Pirate ship found in Polynesia

Near the island state of Tonga, a group of divers managed to find a historic pirate ship. Near the island of Foa, the wreck hunters came across the 200-year-old wreck of the English ship Port au Prince.

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The vessel hit was a large sailing ship of 500 tons displacement, armed with dozens of guns on the sides and stern. On 29 November 1806, the ship dropped anchor near Lefooga Island, part of the Ha’apai archipelago and located in the kingdom of Tonga.

It was here that the crew, who had come in search of whales, were massacred by the local chief Finau Ulukalal and his men, and the ship itself set on fire and driven to the bottom along with the treasure filling the holds.

Port au Prince was found by Tevite Moala, who, always on dives in the region, would look around for it, believing that one day fate would appoint them to meet. For the locals, this discovery means a lot. The results of the research, will give a lot of information about the history of Tonga and in particular the Ha’apai islands.

The appearance of the pirate ship is also one of the most important events in the history of the Pacific islands, before their forced Christianisation. Apart from the booty in the form of iron, the most prized by the locals at that time, the chief Ulukalala took a young ship’s boy captive, who lived with him and his people for the next 4 years. Upon his return to England, the young man wrote down in great detail the experiences of his stay on the island.

Working with Greenwich Maritime Museum and the Maritime Archaeological Society, the age of the wreck has been confirmed. This was determined by the copper plating, which it turns out was only used between 1780 and 1850 on warships. Now local divers, will make a thorough inventory and map this dive site. The result of their work will be sent to the institutions mentioned above.

For the people of Tonga, the find is a phenomenal event. Apart from its material or historical value, it is sure to turn the eyes of the diving world in their direction. Especially since there is so much to feast your eyes on here. The magnificent clear waters surrounding the 176 islands are full of coral reefs, where lush and diverse marine life thrives. Cave and wreck enthusiasts will also find many interesting locations worth visiting.

Source: scoop.co.nz