Discovery of Two Historic Shipwrecks Off the Coast of El Jadida

The National Center for Studies and Research on Underwater Heritage, part of the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, has announced the discovery of two historic shipwrecks off the coast of El Jadida.

According to the center, this discovery is part of an underwater archaeological research program aimed at identifying new submerged sites and documenting previously discovered ones.

The wrecks belong to two iron ships: one located near El Jadida’s beach and the other close to the port entrance.

Initial observations suggest that the wrecks date back to the second half of the 19th century, a period marked by the peak activity of El Jadida’s old port, which was then one of Morocco’s most important trading ports.

Historical records and maritime maps reveal that numerous maritime incidents occurred at the entrance of this port, resulting in the sinking of notable ships such as L’Alcyne, Le Papin, Le Maroc, La Marne, and L’Amazone. Most of these shipwrecks are attributed to the port’s challenging entry, particularly before the construction of the breakwater, as well as adverse weather conditions.