In a remarkable discovery that solves a 140-year-old maritime mystery, the SS Nantes shipwreck has been found off the coast of England. Local diver Dominic Robinson and his team identified the wreckage 246 feet below sea level in the English Channel, confirming its identity through a recovered plate bearing the Cunard logo. Does this discovery preserve the memory of those who perished in the tragic sinking?
A Tragic Maritime Collision
The SS Nantes, a Glasgow-built cargo ship from 1874, operated for just 14 years before meeting its tragic end in 1888. The vessel collided with the German sailing ship Theodor Ruger off the coast of Plymouth, England, initiating a desperate ten-hour struggle for survival before finally sinking to the ocean floor.
Crew members made valiant efforts to save the ship, using mattresses to plug the gap in the hull, according to Dr. Harry Bennett, a maritime historian. Unfortunately, the collision had damaged the Nantes’ lifeboats, severely limiting escape options for those aboard.
Divers uncover shipwreck of Glasgow vessel almost 140 years after it vanished without tracehttps://t.co/uKpq9GpiT2
— The Scottish Sun (@ScottishSun) June 9, 2025
Discovery After 140 Years
Diver Dominic Robinson and his team solved the mystery by using information from the UK Hydrographic Office about the vessel’s dimensions. “We knew the boat is about 78 or 79 metres long. We also knew that there was a Cunard plate from it, which was basically what we’re looking for,” explained Robinson about the search process.
The confirmation came when divers discovered dinnerware bearing the Cunard Steamship Company’s insignia among the wreckage. “It was then bingo, we’ve found it,” said Robinson, describing the moment they realized they had indeed located the long-lost vessel.
Maritime mystery solved after shipwreck discovered off UK coast. Twenty-three crew members died when the SS Nantes sank off the coast of Cornwall in November 1888, but the whereabouts of the wreck have remained a mystery – until now. https://t.co/kPGCfhxsQM pic.twitter.com/oYfd64LvEJ
— Maritime Cyprus Intl news forum (@maritime_cyprus) June 8, 2025
Historical Significance and Human Cost
The human toll of the disaster was immense, with only three survivors from the entire crew. Two crew members managed to jump to safety aboard the Ruger, while one remained on the sinking Nantes.
In the aftermath of the sinking, bodies and wreckage washed ashore at Talland Bay and Looe in Cornwall. Dr. Bennett stated that “beyond any reasonable shadow of doubt, this is the SS Nantes,” based on the ship’s build, dimensions, technology, cargo, and the discovered Cunard-marked crockery.
Robinson hopes this discovery provides closure and ensures the crew’s story is remembered. “It’s quite a sad story,” he reflected, acknowledging the tragedy while celebrating the historical significance of solving such a longstanding maritime mystery.