The wrecks in Saint-Pierre harbor are ships that, except for the Dhalia, were all sunk during the eruption of Mount Pelée on May 8, 1902.The eruption generated a pyroclastic flow, also known as nuées ardentes (Fr: burning clouds), that destroyed the town of Saint-Pierre, Martinique in a few minutes. During this eruption, it was estimated that 394 boats were in Saint-Pierre's bay, Martinique The disappearance of the port administration's archives has made it impossible to draw up an exhaustive list of the shipwrecks caused by the disaster. A report published in 1904 was established on the basis of statistics and testimonies. It was established by the National Establishment for Disabled Marines. It estimates the French losses at a minimum of 386 ships and boats, mainly coastal vessels and fishing boats, 500 crew members and 33 passengers. The foreign losses are at least 3 English ocean-going steamers with 99 crew members, 2 American sailing ships with 20 crew members, 3 Italian ocean-going sailing ships with 28 crew members and one passenger. Like the city, the ships were destroyed in an instant, the majority caught fire and were destroyed body and property The fishermen knew the locations of some of the wrecks and would cast their nets in areas rich in fish. With the advent of scuba diving in the 1970s, wreck hunters set out to search for the sunken boats. Michel Météry and Jean Bally are known to be the main inventors of most of these wrecks. The discoveries began in February 1974. The wrecks were all declared in May 1977 to the DRAC by Michel Météry and Jean Bally. Jacques Cousteau, Albert Falco and Dominique Serafini on the Calypso were also among those who searched for them.
The boats are now very attractive diving sites for divers who live or come to Martinique and all local diving clubs organize trips to the wreckages. The Roraima, by its size and the quality of conservation, is the most emblematic of these wrecks. The Tamaya is the most mysterious because it is too deep for air diving. The Grappler with its "treasure" is still sought after. To preserve these cultural and heritage assets of Martinique, in 2012, the city of Saint-Pierre and the French state made the decision to protect the wrecks resting in Saint-Pierre's harbor. The Frank A. Perret Museum of Saint-Pierre recently launched a podcast in French dedicated to the wrecks. This podcast highlights various speakers, presented in alphabetical order: Mathurin Cadenet, originally from Saint-Pierre (nicknamed "Pierrotin"); Daniel Eustache, also Pierrotin and fisherman; Jean-Sébastien France, diver and president of the Association for Research and Valorization of the Archaeological Heritage of Martinique (ARVPAM); and Michel Météry, diver and discoverer of the wrecks in the harbor of Saint-Pierre. The wrecks are not only important archaeological sites, but also places of remembrance of the tragic events of the 1902 eruption.
Archaeological research The harbor of Saint-Pierre is now recognized for its significant archaeological value. Due to its historic status as the capital of Martinique and the large number of boats that it permanently welcomed, the harbor preserves traces of the past under its waters. The University of the West Indies has organized several excavation campaigns in collaboration with the Naval Archeology Research Group (GRAN) and the Laboratory of Medieval and Modern Archeology in the Mediterranean (LA3M). The Department of Underwater and Underwater Archaeological Research (DRASSM) of the Ministry of Culture also carried out; research, prospecting, inventory and geophysical studies of the site. During its various campaigns, the GRAN established a detailed list of fragments and wrecks in the bay as well as throughout Martinique. The Tamaya, the Biscaye, the Roraima and the Diamant have been definitively identified. The other wrecks have an uncertain identification. In 2023, the European Union launched the ecoRoute program in Martinique, focused on "The northern route around the wrecks of Saint-Pierre". This program is supported by the Archaeological Association Small Antilles Archeology (AAPA).
Amélie / Raisinier Amélie/Raisinier was Belem's sister ship and was 48 meters (157 ft) long. It was built in 1890 at the Sevestre shipyard in Chantenay following an order from Simon and Duteil of Nantes. Having left Marseille, it arrived in St Pierre at the end of April 1902. It suffered a leak in its hull while it was anchored in the harbor and the crew battled the damage for two days before it was towed to Turin Cove by the Diamant for repairs, where it finally sank. During its research, GRAN discovered various fragments, including the remains of an iron sailboat, badly damaged by the sea, near Raisinier beach. The wreck lies at a depth of 12 m (39 ft). It is accessible by snorkeling.
Biscaye (ex-Gabrielle)
The Biscaye was a three-masted schooner-rigged sailing ship, built of wood with a hull lined with copper plates. It was built in Bilbao in 1878, and measured 32 m (105 ft) long by 7 m (23 ft) wide. Armed by the Vidart et Legasse house of Bayonne, this sailing ship was under the command of Captain Jules Trévty and had eight crew members. It ensured the transportation of cod between Martinique and Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Departing from Bordeaux on February 17, 1902, it reached Saint Pierre and Miquelon before arriving in Saint-Pierre, Martinique with a cargo of 700 barrels of cod on May 6. On May 8, 1902, it was anchored in the bay of Saint-Pierre, less than 200 m (660 ft) from the shore, facing Place Bertin. Location 14°44.373′N 61°10.968′W. Archaeological excavations of the wreck revealed the presence of cod barrels. Due to its construction, it probably caught fire quickly, unless the small tidal wave following the fiery cloud caused it to capsize and sink.
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