The finding of a British merchant vessel filled with approximately 240 tons of silver in the North Atlantic, seven decades after it went down during World War II. The SS Gairsoppa was on its way back from India in 1941 under the Ministry of War Transport’s supervision when it was attacked and sunk by a German U-boat.
The SS Gairsoppa sunk in icy waters over three miles deep, approximately 300 miles southwest of Ireland, with only one survivor out of 84 crew members. A haunting scene unfolds as a ladder descends into the ship’s cargo hold, now resting on the sea bed south of Galway.
Remarkably, the brass portion of the Gairsoppa remains well-preserved, suggesting that the cargo below has remained intact. A sonar image captures the sunken vessel, a victim of a German U-Boat attack in 1941.
Odyssey Marine Exploration, a U.S. salvage company, announced the discovery of the shipwreck lying at a depth of approximately 4,700 meters, or three miles, beneath the ocean’s surface. Plans are underway for what is anticipated to be the deepest and largest recovery of valuable cargo ever attempted, with an estimated haul worth £155 million scheduled for retrieval next spring.
According to its agreement with the Department for Transport, Odyssey will retain 80% of the value of the silver recovered from the 412-ft steamship, which is currently resting upright on the seabed with its holds open. Recent video footage captured by a robot submersible revealed tea chests, indicating the presence of a significant amount of silver below. The SS Gairsoppa, which was sunk by a torpedo after breaking away from a convoy, was transporting silver. Notably, an intact toilet can be seen on the bridge deck of the sunken vessel. Odyssey’s crew plans to use remotely operated vehicles to access the wreck and extract its valuable cargo. CEO Greg Stemm mentioned that they will use synthetic fibers instead of steel cables to unload the cargo through the hatches due to the ship’s depth. The Gairsoppa, with its distinctive red and black paintwork, was part of the British India Steam Navigation Company and was attacked while sailing in a convoy from Calcutta in 1941.
Caught in harsh weather conditions and running low on coal, the ship’s captain made the tough decision to abandon the convoy headed for Liverpool and set course for Galway. Unfortunately, the ship was quickly sunk by a single torpedo from U-101 on February 17, 1941. Only Second Officer Richard Ayres managed to survive and reach the Cornish coast after enduring 13 days at sea in a lifeboat.
Odyssey recently revealed that the UK government is actively seeking new sources of income and is pressuring them to locate more British shipwrecks. Their current investigation includes the HMS Sussex lost off Gibraltar in 1694, which was carrying 10 tons of gold, and the HMS Victory, a predecessor to Nelson’s famous flagship.
In a legal battle back in 2008, a U.S. judge ruled in favor of Spain ordering Odyssey to return gold and silver coins valued at £300 million. The treasure was claimed to have been looted from a frigate that sank in 1804.
The identity of the wreck found in international waters remains uncertain as Odyssey continues its exploration efforts. The image of the SS Gairsoppa with a visible torpedo hole serves as a chilling reminder of the devastating impact of wartime naval attacks.
Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the RV Odyssey Explorer stands as a modern-day treasure hunter, successfully discovering the wreckage of the Gairsoppa.