Red Sea subsea mount discovered
A hitherto unknown underwater mount the size of the Rock of Gibraltar has been discovered in the southern Red Sea.
This follows detection and mapping by multibeam systems aboard the UK Royal Navy’s multi-purpose survey ship, HMS Echo.
Rising to just 40m (131ft) below the surface of the Sea, the mount is lower than the deepest draught of merchant or military surface vessels but is nonetheless a definite danger to submarines passing between the Mediterranean and the Middle East, according to Cdr Matt Syrett, HMS Echo’s Commanding Officer.
Now in the Mediterranean, Echo’s finds have since continued with location of a presumed World War 2 wreck a dozen or so miles off the coast of Tripoli. Thought to be an old Liberty Ship, it has an estimated length of 105m (344ft) and width of 22m (72ft). Details of both the Libyan and Red Sea finds have since been reported to the UK Hydrographic Office in Taunton for inclusion in new charts.
Meanwhile, HMS Echo is nearing completion of a 19 month overseas deployment aimed at improving navigational safety for merchant shipping in Gulf, Red Sea and Mediterranean areas while also conducting oceanographic research off the Horn of Africa. The vessel is shortly due to return to its home base in Devonport.
