120-Year Old Enigma Unraveled: ‘Holy Grail’ Shipwreck Discovered Off NSW Coast
Scientists utilized state-of-the-art equipment to identify and map the wreck, with confirmation of the remains provided by CSIRO scientists who matched the ship’s features.
A 120-year-old mystery surrounding a shipwreck labeled as “the Holy Grail” by researchers has been unraveled following an announcement by the New South Wales (NSW) Ministry of Environment and Heritage. The hull of a 73-meter coal transporter, lost in stormy seas during a voyage from Newcastle to Melbourne, has been found.
The SS Nemesis sank in rough seas near Port Kembla on NSW’s East Coast in July 1904, claiming the lives of thirty-two souls aged 18-56. Despite parts of the ship washing ashore on Cronulla Beach, along with several bodies of crew members from various countries, the hull of the ship remained elusive.
The tragic incident, which left 40 children fatherless, garnered significant media attention at the time.
In July 1904, the Sydney Morning Herald reported on the impact of the swollen seas on the ship’s remnants, stating, “The Nemesis was an iron vessel, and the greater part of the deck woodwork has already been cast up on the beach in an almost unrecognizable mass of splintered timber.”
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In 2022, a company specializing in subsea environmental and engineering surveys stumbled upon the hull of the Nemesis 26 kilometers (16 miles) offshore and 160 meters (525 feet) underwater while searching for lost cargo containers.
Confirmation of the remains was done by scientists from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) who compared the ship’s features with historical records.
Ed Korber from Subsea Professional Marine Services in Brisbane mentioned that the discovery was accidental.
“We were on a different project when our sight scan equipment picked up something interesting,” said Mr. Korber. “The next day, upon analyzing the data, we realized it was a significant find.”
Jason Fazy from CSIRO mentioned that advanced equipment was used by the scientists to identify and map the wreck.
“Using RV Investigator’s advanced multibeam echosounders, we were able to create a high-resolution map of the entire wreck and measure key dimensions to aid in its identification.”
Federal Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic emphasized the importance of the find, noting that “only 105 of the more than 200 shipwrecks off the NSW coast have been discovered.”
NSW Heritage Minister Penny Sharpe stated, “Thanks to collaborative efforts with CSIRO and Subsea, using modern technology and historical records, Heritage NSW has been able to conclude the SS Nemesis’ story.”
With the confirmation that the wreck is indeed the Nemesis, Ms. Sharpe highlighted the NSW government’s focus on providing closure for the families affected, including the relatives of three men buried in an unmarked grave at Sutherland Memorial Park. She urged family members and relatives of the deceased to reach out to her office or Heritage NSW.
“Up till now, they didn’t know what happened to them. We don’t know where all of the families are and so, for me, today is a call-out to say please get in contact.”
