200 Tons of Silver Discovered in The Atlantic Ocean | Environment

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200 Tons of Silver Discovered in The Atlantic Ocean
Environment, News, Weird
200 Tons of Silver Discovered in The Atlantic Ocean

The largest load of precious metal ever discovered at sea was found deep in the North Atlantic.

The wreck of the British Steamship, SS Gairsoppa sunk after being hit by a German torpedo during WWII, and was recently discovered about 300 miles off the coast of Ireland loaded with 200 Tons of Silver Bullion.
The wreck site was discovered by underwater archeology and salvage experts Odyssey Marine Exploration, after winning a British Contract to search for and recover the ship, under the terms that they will keep 80% of and Silver recovered.

The experts explored the wreck, which lies 4,700 meters deep on the sea floor, with a remote control operated submarine. Odyssey hopes now to bring the SS Gairsoppa’s valuable cargo [silver bullion] to the surface.

Odyssey is working hard and planning for the recovery. Andrew Craig, Project Manager, stated that he was “extremely confident” that the 7 million ounces of silver would be able to be salvaged.

The SS Gairsoppa was built in 1919. It was a 412 foot steel hull ship that belonged to the British India Steam Navigation Company. Up until the beginning of WWII the ship transported cargo from the Far East, East Africa, and Australia. When WWII broke out it was forced into the British Merchant Navy.

The ship was traveling from Calcutta, India to Liverpool in February 1941 hauling cargo that consisted of tea, pig iron, and silver bullion. During bad weather and rough dangerous seas the SS Gairsoppa was separated form the convoy with which it was traveling.

The ship was low on fuel and struggling to dock the boat safely in a port in Galway, Ireland when it was struck by a torpedo fired from a German U-Boat.

After the wreck, Richard Ayres made it so shore somewhere near Cornwall. The rest of the crew, which consisted of a total of 85 sailors, were not as fortunate. It is believed that 30 of the 85 crew members boarded life boats safely before the ship completely submerged, but only Ayres survived.

Odyssey does not expect to find any human remains on the ship while excavating it.

According to a statement made by Odyssey’s Principal Marine Archaeologist, Neil Cunningham Dobson:


“By finding this shipwreck, and telling the story of it’s loss, we pay tribute to the brave merchant sailors who lost their lives.”

Odyssey will continue planning, and begin working on the task of excavating this amazing and valuable find.

Environment, News, Weird

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