Wrecks & Archaeology

The SS United States, a famous ocean liner renowned for its record-breaking speed and rich history, could find a new purpose as an artificial reef off the coast of Florida.  

The ship has been docked at a Philadelphia pier for decades, but due to a long-standing legal dispute over rent and dockage fees, a court has ordered the current owners, the non-profit SS United States Conservancy, to vacate its current home by 12 September.  What happens next is unclear.

HMS Hawke was discovered earlier this week after an extensive search by Lost in Waters Deep—a group that searches for WWI shipwrecks—about 70 miles off the Aberdeenshire coast. It was found to be in "remarkable" condition, lying at a depth of around 110 metres (360ft).

The mosaics, featuring intricate geometric patterns and vibrant colours, are remarkably well-preserved. The find is considered part of a larger Roman villa or public building that was lost to the sea between the third and fifth centuries as underground magma chambers caused the surrounding terrain to fall.

The Arcadian, built initially as the RMS Ortona in 1899 and later converted into a troopship during World War I, was en route from Salonika to Alexandria, transporting soldiers and medical personnel, when it was attacked on 15 April, 1917 and sunk by the German U-boat SM UC-74, resulting in the tragic loss of 279 lives.

The Arcadian had just completed a boat drill when a single torpedo hit it between the bridge and the foremast and sank within six minutes. 1,058 people were rescued

The Baltictech diving team found the shipwreck, estimated to be around 175 years old, about 58 meters (190 feet) deep off the Swedish coast. Among the relics, divers discovered over 100 bottles of champagne, astonishingly well-preserved in the cold, dark waters of the Baltic.

While the ship was found around 20 nautical miles (37km) south of the Swedish island of Öland, however, it’s not clear where it was heading to. The team believes the ship was en route to Russia, where the aristocracy prized champagne.  

Archaeologists have recently discovered two 500-year-old shipwrecks in the South China Sea. These findings provide a remarkable glimpse into China's vibrant maritime history during the Ming Dynasty. The discoveries showcase exquisite artefacts and offer evidence of the extensive trade networks that once connected China to the rest of Asia and beyond.

The shipwreck was found at a depth of 1800m, some 90km from shore, during a survey by a natural gas company, Energean. The wreck is believed to date from a period known for significant cultural and trade exchanges across the region. Artefacts recovered from the site include pottery, weapons, and tools, suggesting that the ship was part of extensive trade routes connecting ancient civilizations across the Middle East, Egypt, and possibly even further afield.

The underwater studies in Parion, a 2,700-year-old port city from the Roman Empire in the village of Kemer in the Biga District of Çanakkale in northwestern Türkiye, have revealed the presence of the second ancient port of the city. This discovery is the second of its kind in the region and emphasises Parion's historical significance in Roman trade and military operations.