Sunken Steamboat off Sozopol: Discovery Reveals Maritime History

A steamer that sank near Sozopol nearly two centuries ago is emerging as a significant discovery, revealing a new chapter in the maritime history of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Scientists from the Center for Underwater Archaeology are responsible for this surprising revelation, the details of which are yet to be clarified. The find, located just 300 meters from one of the busiest beaches in the city - "Harmanite", is a curious example of how history can hide beneath the surface, awaiting its unveiling.

Equipped with modern technologies, including a powerful echo sounder and sonar, archaeologists managed to penetrate the depths of the sea. Their work led to a clear delineation of the steamer's remains. The detailed photogrammetry and spatial model obtained clearly show the presence of a vessel with water wheels. The remains are preserved, visibly rising up to two meters above the sandy bottom. They are densely covered with algae, mussels and other marine organisms, which testifies to their long stay under water.

It is assumed that the ship is Turkish and dates from the period between the 18th and 19th centuries. According to preliminary data, it transported bricks from a former brick factory located in Chernomorets.

"An unexpected discovery, a rare discovery", shared Dr. Nayden Prahov, director of the Center for Underwater Archaeology, emphasizing the significance of the find.

Specialists have managed to recognize double walls of combustion chambers, connected with rivets, as well as the characteristic arches of the water wheels, which are a key element of the ship's design. It remains to be determined whether the hull was wooden or entirely iron, as it is known that some ships from that era were sailing, equipped with sails, but also with additional steam engines.

One of the main mysteries associated with the discovery remains how this ship remained unknown all these years. Local residents, despite their long presence, had no information about a sunken ship in this place.

"We questioned local people, they don't know about such a sunken ship and that's why we think it sank before the Liberation, because after that the events are remembered more or less, especially by the local population", explained Dr. Prahov.

Archaeologist Dragomir Gurbov sees in this discovery a promising clue. Historical information indicates that the first steamship line on the western Black Sea coast was that of the Austrian entrepreneur Loytz from Constantinople, which, through Burgas and Varna, connected with Galati and the Danube Austrian steamship line to Vienna. This line began operating in 1845.

What exactly happened to the ship and whether it is connected to the steamship line will be revealed after an in-depth analysis of the archives. The period of the sinking coincides with the Crimean War, when Varna served as a naval base for the Allies. It is possible that the ship was part of the logistics for supplying the troops.

Scientists do not exclude an explosion as a cause of the sinking, as some of the details on the remains resemble a destroyed combustion chamber. "Accidents at sea have happened all sorts, especially during the early periods of steamship navigation. Especially steam boilers are relatively dangerous. Yes, explosive, I would even say", noted Dragomir Gurbov. The lack of reefs in the area and sufficient depth with a flat bottom support the hypothesis of an explosion.

The maritime history of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast from this period remains insufficiently studied. The new discovery provides a unique opportunity to fill the gaps in the knowledge of the past.