Saving the Sanday Shipwreck

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Orkney Islands Council received £79,658 from the National Heritage Memorial Fund to build a specialist tank to house this missing piece of maritime history.

The 18th-century shipwreck captured the UK’s imagination when it rose from the sands of Sanday, Orkney following winter storms in early 2024.

The new tank will allowed the wreck to be stored, fully submerged in fresh water on site, and will protect it from deterioration for two to three years while further research is carried out into the ship’s history.

A race against time

Speed was of the essence to secure the shipwreck’s future. Nick Hewitt, naval historian and Culture Team Manager at Orkney Islands Council, said: “I don’t think there is any doubt in anyone’s mind that this is a remarkable wreck in uniquely good condition.

“We’re very grateful to the National Heritage Memorial Fund for their support, and for answering our call for help so quickly, so that we could act with speed to secure the wreck from further damage and enable the research it demands.”

In summer 2025, archaeologists were able to identify the wreck as most likely the Earl of Chatham, a whaling ship which had previously served as a Royal Navy vessel under the name HMS Hind.