Divers have uncovered the remains of HMS Tiger, a Royal Navy warship that sank off the Isle of Wight in 1908. The ship collided with another Royal Navy vessel, HMS Berwick, resulting in the deaths of more than half of its 57 crew members.
The wreck of HMS Tiger had gone undiscovered for over a century until August 10, when the ProjectXplore dive group announced its discovery. According to the team, it took five years to pinpoint the location of the wreck using historical archives and data.
Images show divers exploring the twisted and rusting remains of HMS Tiger on the seabed, where a wreath was also laid in memory of those who died. The organizers of ProjectXplore described the discovery as "the privilege of a lifetime" to research, discover, and document the wreck.
The British government has been working to strengthen legal protections for military shipwrecks through its Armed Forces Bill. Under the proposed changes, wrecks such as HMS Tiger would be protected from the moment they're discovered, making it illegal to disturb the sites or remove items without permission. Divers would still be allowed to visit under a "look but don't touch" approach.
The discovery of HMS Tiger comes at a time when several historic shipwrecks have been documented in British waters in recent years.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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