News
Have divers found the Amber Room?
During their September expedition, a team of divers from Batlictech led by Tomasz Stachura found the German steamer Karlsruhe. The Steamer was involved in Operation Hannibal, the largest marine evacuation in history, which saw the Nazis transport approximately two million refugees from East Prussia to the West as they fled the red army in early 1945. Karlsruhe was the last ship leaving Piława, the port at Koenigsberg.
This discovery may provide ground-breaking insights into the disappearance of the legendary Amber Room because it was in Königsberg that the Amber Room was seen for the last time. From there, the Karlsruhe steamboat sailed out on her last big-loaded cruise.
“Karlsruhe was a small, old ship, but in those days, every unit capable of evacuating people to the west was important. We had been looking for the wreck for over a year to realize that it could be the most interesting, undiscovered history from the bottom of the Baltic Sea.
Karlsruhe set off on her last voyage under extreme tight security quite heavily loaded as for this ship. The wreck rests several dozen kilometers north of Ustka at a depth of 88 meters. It is virtually untouched. In its cargo holds we discovered military vehicles, porcelain and many chests with so far unknown contents”, says Tomasz Stachura.
SS Karlsruhe was constructed in G.Seebeck Bremerhaven shipyard in 1905. Her dimensions: Length – 66.3 m / Width – 10.1 m / Draught – 3.6 m / Load displacement – 897 tons.
On the last voyage she set off from Piława (the port of Koenigsberg) on April 12, 1945. There were 150 soldiers of the “Herman Gornig” regiment, 25 railroad workers and 888 refugees on board. Together with the crew there was a total of 1083 people. The ship also took 360 tons of “returnable goods” in uneven chests; and military vehicles.
A convoy consisting of four Freighters and three Minesweepers was formed right before the Hel Peninsula. This convoy left the roadstead of Hel on 12th April in the evening. In the morning of 13th April, she was detected by Soviet planes that attacked Karlsruhe and then sank the ship. The ship sank within three minutes with its entire cargo. About 100 people were saved. The position of the attack was imprecise, and the resting place of the wreck was unknown until recently.
“The history and available documentation indicate that the German steamer Karlsruhe was leaving the port in a great hurry and with a large cargo after the Germans had to evacuate Koenigsberg. All of this, when put together, stimulates people’s imagination. Finding a German steamer and a chest with unknown contents resting at the bottom of the Baltic Sea can be significant to the entire history”, says diver Tomasz Zwara, member of the Baltictech team who finally identified the wreck.
The Amber Room was a golden, jewel-encrusted room, which was made of several tons of gemstones and was a gift to Peter the Great in 1716 to celebrate peace between Russia and Prussia. It was stolen by the Nazis during World War 2 and the amber panels were placed into crates which disappeared in the final months of the war.
Baltictech
Baltictech is a diving group from Tri-City, Poland which is involved in the study of Baltic wrecks and promotes the Baltic as one of the most interesting dive sites in the world. Find out more here:
Tomasz Stachura
Renowned Baltic Sea wreck diver, Tomasz Stachura, specialises in taking underwater photos of wrecks at great depth. He is Founder of SANTI Diving and Co-founder of Baltictech – international conference. Find out more at:
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Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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