San Pedro is home to a wrecked 18th-century Spanish warship.

Underwater archaeologists from Andalucia successfully connected a historic wreck off the coast of San Pedro de Alcantara with the FernandoA Spanish Royal Navy line ship that sank in 1760 during a violent hurricane.

The Centre for Underwater Archaeology (IAPH), a branch of Andalucian Institute of Historical Heritage, led the investigation. It is a major milestone in Spanish maritime heritage. The initial theories claimed that the remains were those of French ships lost during the Battle at Punta Cabrita in 1705. However, new structural evidence and archival documents point directly to the Spanish vessel.

Seabed clues:

The 65-metre long wreck, which is resting in shallow water near the Placer de las Bovedas coral reef, has revealed important clues about its true identity. The seabed sediment was shifted by heavy coastal currents, revealing a solid timber frame with frames of high density and distinctive iron fastenings typical of 18th century Spanish shipbuilding.

Divers looking at the stern section found the post and iron parts of the rudder. Historical logbooks record that the Fernando The physical damage on the site is a confirmation that the ship suffered severe steering failure in a gale, just before it ran aground. The heavy artillery pieces scattered on the site predate the Spanish Artillery Regulations from 1765 and match the time frame of the 1760 catastrophe.

British design techniques

Construction records indicate that the Fernando Built at the Esteiro shipyard, Ferrol, between 1750-1751. The vessel was commissioned by King Ferdinand VI along with Marquis de Ensenada, scientist Jorge Juan and the Marquis. This was part of a programme to modernise Spain’s fleet using advanced British design methods.

Gun ports measuring 1,10 metres by 0,85 metres confirm the vessel as a heavily-armed warship, designed for major naval battle. Additional structural supports such as angled hull brackets mirror the British architectural blueprints that were used during this experimental phase in Bourbon naval engineering.

Create a 3-D sketch

The marine tech team captured more than 3,500 underwater photos in order to build an orthophotograph and a detailed three-dimensional map of the site. This digital map is used by researchers to monitor the structural erosion and track the movement of debris fields.

The project will continue with dendroarchaeological testing and isotopic analysis of the wood. The analysis of these samples will allow scientists to determine the exact species, the dates and the geographic origin of the wood used in Ferrol. The Spanish Navy, University of Malaga and Marbella City council continue to support this ongoing preservation effort.