Seventeenth century anchor to be salvaged from Galle harbour
[March 16, 2002 - 8.00 GMT]

A spectacular salvage operation will be carried out to bring ashore the main anchor of an ancient Dutch shipwreck called “De Avondster” on March 19, 2002, in Galle. A team of professional divers from the maritime archaeology unit in Galle will lift the four centuries-old anchor weighing more than 800 kilograms.

The 34-meter long Dutch vessel played an important role in the trade between Sri Lanka and other parts of Asia. “De Avondster” was wrecked on 23 June 1659.

On that fatal night the ship had been anchored near Galle fort. Although the weather was fine, the vessel slipped her anchor and hit the shore Northeast of the anchorage. 

An eyewitness’ account, found in the Dutch records of Colombo, tells how a sailor on deck discovered the vessel drifting and tried to wake the skipper. However, the skipper was slow in making his appearance, and by the time he ordered the warp anchor to be thrown out, it was already too late. After the disaster, the skipper and the first mate were arrested, convicted, and ordered to pay for the losses.

The Maritime Archaeological project on the 17^th century Dutch East-Indian “De Avondster”, will reach a new milestone with the raising of the main anchor. 

The momentous event takes place in the context of the commemoration of 400 years bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands in the year 2002.

Sanne Kaasjager, Second secretary Cultural Attaché for Royal Netherlands Embassy said that this project had also provided an ideal opportunity to develop maritime archaeology in Sri Lanka. 

Due to its location in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka has a great maritime history, stretching back to ancient times. Its archaeological potential is second to none, but the practice of archaeology underwater is still relatively new, Kaasjager observed.

As part of the excavation project the Government of the Netherlands aims to train a team of Sri Lankan maritime archaeologists, conservators and museum curators to carry out excavations in over sixty other shipwrecks that lie in the ocean bed near Sri Lanka.

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Last Updated Date: March 16, 2002  - 8.00 GMT.