Wreck of prison ship lost in Australia’s worst maritime disaster found off Luzon Island, Philippines

A World War II-era Japanese merchant ship that had been used to transport Allied prisoners and was lost in 1942 was found earlier this month in the South China Sea off the Philippine island of Luzon.

Australia-based non-profit Silentworld Foundation confirmed the discovery of the wreckage of the prison ship Montevideo Maru in over 4,000 metres of water following an exhaustive search effort that also involved seismic survey company Fugro and the Australian Department of Defence.

After 12 days at sea, the team found a possible sighting of the wreck using an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) with in-built sonar. A team of experts, including maritime archaeologists, conservators, operations and research specialists, and ex-navy officers, worked for days to verify the wreck.

Silentworld Foundation said there will be no efforts to remove artefacts or human remains from the wreckage, which will lie undisturbed. The survey and recording of the site will be non-invasive out of respect for the families of those who were lost.

Montevideo Maru was transporting Allied prisoners of war captured after the fall of Rabaul in New Guinea. It was not marked as carrying prisoners of war, and on July 1, 1942, the US Navy submarine USS Sturgeon, after stalking Montevideo Maru through the night, fired four torpedoes that scored direct hits, sinking the vessel in less than 10 minutes.

The sinking of Montevideo Maru claimed 1,080 lives including those of 979 Australian prisoners of war and civilians, making the incident the worst maritime disaster in Australia’s history.