This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-38010130
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| How could a shipwreck disappear? | How could a shipwreck disappear? |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Three Dutch World War Two shipwrecks have mysteriously disappeared from the Java Sea, prompting outrage in the Netherlands. The BBC asks experts what could have happened to the vessels. | Three Dutch World War Two shipwrecks have mysteriously disappeared from the Java Sea, prompting outrage in the Netherlands. The BBC asks experts what could have happened to the vessels. |
| For decades the wreckages of the HLMS De Ruyter, HNLMS Java and HNLMS Kortenaer were lost to the world, sitting at the bottom of the Java Sea. | For decades the wreckages of the HLMS De Ruyter, HNLMS Java and HNLMS Kortenaer were lost to the world, sitting at the bottom of the Java Sea. |
| The victims of a fierce 1942 sea battle with the Japanese, the ships had gone down along with 915 Dutch and 259 Indonesian sailors. | The victims of a fierce 1942 sea battle with the Japanese, the ships had gone down along with 915 Dutch and 259 Indonesian sailors. |
| Their 2002 discovery by amateur divers was a cause for celebration, and the ships were declared war graves. | Their 2002 discovery by amateur divers was a cause for celebration, and the ships were declared war graves. |
| But now it seems they have been lost again - possibly permanently - with the Dutch government confirming this week that the ships have vanished from the seabed. The Indonesian navy is investigating. | But now it seems they have been lost again - possibly permanently - with the Dutch government confirming this week that the ships have vanished from the seabed. The Indonesian navy is investigating. |
| Sold for scrap? | Sold for scrap? |
| There is now suspicion that the ships were stolen and sold as scrap metal, a commonplace practice in a region that is littered with old wrecks. | There is now suspicion that the ships were stolen and sold as scrap metal, a commonplace practice in a region that is littered with old wrecks. |
| The diver who found the wrecks intact in 2002, Vidar Skoglie, told Dutch broadcaster NOS that he believed Indonesians had towed the ships to the port-city of Surabaya for demolition - although this theory was disputed by an expedition team that recently visited the site. | The diver who found the wrecks intact in 2002, Vidar Skoglie, told Dutch broadcaster NOS that he believed Indonesians had towed the ships to the port-city of Surabaya for demolition - although this theory was disputed by an expedition team that recently visited the site. |
| The three ships were located 100km (60 miles) off the Java coast at a depth of between 60 and 70m. | The three ships were located 100km (60 miles) off the Java coast at a depth of between 60 and 70m. |
| Ship salvage experts told the BBC that any attempt to raise and tow huge ageing warships from such depths would be a massive operation involving multiple barges, cranes and trained divers. | Ship salvage experts told the BBC that any attempt to raise and tow huge ageing warships from such depths would be a massive operation involving multiple barges, cranes and trained divers. |
| This raises the question of how the ships could have been taken without authorities noticing - though some have pointed out that Indonesia has a vast coastline, and its navy and coast guard have limited resources. | This raises the question of how the ships could have been taken without authorities noticing - though some have pointed out that Indonesia has a vast coastline, and its navy and coast guard have limited resources. |
| 'Nibbling away' | 'Nibbling away' |
| What was more likely was that locals clandestinely stripped the wrecks in a piecemeal fashion over the years until nothing was left. | What was more likely was that locals clandestinely stripped the wrecks in a piecemeal fashion over the years until nothing was left. |
| Bas Wiebe, commercial manager of salvage company Resolve's Asia operations, said they could have cut away parts of the rotting wreckage using mechanical equipment known as grabs. | Bas Wiebe, commercial manager of salvage company Resolve's Asia operations, said they could have cut away parts of the rotting wreckage using mechanical equipment known as grabs. |
| "If time is not of the essence, you have a barge and equipment, you could just nibble away," said another expert who declined to be named citing political sensitivities. | "If time is not of the essence, you have a barge and equipment, you could just nibble away," said another expert who declined to be named citing political sensitivities. |
| Another possibility is that the ships were blown up into smaller pieces - a cheaper and faster way to disintegrate wrecks. | Another possibility is that the ships were blown up into smaller pieces - a cheaper and faster way to disintegrate wrecks. |
| "It is not like an huge explosion like you see on TV. It's basically fairly contained but enough to break apart the vessel and if you do it a few times, you can just fish out the pieces," said Mr Wiebe. | "It is not like an huge explosion like you see on TV. It's basically fairly contained but enough to break apart the vessel and if you do it a few times, you can just fish out the pieces," said Mr Wiebe. |
| Some experts raised the possibility that heavy storms, shifts in tectonic plates, or even the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami may have caused the ships to drift to a different location. | |
| But Mr Wiebe cast doubt on that theory given the ships' depth and duration spent at the bottom of the sea. | But Mr Wiebe cast doubt on that theory given the ships' depth and duration spent at the bottom of the sea. |
| "Over the decades the ships would have filled up with sand, so they would be even heavier now. Even if they moved, they wouldn't have shifted very much," he said. | "Over the decades the ships would have filled up with sand, so they would be even heavier now. Even if they moved, they wouldn't have shifted very much," he said. |
| What is certain is that the Dutch have lost an important part of their maritime history - and it remains to be seen whether the ships can ever be found again. | What is certain is that the Dutch have lost an important part of their maritime history - and it remains to be seen whether the ships can ever be found again. |