Wrecks in South America

The list is sorted by the time of sinking

Orangie Boom. Dutch cargo ship lost at Cape Horn in 1643, never located. Many more ships would follow her to the bottom, attempting to round Cape Horn, long before the Panama Canal was built. Ref: Fundación Albenga
Utrecht. Dutch VOC ship sunk off Brazil in 1648. Located in 1981 on 15-19 m depth.
La Capitana. Spanish treasure ship sunk off Ecuador in 1654. Located on 11 m depth in 1997 and salvaged by treasure hunters. At least 3000 silver coins have been recovered.
Santíssimo Sacramento. Portuguese 60 gun galleon sunk off Brazil in 1668. Discovered on 31-33 m depth. Investigated from 1976. Two astrolabes and several cannon were recovered. Ref IJNA 8.3 1979 and British Museum Encyclopaedia of Underwater and Maritime Archaeology.
Hermonie. Spanish ship lost at Cape Horn in March 1741, not located. Ref: Fundación Albenga.
HMS Swift. British warship sunk in 1770 at the mouth of the Deseado River, Argentina. The hull is largely intact in the brackish water. Documented in 1991 by the Albenga Foundation. Ref British Museum Encyclopaedia of Underwater and Maritime Archaeology.
HMS Agamemnon. Built in 1777 according to the plans by architect Sir Tomas Slade. The third of seven ships, whose last survivor is the Victory. Carried 64 cannons and was ranked as a third line ship. Took part in 11 battles between 1781 and 1807, among these the Trafalgar battle. Commanded by Admiral Horatio Nelson. Last mission in 1808 in the South Atlantic, based in Rio de Janeiro. In 1809 the ship was damaged and sank north of Gorriti Island in Maldonado Bay, Uruguay. Investigated since 1997. Many artefacts have been recorded, the most important are an iron cannon and a seal with an "N" (Nelson).
Salvador. Spanish troop transport ship sunk in 1812 in Maldonado Bay, Uruguay. Investigated since 1997.

Wrecks in South America

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