Experts Initiate Comprehensive Study of WWI Warship to Address Ocean Pollution Concerns

Image Credits: Wikipedia

A recent publication by Archyde highlights an exciting initiative where marine specialists are gearing up to explore the wreck of HMS Cassandra, a British warship that sank in December 1918 after colliding with a naval mine. This historic vessel now rests about 20 meters beneath the waves near Estonia’s Saaremaa Island.

The United KingdomS Ministry of Defense Salvage and Marine Operations (SALMO) is spearheading this project in collaboration with Waves Group. Their goal? To conduct a thorough examination of the wreck and devise strategies for managing similar shipwrecks that could pose environmental hazards.

This survey aligns with Project Tangaroa, an international campaign led by organizations like Lloyd’s Register Foundation and The Ocean Foundation. During the Third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, these groups called on governments worldwide to tackle pollution risks from thousands of sunken ships dating back to both World Wars.

Currently, it’s estimated that over 8,500 shipwrecks scattered across global waters may leak harmful substances into our oceans. many of these vessels contain toxic materials such as chemical waste and unexploded ordnance, along with millions of tonnes of oil. Having been submerged for decades—some for over a century—these wrecks are increasingly vulnerable due to rusting structures and shifting oceanic conditions exacerbated by climate change.

Experts warn that if proactive measures aren’t taken soon, cleaning up potential pollution could cost upwards of $340 billion. The implications extend beyond financial concerns; there are significant risks to marine ecosystems and coastal communities reliant on healthy oceans.HMS Cassandra serves as a crucial case study in this broader effort. Commissioned into service during World War I in June 1917, it participated actively until its tragic sinking while en route to Tallinn on December 5, 1918—resulting from another mine incident near Saaremaa Island. Out of its crew of around 400 members at the time, only eleven perished.

interestingly enough, Cassandra isn’t alone; it lies close to two other Royal Navy minesweepers—HMS Myrtle and HMS Gentian—which also met their fate after striking mines just months later in July 1919.

The estonian Navy discovered Cassandra’s remains back in August 2010 alongside the Estonian Maritime Museum’s efforts.A preliminary survey conducted by HMS Echo in 2021 revealed images showing the ship resting on its side with significant portions missing from its bow section.

Now comes an even more detailed examination aimed at assessing how much risk this wreck poses regarding pollutant leakage into surrounding waters. Findings from this exploration will be instrumental not only for managing HMS cassandra but also for creating protocols applicable to other sunken warships facing similar threats globally.

SALMO has been deeply involved with Project Tangaroa since inception and currently oversees an inventory exceeding 5,000 wrecks worldwide. They beleive that studying HMS Cassandra could mark a pivotal moment in addressing hidden dangers lurking beneath our oceans’ surfaces.