Rottnest ship graveyard

The Rottnest ship graveyard is a ship graveyard and dump site located off Rottnest Island, Western Australia.[1] The graveyard is located south-west of Rottnest Island: older records identify it as a 11-kilometre-diameter (7 mi) area centred on 32°04′S 115°20′E / 32.067°S 115.333°E / -32.067; 115.333, while a 1996 report placed the site between the coordinates of 32°00′S 115°10′E / 32.000°S 115.167°E / -32.000; 115.167 and 32°05′S 115°23′E / 32.083°S 115.383°E / -32.083; 115.383.[1] The seabed in this area rests between 50 and 200 metres (160 and 660 ft) below sea level.[1] It has been used for the disposal of obsolete ships since 1910.[1] After World War II, the graveyard was also used for the disposal of Lend-Lease vehicles and aircraft.[1]

As of 2006, the wrecks of 47 historically significant vessels are known to have been sunk in the Rottnest graveyard.[1]

In 2025, the Dutch submarine HNLMS K XI was found southeast of the graveyard by the technical diving group Wrecksploration.[2][3] Divers Andrew Oakeley, David Jackson and Patrick Morrison located the wreck at a depth of around 40 metres (130 ft), and it is now a recreational dive site.[4][5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Garratt, Dena; Green, Jeremy (2006) [1999]. Précis of the wrecks in the ship’s graveyard, Rottnest (PDF). Report—Department of Maritime Archaeology (Report). Western Australian Museum. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Dutch K XI Submarine (1925-1946) discovered off Wadjemup Rottnest Island, Perth". WA Museum Maritime Archaeology Report Series. Western Australian Museum. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
  3. ^ The Maritime Executive (25 February 2025). "Divers Find "Lost" Dutch Submarine From WWII Off Australia". The Maritime Executive. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  4. ^ "Nederlandse onderzeeboot na 79 jaar teruggevonden voor kust Australië". NU.nl (in Dutch). 20 February 2025.
  5. ^ "Wrak van oude Nederlandse onderzeeër gevonden bij Australië". NOS (in Dutch). 20 February 2025.
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