Scientists discover wreck of MV Noongah after 55 years lost at sea

Scientists have made a remarkable discovery—they found the wreck of a ship that mysteriously disappeared 55 years ago. The MV Noongah, the vessel in question, is a cargo ship over 70 metres long that sank at sea in 1969 with 26 crew members on board.

The ship set sail from Newcastle and headed to Townsville in Australia, carrying steel. A storm erupted off the coast of New South Wales.

A large-scale search mission was launched, but despite extensive efforts, initially only one body was found.

After the Royal Australian Navy deployed helicopters, planes, and lifeboats, two more men were found at sea in two separate lifeboats, and three others were reportedly holding onto a wooden plank.

The location of the cargo ship's wreck remained a mystery until now.

After several decades, to locate the lost wreck, the Australian scientific agency used high-resolution seafloor maps. The search was renewed after locals reported a few years ago that they had spotted the wreck about 460 kilometres north of Sydney.

It was found thanks to a ship belonging to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

Its dimensions and other technical parameters were confirmed. It remained largely intact and stood upright on the sea floor.

— We were fortunate that the sea conditions were favourable for conducting the research, and our CSIRO technical teams were able to gather excellent bathymetric data and send a camera to the wreck — said Margot Hind, head of the CSIRO search expedition.

Bathymetric data shows that it rests at a depth of about 170 metres and is about 71 metres long, and the dimensions, profile, and configuration match MV Noongah — she added.

This tragedy is still very vivid in the memory of many people in the local community. We hope that finding the shipwreck site will bring them some solace — said another member of the search mission, Matt Kimber.