Source: BBC
Australian Maritime Archeology Group Silent World Organization shipwreck discovered Montevideo Maru, a Japanese ship sank off the Philippines in July 1942, killing more than 1,000 prisoners of war as well as 20 Japanese crew. The ship was torpedoed by an American submarine—the USS sturgeon—unknowing that the people on board were being transported, after being arrested in Papua New Guinea. It took only 11 minutes for the crashed ship to disappear under the waves and only 100 crew members and Japanese guards escaped in three lifeboats.
The nonprofit Silentworld worked with Dutch deep-sea surveying company Fugro, whose autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) has located the wreck at a depth of more than 13,000 feet—deeper than deep Titanic—just 12 days after the search began on April 6. It took several days for marine archaeologists, conservationists and other experts to verify the wreck.
“It was emotional to see the pictures of the ship, the hatches closed where prisoners were being held during the voyage,” said Captain Roger Turner, the search team’s technical expert. told BBC. “Many years have been invested in this, and beyond that, the descendants of the victims number in the thousands. The two people on board spent most of their lives researching the events, tracking down as many victims as possible.”
This news is extremely important for Australia, as an estimated 979 Australians have died in the country’s worst maritime disaster. “Finally, the resting place of our lost souls Montevideo Maru has been found,” said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. “We hope today’s news will bring some comfort to loved ones who have been on the watch for a long time.”
Silentworld has said that the wreck will not be disturbed; Neither human remains nor artifacts will be removed. As Captain Turner said: “Now that it’s a war grave, it’s a grave that must be treated with proper respect.”
