Nine Sunken World War I Ships Discovered Off Morocco's Southern Coast
Rabat – A Moroccan maritime heritage association has identified the locations of nine sunken ships from World War I along the southern coast of Morocco.
These vessels, lost over a century ago, belonged to different countries, including Japan, Norway, France, Britain, Portugal, and Italy.
The Assalam Association for the Protection of Maritime Heritage announced the discovery, linking the shipwrecks to Germany's submarine warfare during the First World War.
German U-boats targeted allied military and commercial ships, leading to heavy losses off the coast of southern Morocco.
To ensure the protection of these sites and encourage further research, the association has shared the preliminary coordinates, along with a detailed report of each ship's history and characteristics, with the National Coordination Committee for Hydrography, Oceanography, and Marine Cartography.
This discovery adds to previous efforts Morocco has taken to document its underwater heritage.
Past initiatives include locating the wreck of Kaiser Wilhelm Der Grosse, the German imperial vessel sunk near Dakhla, launching UNESCO's first program dedicated to maritime heritage, and organizing the International Coastal Forum.
The association has worked with national and international institutions to advance knowledge of underwater archaeology. These collaborations led to Morocco's first specialized training sessions in partnership with the National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage Sciences (INSAP), as part of international workshops in Dakhla.
The association urges authorities to support an agreement signed in Dakhla on October 15, 2024, by African institutions seeking to establish the city as a regional center for maritime heritage conservations.
In January, Morocco's National Center for Studies and Research on Underwater Heritage announced the discovery of two historic shipwrecks near El Jadida. The metal vessels were found in separate locations, one near the city's beach and the other near the port entrance.
Preliminary analysis suggests the ships date back to the late 19th century, a time when El Jadida's port served as a key hub for Morocco's trade. Tags: archaeologyMaritime NavigationShipwreck
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