Odyssey finds wreck of HMS Victory
Florida based shipwreck recovery specialist Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc announced this week that it has found Admiral Balchins HMS Victory. The ship was lost without a trace in 1744 en route from Lisbon back to her home port in England, laden with gold and silver which could be worth more than $1bn at todays prices.
Odyssey Marine Explorations discovered the site nearly 100km away from where the ship was historically thought to have been wrecked on a reef near the Channel Islands.
The company has been working closely with the UK’s Ministry of Defence and all activities have been conducted in accordance with protocols agreed with the MOD and Royal Navy officials. Terms of future collaboration are currently being negotiated between both parties.
It is anticipated that a cooperative agreement will be put in place primarily to help protect the site from anyone who might attempt to engage in illicit recovery operations.
HMS Victory is the direct predecessor and inspiration for Nelson’s Flagship. Balchin’s Victory was technically the most advanced vessel of her time. It sank during a storm in 1744 taking more than 1,000 sailors to their death. It was the last Royal Navy ship to be lost with a complete complement of bronze cannon.
Greg Stemm, Odyssey’s chief executive officer said, ‘Finding this shipwreck has solved one of the greatest shipwreck mysteries in history. Having discovered it in deep water far from where history says it was lost has served to exonerate Admiral Balchin and his officers from the accusation of having let the ship run aground on the Casquets due to faulty navigation’.
Odyssey has already completed an archaeological pre-disturbance survey of the site, conducted limited test trenching and recovered two bronze cannons confirming the identity of the ship. One of the cannons, a huge 42 pounder bearing the crest of George I, is the only known example of a cannon of this type and size currently in existence on dry land.
During the operations it was noted that substantial damage has occurred to the wreck site from natural deterioration, scouring and extensive trawl fishing net damage.
Marine archaeologists have warned that the Victory lies in an extensive trawling area and that archaeological recovery of artefacts should begin as soon as possible to save the wreck from being lost completely.
Odyssey’s work on the Victory site was filmed as part of the Discovery Channel’s ‘Treasure Quest’ programme. The programme was shown in the UK on Sunday, 8 February.
A preliminary archaeological report detailing work to date on the site is available at www.shipwreck.net/publications.php
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