spices, specialists said on Monday. "From a heritage perspective, this is the discovery of the decade," project director Jorge Freire said. "In Portugal, this is the … [Read more...]