The Identity Of The Black Sea Wreck Is Obscured By Ghost-Nets

Members of the Black Sea Divers Sports Club have discovered a mysterious steamship wreck, measuring 100 meters in length, submerged at a depth of up to 55 meters in the Turkish section of the Black Sea. However, before they can determine the ship’s origins or date it, they must tackle the challenge of removing the extensive ghost nets that envelop it.

The discovery occurred while the divers were assisting local fishermen from Hopa, located in the Artvin province on the southeastern coast of the Black Sea. The fishermen had sought help to eliminate ghost nets that were causing significant fish deaths and negatively impacting their fishing yields. During a survey mission aimed at addressing this issue, the dive team stumbled upon the wreck, sparking significant interest across Türkiye.

We found a widespread wreck about 1.5 to 2 nautical miles from the coast, t a press conference reported by broadcaster IHA, President Rıza Birkan revealed that the divers initially discovered the mid-to-stern section of the vessel, measuring 53 meters in length and 11 meters in width. They also found the ship’s boilers. The team captured video footage and assessed the condition of the wreck to the best of their ability. As is common with wrecks in the Black Sea, many parts of the ship not covered by nets are encrusted with mussels.

“We determined that the nets surrounding the wreck were causing harm to marine life, with many organisms becoming entangled,” said Birkan. Approximately 1.5m of the wreck is buried in the seabed, with 4.5 to 5m above it. The first step is to remove the nets.”

Erdinç Turanli, the vice president of the club, estimated that around 10 tonnes of netting would need to be cleared away to allow divers the opportunity to identify the vessel through its name plates and cargo. He emphasized the urgency of this operation to protect marine life, noting that hundreds of fish had already been trapped in the nets.

Turanli also mentioned that the mayor of Rize, a coastal city nearby, had pledged support in organizing the operation to remove the ghost nets.

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