Following A Search That Lasted Two Decades, The Wreck Of A French Steamship That Sank In 1856 Was Finally Found Off The Coast Of Massachusetts

The collision raised questions about maritime liabilities, such as what happens when a sailing vessel and a steamship meet at sea.

The divers located Le Lyonnais by studying historical records and using sonar technology. They identified the wreck in waters 200 miles off of New Bedford, Massachusetts, in an area called Georges Bank. The key to identifying the wreck was measurements of an engine cylinder.

The exact location will not be revealed as they continue examining the wreckage. The ship is in poor condition and is likely too deteriorated to be recovered.

“The North Atlantic is a brutal place to be a shipwreck—storms, tides,” said Sellitti. “The Nantucket shoals are known for shifting sands that just completely bury wrecks.”

Although the ship is poorly preserved, its historical significance makes the discovery notable. It was one of the first French passenger steamships that was regularly scheduled to cross the Atlantic.

The next phase of the salvage work involves documenting and mapping the site of the wreckage, as well as uncovering any artifacts that can be retrieved.

“Finding it in some ways is closure, in some ways is the end. In some ways, it’s the beginning—documenting it, determining what is down there and what should be brought up,” said Sellitti. “This was a very early example of a steam engine.”