A South African salvage company has almost certainly found the wreck of the Smit-Lloyd 102, a Dutch supply vessel that sank south of South Africa in a severe storm on New Year’s Eve in 1970.
At wind force 10, 6 to 9 meter high waves hit the ship with seven people on board, after which the water created and turned over. Two Dutch crew members managed to get into a lifeboat and survived. The five others, also Dutch, were never found again.
Director Scott-Williams of the towage and salvage company Bridge Maritime says in The Telegraph that his people accidentally stumbled upon a wreck 63 kilometers off the coast of Cape St. Francis. It lies at a depth of 90 meters. “We are 95 percent sure that we have found the Smit-Lloyd 102.”
Sonar images
The site is about 370 kilometers from the place where the ship capsized. According to Scott-Williams, that’s not surprising, given the “huge” current there. “In addition, there was a heavy storm, so such a ship can sink a lot further.”
The size matches and on sonar images, the wreckage resembles that of the missing ship. In addition, no other ships are known to have sunk in the vicinity.
The company will return to the site next week to take images of the wreck with an underwater robot. No attempt is made to salvage it. “It’s a sailor’s grave and it will remain that way.”
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