Search for sunken Dutch ship begins

THREE archaeologists and almost a dozen scientists started field work this week to find the exact location of the Dutch ship the Nieuwe Haarlem, which ran aground in the vicinity of present-day Milnerton in 1647.

Armed with a proton magnetometer, a machine that interprets changes in the earth’s magnetic field to detect metal objects on earth and in the sea, the scientists were confident they would be able to pinpoint the remains of the ship.

They began their fieldwork after a “nonintrusive” geophysical survey last year highlighted three major contact points which they believe may point them to the shipwreck.

Bruno Werz, chief executive of the African Institute for Marine and Underwater Research, Exploration and Education (Aimure), said the research, which will cost R3.3 million and is expected to take up to five years to complete.

He said the work at this stage was “informal, and only the beginning of a long road”.

When the Nieuwe Haarlem ran aground on March 25, 1647, it had a crew of 62 and was carrying a rich cargo from the East Indies. There were no fatalities. When crew failed in their bid to refloat the vessel, they began offloading the cargo.

Yesterday, the scientists walked along Lagoon Beach for approximately 3km, trying to find the shipwreck.

“Over the years, clues have been found. We are all very positive,” said Werz. “We are focusing on the three points we previously discovered. It is important to do the survey as we hope to find additional positions.

“This project is of interest to a great number of people, for educational and historical purposes, and to satisfy the curiosity of members of the public. It’s very important to both historians and academics.”

Once the wreck is found, an option will be to develop site visits to enable learners to experience this part of history first-hand.

Werz said he was impressed that work on this project had finally started and hoped the wreck will be located sooner than anticipated.