Macumba detected finally in NT waters

AFTER lying hidden on a seabed in Northern Territory waters for 74 years, a commercial ship sunk by Japanese air attack during World War II has finally been found.

The maritime mystery was solved at about 1am on Wednesday when the wreck of SS Macumba was located during a CSIRO targeted survey in the Arafura Sea off the coast of Arnhem Land.

The 2500 tonne steel merchant ship was sunk on August 6, 1943 when two enemy floatplanes scored a direct hit on the ship’s engine room, killing three people.

Researchers on CSIRO’s vessel Investigator used advanced multibeam sonar systems to map the wreck, which was found upright 40 metres deep and appears to be relatively intact.

“Our drop camera even got a close-up photo of an inquisitive reef shark that seemed to be guarding the site,” Marine National Facility Voyage Manager Hugh Barker said.

“It was a special night for all on board and we are so pleased to find the final resting place of Macumba.”

Northern Australia became the frontline when Japan’s deadly campaign brought a distant war to home soil and the merchant ship was transporting a cargo of supplies from Sydney to Darwin when it came under attack.

Despite return fire from both SS Macumba and her escort, the corvette HMAS Cootamundra, the ship went down. The captain and 36 crewmen survived but one body was never recovered.

The significant archaeological site is also the final resting place for Chief Engineer William Alfred Lane, whose name is recorded at the Adelaide River War Cemetery alongside those with no known grave.

The federal government plans to declare SS Macumba a Historic Shipwreck for protection under Commonwealth law.