Official Press Releases

HMAS Sydney Search Pty Ltd (HMA3S), the company formed to search for Australian warship HMAS Sydney, lost off the WA coast in 1941, reports that Geo Subsea have investigated the “southern “ site known as KDLS3 strongly believed by researchers Warren Whittaker and (the late) Lindsay Knight to contain the final resting place of HSK Kormoran, the German vessel that sank HMAS Sydney.

The site, located seaward of the Abrolhos Islands off WA, was surveyed using a state -of–the-art, hull-mounted multibeam echo sounder (MBES) system, with the capacity to map the seabed up to a distance of three kilometres either side of the vessel's track, at depths of up to 5,000 metres. The purpose of the survey was to identify any significant seabed features and to finally verify the validity of any claims related to the site. This was achieved and no wreckage was found.

The survey was carried out using the MV Geosounder, en route from Fremantle to Dampier. Geosounder is operated by leading Perth-based Geo Subsea Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of an internationally renowned offshore survey and investigation company with worldwide operations, DOF Subsea.

HMA3S Chairman, Ted Graham, said the results of the survey were very positive in eliminating a site that had received much publicity and attention.

"The results of the survey make it possible for us to eliminate this particular site because the MBES imagery conclusively shows no evidence in the area to indicate the presence of a shipwreck". he said.

Mr Graham said the survey had been run by Geo Subsea on a pro bono basis, as an "in kind" contribution to the search effort, and was a very important first step in our efforts to find the wreck of HMAS Sydney and solve Australia's greatest maritime mystery.

"We are very appreciative of Geo Subsea's gesture, and the valuable seabed information they have provided. We are hopeful that MV Geosounder will be able to carry out further reconnaissance surveys to gain a better understanding of the seabed topography in our designated northern search area. These could be performed on a sail-through basis whenever the vessel transits the Search area between its various company projects this year.

David L. Mearns, Director of Blue Water Recoveries, Ltd., who will be directing the search for HMAS Sydney on behalf of HMA3S and has carefully reviewed the survey results, says “the KDLS3 site was ideal for searching with Geosounder’s MBES because the average depth is only 850 metres and the seabed is relatively flat and featureless with a gentle slope of only 1.4 to 2 degrees. If a ship the size of Kormoran (157 metres long and 9,400 GRT), which was the biggest auxiliary cruiser used by the Kreigsmarine in WWII, had exploded and sunk on the site it would clearly show up in the MBES images for all to see.”

Mr. Mearns said the survey was the most definitive and conclusive ever conducted at the KDLS3 site. “Unlike earlier surveys the MBES completely covered a 2,000 metre swathe centered on the KDLS3 position with such a concentration of depth soundings that a wreck the size of Kormoran would have registered a minimum of 55 individual soundings. The fact that there wasn’t even the slightest hint of wreckage finally shuts the door on the KDLS3 position and should allow everyone to focus on our upcoming search of the “northern” position.

HMA3S have submitted a copy of the Geo Subsea survey report to the WA Maritime Museum, the official custodian of wrecks and wreck sites under Commonwealth legislation. A copy of this report can be viewed below:

Media Contact:
Ted Graham
Chairman
The Finding Sydney Foundation
media@findingsydney.com
(+)61-8-9261 7749

Premier Morris lemma today announced that NSW will contribute $250,000 to support a new search for the wreckage of the HMAS Sydney off the coast of Western Australia.

HMAS Sydney was sunk during battle on 19 November 1941, and no trace of the vessel or its 645 crew has ever been found.

The project will also include a search for the HSK Kormoran - the German raider that also sank during the military action - with 341 of its 390 crew rescued.

Mr lemma delivered news of the NSW Government support to the Chairman of HMAS Sydney Search, Mr Ted Graham and NSW RSL President Mr Don Rowe.

"There is still tremendous community interest in the mystery surrounds the whereabouts of HMAS Sydney," Mr lemma said.

"Around a third of the 645 HMAS Sydney crew are understood to have come from NSW, and many living relatives of the crew reside here."

"A number of previous attempts to find the wreckage have proved unsuccessful, but indications are that this search offers an 80 to 90 percent probability of success."

The HMAS Sydney was a Leander cruiser of the Royal Australian Navy with an illustrious battle record.

In November 1941 it had been engaged in troop ship escort duties between Australia and South East Asia.

On its return to Fremantle it encountered a German raider disguised as a merchant vessel off Carnarvon on the WA coast. The HSK Kormoran opened fire and both ships were sunk following the ensuing battle.

"We greatly appreciate the generous funding offered by New South Wales as our fundraising gains further momentum," Mr Graham said.

"The importance of closure to the relatives of those lost and the national importance of the search can never be underestimated."

The search area for HMAS Sydney is expected to encompass up to 1,450 square nautical miles and at a water depth of between 2,000 and 4,000 metres.

It was determined following detailed investigations, including testimony from survivors of the HSK Kormoran.

Media Contact:
Ted Graham
Chairman
The Finding Sydney Foundation
media@findingsydney.com
(+)61-8-9261 7749

The Finding SYDNEY Foundation and its Trustee, HMAS SYDNEY Search Pty Ltd were delighted at the Prime Minister’s announcement today that the Federal Government would provide a grant of $1.3m to it for a search for HMAS SYDNEY II.

In expressing his gratitude to the Government for its generosity, the Chief Executive Officer of HMAS SYDNEY Search, retired navy Commodore Bob Trotter, said “The leadership taken by the Government in our fundraising for the search is very significant in both monetary terms and an expression of confidence in our plans to find SYDNEY II.”

Members of HMAS SYDNEY Search and the Foundation, led by key researchers from the University of Western Australia, have been researching this project over many years and have defined an area to search. Modern technology, routinely used in the offshore oil and gas industry, has provided the solution for conducting the search in very deep water off the NW coast of West Australia. More recently, the group formed an alliance with David Mearns of Blue Water Recoveries UK, a veteran of many successful deep water wreck searches, including the battleships BISMARCK and HMS HOOD. Mearns’ independent research into the likely area where SYDNEY’s wreck lies has corroborated that of the Foundation.

In recent months the work of the Foundation and Mearns gained agreement by the Navy and then the Minister for Defence that the Foundation’s work heralded a successful search.

Providing sufficient money can be raised, it is planned to undertake a search before the end of 2005.

Commodore Trotter added that “The PM’s announcement of his Government’s support emphasises that this is an Australian story that involves all Australians. The men who went down with SYDNEY II came from all walks of life in all States and Territories across Australia. The public has so far been generous in its support but much more is needed. I hope that the Government’s confidence in our project will convince State and Territory Governments and the Corporate Sector that their participation will help bring a lasting solution to Australia’s most tragic and mysterious wartime loss of life and, bring closure for surviving and descendant kin of the 645 men lost with the ship.”

Media Contact:
Ted Graham
Chairman
The Finding Sydney Foundation
media@findingsydney.com
(+)61-8-9261 7749