PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The French steamship Le Lyonnais was considered lost forever after it sank during a maritime disaster in 1856, taking it to the ocean floor off the coast of Massachusetts.
Now, many years later, a team of marine salvagers is set to uncover its past. Atlantic Wreck Salvage, a marine salvage company based in New Jersey, located the wreck of Le Lyonnais about 200 miles (322 kilometers) from New Bedford, Massachusetts, this past August.
This discovery not only marks a significant milestone after years of searching but also opens the door to a new endeavor, according to Jennifer Sellitti, a spokesperson for Atlantic Wreck Salvage and a crew member on the D/V Tenacious, the boat used for diving and salvage operations. The next phase involves documenting the wreck site, mapping it, and figuring out what artifacts can be retrieved from the ocean floor, Sellitti explained.
“Finding the ship offers some closure, but it also brings a new beginning — as we document it, assess what’s down there, and decide what should be brought up,” Sellitti noted. “Le Lyonnais was a very early example of a steam-powered vessel.”
Le Lyonnais measured approximately 260 feet (79 meters) long and was designed to transport both passengers and cargo between New York and France. While the ship had sails, it was also equipped with a horizontal steam engine and an iron hull, illustrating the significant innovations that transformed shipping in the mid-19th century.
Tragically, during its first return journey back to Le Havre, France, from the United States, the vessel collided with the Adriatic, a barque built in Maine that was headed from Belfast, Maine, to Savannah, Georgia. This information comes from research conducted by Atlantic Wreck Salvage, which Sellitti is using as the foundation for a book titled “The Adriatic Affair.”
The collision left Le Lyonnais with a large hole in its hull, leading to its eventual sinking. Out of the 132 passengers and crew on board, 114 lost their lives, while the Adriatic managed to return to New England for repairs.
The salvage team located Le Lyonnais by conducting thorough historical research and using sonar technology to pinpoint its last known location. Sellitti mentioned that the ship is likely too damaged to be lifted from the ocean.
Despite this, the discovery is significant because of the ship’s historical importance. Eric Takajian, one of the crew members involved in the find, commented, “Le Lyonnais was one of the first French passenger steamships with a regular transatlantic route, making this discovery particularly noteworthy.”
