14 DAY TRIAL // Speaking at a meeting of the Explorers Club held in New York City, US, this past November 3, researcher Kroum Batchvarov with the University of Connecticut announced the discovery of the remains of a centuries-old ship in the Caribbean.
The vessel, identified as a warship, is believed to have ended up at the bottom of the ocean back in the 17th century, following a confrontation between Dutch and French colonists.
Thus, the ship is argued to be a Dutch vessel dubbed the Huis the Kreuningen. According to historical records, this vessel sunk in March, 1677, after being gunned down by the French Navy.
Discovering a centuries-old warship
Addressing the people who attended the meeting of the Explorers Club, University of Connecticut Professor of Marine Archeology Kroum Batchvarov explained that, earlier this year, in March, he and his colleagues set out to explore the ocean floor off the coast of the island of Tobago in the Caribbean.
As part of this expedition, the Professor and one of his fellow researchers put on their diving suits and got busy having a closer look at the local marine landscape. Kroum Batchvarov says that, almost as soon as they entered the water, they located a cannon.
Minutes later, the researchers came across 6 other such weapons. They also found 72 smoking pipes, burned bricks that they say can only come from the ship's kitchen, otherwise known as the galley, dining utensils and a beer jug.
Judging by the size of the cannons, Kroum Batchvarov and colleagues concluded that the underwater vessels remains resting on the ocean floor in this part of the Caribbean were those of the Huis de Kreuningen, a Dutch warship that sunk back in 1677.
When in one piece and sailing seas and oceans, this ship measured some 130 feet (approximately 40 meters) in length. Despite having taken their time exploring the area, the researchers have not yet found any timber originating from this vessel.
The story of the Huis de Kreuningen
As mentioned, this warship sunk following a battle between French and Dutch colonists. The confrontation played out at sea on March 3, 1677. As indicated by historical records, as many as 12 vessels were lost on that day and some 2,000 people were killed.
By the looks of it, the Dutch and the French colonists both wanted to assume control of the island of Tobago because of its strategic location in the Caribbean. Hence, they got into a fight over it. It is understood that the battle took place in the waters off the island's Rockley Bay.
Interestingly enough, it appears that, apart from the remains of the Huis de Kreuningen, researchers have so far failed to locate any of the other vessels that were lost in this confrontation. The good news is that Kroum Batchvarov and colleagues plan to return to the area and continue exploring it.