19th-century shipwrecks discovered off El Jadida coast

The National Center for Studies and Research on Underwater Heritage, a division of the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, has announced a significant archaeological find: the discovery of two shipwrecks off the coast of El Jadida.

This discovery is a part of an ongoing underwater archaeological research program aimed at uncovering new sites and documenting those already known, according to the Center.

The wrecks consist of two metal ships, with one located near the city's beach and the other near the entrance to the port, the Center reports.

Preliminary assessments suggest these vessels date back to the second half of the 19th century, a period when the former port of El Jadida was a major commercial hub in Morocco.

Historical records and maritime charts indicate several maritime accidents occurred at the entrance to the El Jadida port, leading to the sinking of numerous ships, including the Alcyne, Le Papin, Le Maroc, La Marne, and L'Amazone.

These incidents were largely attributed to the challenging access to the port, especially before the construction of breakwaters, as well as adverse weather conditions.