A British-led team has successfully salvaged a hoard of silver coins worth £34 million that was sunk by the Nazis during World War II. The SS City of Cairo, en route from Bombay to England in 1942, was torpedoed by a U-boat 480 miles south of St Helena, taking 100 tons of rupees with it to a depth of 5,150 meters (17,000 feet) in the ocean. Previously believed to be lost forever, the recovery mission faced unprecedented challenges due to the wreck’s location and depth.
Discovery and Salvage Techniques: British expert John Kingsford, leading the team, employed pioneering techniques utilizing powerful sonar and robotics to locate the ship on the sea floor. The underwater company Deep Ocean Search (DOS), including 20 French oceanographers, was contracted by the UK Ministry of Transport to undertake the challenging recovery operation. The vessel was found “broken in two and buried deep in the seafloor silt,” requiring advanced technology for retrieval.
Difficulties and Technical Challenges: The recovery, which occurred in 2013 but was only recently made public, faced serious technical challenges. Operating at a depth exceeding 5,000 meters presented unforeseen difficulties, including issues with pressure, temperature, and repeated dives at such extreme depths. The team encountered multiple breakdowns of systems, unprecedented compared to their previous experiences at shallower depths.
Successful Dive and Confirmation: Despite the challenges, the salvage team’s search submarine, equipped with robots, successfully transmitted the first images of the wreck after a two-hour underwater descent. The discovery was confirmed when the robot brought up coins stamped with the Crown, verifying the identity of the sunken cargo.
Team Commemoration: The recovery project, commemorated with a plaque left on the seabed by DOS, highlights the significance of the find and the technological prowess required for successful salvage operations at record depths. The expedition not only unveiled a piece of history but also showcased the dedication and innovation of the salvage experts who overcame unprecedented challenges to retrieve the long-lost treasure.
Conclusion: The salvage of the £34 million Nazi-sunk silver coins from the SS City of Cairo stands as a testament to the capabilities of modern underwater technology and the perseverance of salvage experts. The successful retrieval from a record depth of 17,000 feet adds a new chapter to the history of World War II-era maritime losses and the ongoing efforts to uncover and preserve submerged treasures.
