Divers decover artifacts from Britannic wreck. Titanic’s sister ship underwater for 109 years
A team of divers has successfully recovered historical artifacts from the wreck of the Britannic, which sank 109 years ago off the coast of Greece. According to the Greek Ministry of Culture, recovered items include the ship’s bell, a lamp, a porcelain washbasin, a silver-plated tray, and a pair of binoculars.
In brief
Divers recovered the ship's bell, a lamp, a porcelain washbasin, a silver-plated tray and binoculars from the wreck of the Britannic, as confirmed by the Greek Ministry of Culture. The Britannic, a sister ship of the Titanic built in 1914, struck a mine in November 1916 about 75 kilometres south-east of Athens and sank within an hour, taking at least 30 lives. The work at a depth of about 120 metres was carried out by 11 people led by British historian Simon Mills. The artefacts are being conserved in Athens and will go to the museum of underwater excavations in the port of Piraeus.
Built in 1914, the Britannic was a sister ship to the Titanic, intended as a luxury liner. However, the outbreak of World War I altered its fate, and the vessel was converted into a hospital ship. In November 1916, while en route to Lemnos Island, Britannic struck a mine approximately 75 km southeast of Athens and sank within an hour. At least 30 people were killed, while the majority of the 1,060 passengers survived.
The underwater survey was conducted by an 11-member diving team led by British historian Simon Mills, founder of the Britannic Foundation. The divers operated at a depth of around 120 meters, contending with strong currents and low visibility.
Recovered artifacts are currently undergoing conservation in Athens and are slated for display in the new Underwater Archaeology Museum in Piraeus. Exhibits will highlight both the ship’s original design as a luxury liner and its wartime function as a hospital ship, providing a tangible link to maritime history and World War I naval operations.
Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier
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