A mystery surrounding a ship that disappeared at sea 120 years ago has been solved after scientists found its precise location on the seafloor near Australia.
A research team with CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, with Heritage NSW, discovered the wreck of the SS Nemesis while searching off the coast of Wollongong, New South Wales.
This 240-foot steamship went missing in 1904 while on a voyage from Newcastle to Melbourne. It sank shortly after it left port when it encountered a strong gale, causing it to become lost at sea, a summary of the project from CSIRO reported. All 31 lives on board at the time were lost when it sank.
It has not been seen since—until now.
Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales.
In fact, its location was completely unknown until marine survey company Subsea Professional Marine Services found it in May 2022. This most recent CSIRO mission was initiated in order to find out more about the wreck.
Researchers used advanced technology to map the seafloor and conduct a visual inspection of the entire wreck.
They discovered the wreck standing upright on the seafloor but with significant damage and deterioration at both the bow and stern,
“The wreck is located towards the edge of the continental shelf and is sitting upright on the seafloor but is showing significant damage and deterioration at both the bow and stern,” Phil Vandenbossche, a CSIRO hydrographic surveyor on board the voyage said in a summary of the mission.
“Our visual inspection of the wreck using the drop camera showed some key structures were still intact and identifiable, including two of the ship’s anchors lying on the seafloor.”
CSIRO
They were able to map its precise location in 524 feet of water and about 17 miles off the coast of Wollongong.
The discovery and confirmation of the wreck’s whereabouts and identity provide valuable archeological information.
“Our voyage track took us right past the wreck and we were extremely lucky with the conditions for the survey, with our team onboard doing a superb job in capturing incredible imagery of the wreck,” CSIRO voyage manager Jason Fazey said in the summary.
“We surveyed the entire length of the wreck with our drop camera, revealing a lot of detail of the ship’s structures including some of the internal spaces.”
Senior Maritime Archaeologist with Heritage NSW, Dr Brad Duncan said the wreck is “one of many thousands of shipwrecks that lie along the Australian coastline, with many still to be found.”
The discovery of this wreck is another longstanding maritime mystery solved. Fazey said he hopes it brings “some closure.”
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