• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • FOX 40
    • Meet Our Team
      • Our Journalists
      • Sales & Programming
    • Red Cross: Get Help
  • Keeping It Real
  • Contest
    • The Super FOX 40 Giveaway
    • Valentine’s Day Photo Contest
  • Programming
    • FOX 40 TV Guide
    • WHAT’S ON FOX
    • WATCH STREAMING NEWS NOW
    • FOX 40 Weekly Sports Lineup
    • CHURCH PROGRAMMING AND DIRECTORY
  • About WDBD
    • Contact Us
    • Job Listings
  • Advertise With Us
  • MS Help Wanted
WDBD FOX 40 Jackson MS Local News, Weather and Sports

WDBD FOX 40 Jackson MS Local News, Weather and Sports

WDBD Television for Jackson, MS

  • Local News
  • National
  • Sports
  • Weather
  • The Super FOX 40 Giveaway
  • Mississippi Black History
  • More…
    • Lifestyle
      • Realizing DPP
    • Politics
    • Health
    • red cross
    • Science
    • Entertainment
      • Technology
      • What’s on TV?

390-year-old shipwreck revealed using virtual reality

Exactly 360 years to the day since the Dutch merchant ship Melckmeyt was wrecked off a remote Icelandic island, experts have harnessed virtual reality to create a stunning virtual dive of the wreck.

The Melckmeyt or “Milkmaid” was on a secret trading mission when it sank during a sudden storm. Digital archaeology specialists from Australia’s Flinders University have worked with maritime archaeologists at the University of Iceland to create a 360-degree virtual view of the wreck, which was discovered in 1992.

The ship was lost amid international tensions over Icelandic.

“The kingdom of Denmark ruled Iceland and forbade other European nations from trading with the island,” explained officials of Flinders University and the University of Iceland in a joint statement obtained by Fox News. “However, in 1659 a surprise attack by the Swedish king on the Danish capital prevented any Danish supply ships from traveling to Iceland.”

WRECK OF WWII SHIP DISCOVERED 74 YEARS AFTER IT DISAPPEARED DURING A RESCUE MISSION

Keen to grasp an opportunity for trade, Dutch merchants sent a small fleet of ships to Iceland under a false Danish flag.

“This fleet was welcomed by locals and proved a success, trading grain, timber and ceramics from mainland Europe for locally caught and dried fish, woollen goods, sheepskins and whale oil,” the universities explained in the statement.

Divers swim over a digital reconstruction of the ship during a virtual dive.

Divers swim over a digital reconstruction of the ship during a virtual dive.
(Image by John McCarthy)

However, the Melckmeyt spent too long on its secret trading mission and was caught in the storm, losing one member of the ship’s crew. “The survivors took shelter above water in the highest point of wreck for the next two days,” said the universities.

Thanks to the icy Icelandic waters, the wreck is remarkably well preserved. Fourteen years after its discovery by local divers Erlendur Guðmundsson and Sævar Árnason, a team of researchers including experts from the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands and Kevin Martin, a graduate student at the University of Iceland, completed a detailed 3D survey of the site.

STUNNING CARGO DISCOVERED ON WELL-PRESERVED ROMAN SHIPWRECK

“The significance of this wreck is enormous for Iceland,” said Martin in the statement. “As it is one of the oldest known historic wrecks in this part of the world, it shines a light on a fascinating period of Icelandic history, when Denmark ruled the island and had a monopoly over trade here for a period of 200 years. We have also been able to directly embed a 3D survey of the seabed with full photographic texture. In theory, a member of the public viewing this might even spot something on the wreck that we have missed during our dives on it!”

A scene from the virtual dive, with divers swimming over the wreck as it appears today, with areas of the wreck labeled in yellow.

A scene from the virtual dive, with divers swimming over the wreck as it appears today, with areas of the wreck labeled in yellow.
(Image by John McCarthy)

The virtual dive was created by John McCarthy, a graduate student in maritime archaeology at Flinders University.

“We have even based the stern painting on a real contemporary Dutch painting, Vermeer’s famous ‘Milkmaid,’ painted just one year before the ship was wrecked,” he said in the statement.

A paper on the virtual dive will be presented at the annual conference of the Australian Institute for Maritime Archaeology in Brisbane, Australia, on Oct. 18.

SUNKEN WWII SHIP MAY CONTAIN $130 MILLION OF NAZI GOLD

Other Icelandic shipwrecks have been garnering attention. Earlier this year, the wreck of the Empire Wold, a Royal Navy tug, was discovered by coastguards off the coast of Iceland. The discovery solved a decades-long mystery about the fate of the ship, which disappeared during a World War II rescue mission.

A 3D scan of the shipwreck. (Image by John McCarthy)

A 3D scan of the shipwreck. (Image by John McCarthy)

The ship sank on Nov. 10, 1944, with the loss of her 16 crewmembers. The sinking prompted speculation that the Empire Wold had fallen victim to a German U-boat, although the ship’s discovery led experts to believe that she foundered in heavy seas and 40-knot winds.

A digital reconstruction of the wreck as it may have appeared the morning after the storm. (Image by John McCarthy)

A digital reconstruction of the wreck as it may have appeared the morning after the storm. (Image by John McCarthy)

A digital reconstruction of the ship. Archaeologists used Vermeer's famous painting of

A digital reconstruction of the ship. Archaeologists used Vermeer’s famous painting of “The Milkmaid,” which was painted just before the ship was lost, for the stern design.(Image by John McCarthy)
(Image by John McCarthy)

In 2017, the SS Minden, a German cargo ship scuttled in waters near Iceland during the early days of World War II, was in the international spotlight following the reported discovery of  a chest containing up to four tons of Nazi gold on the wreck.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers

Primary Sidebar


  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Follow Us On Facebook


Trending Now

how-to-tell-if-your-phone-has-been-hacked

How to tell if your phone has been hacked

how-to-reverse-search-an-image-on-your-phone

How to reverse search an image on your phone

tom-brady’s-mom,-oprah-winfrey-congratulate-legendary-quarterback-on-retirement

Tom Brady’s mom, Oprah Winfrey congratulate legendary quarterback on retirement

super-bowl-miracle:-massive-tv-stolen-from-california-man-returned-just-in-time-for-the-big-game

Super Bowl miracle: Massive TV stolen from California man returned just in time for the big game

pastor-facing-10-years-in-prison-for-preaching-at-canada-trucker-blockade-protesting-vaccine-mandates

Pastor facing 10 years in prison for preaching at Canada trucker blockade protesting vaccine mandates


LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES

‘Fox’ sniffs out major cocaine cache along I-20

Things To Know Tuesday, February 7

First Alert Forecast: warm mid-week; storms return late Wednesday

Horse collapses, dies on Southern’s campus

Capitol Police investigating armed robbery call at Family Dollar in Jackson

More Local News

NATIONAL HEADLINES

moscow,-idaho-church-deacon-wins-lawsuit-over-covid-protest-arrest-at-outdoor-hymn-sing:-‘i-feel-vindicated’

Moscow, Idaho church deacon wins lawsuit over COVID-protest arrest at outdoor hymn sing: ‘I feel vindicated’

A church deacon in Idaho secured a legal win against his city after being arrested for alleged COVID-19 violations during an outdoor psalm sing in 2020."I feel vindicated by the judge, and disappointed that the city made me have to clear my name for three … Read Full Report about Moscow, Idaho church deacon wins lawsuit over COVID-protest arrest at outdoor hymn sing: ‘I feel vindicated’

major-medical-group-wipes-study-advocating-doctors-give-less-anesthesia-to-reduce-carbon-footprint

Major medical group wipes study advocating doctors give less anesthesia to reduce carbon footprint

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) deleted an article from its website this week highlighting research and comments from a doctor who advocates for reducing anesthetic gas in surgery to combat climate change.The ASA — which is the nation's premier … Read Full Report about Major medical group wipes study advocating doctors give less anesthesia to reduce carbon footprint

biden’s-latest-border-gambit-opens-america’s-doors-to-evil-child-smugglers

Biden’s latest border gambit opens America’s doors to evil child smugglers

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Two years ago, the Biden administration unleashed a catastrophic crisis at our southwest border. Since then, it has doubled down on the policies that sparked this crisis, despite the clear national security, … Read Full Report about Biden’s latest border gambit opens America’s doors to evil child smugglers

ted-cruz-says-biden-will-not-be-nominee-in-2024,-says-knives-out-‘from-every-direction’-for-kamala-harris

Ted Cruz says Biden will not be nominee in 2024, says knives out ‘from every direction’ for Kamala Harris

Sen. Ted Cruz said Monday, ahead of the State of the Union address, that he does not believe President Biden will be the Democratic presidential nominee in 2024. The Texas Republican joined "Jesse Watters Primetime" Monday to discuss why he thinks the Biden … Read Full Report about Ted Cruz says Biden will not be nominee in 2024, says knives out ‘from every direction’ for Kamala Harris

sen.-daines-responds-after-twitter-suspends-his-account-for-hunting-photo:-‘my-wife-is-a-great-shot’

Sen. Daines responds after Twitter suspends his account for hunting photo: ‘My wife is a great shot’

Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., is standing by the photo of him and his wife hunting that reportedly got him suspended from Twitter Monday night, as #FreeSteveDaines began to gain popularity among conservatives on social media."My wife is a great shot. What can I … Read Full Report about Sen. Daines responds after Twitter suspends his account for hunting photo: ‘My wife is a great shot’

Footer

Public File Info

Individuals with disabilities who have questions about the content of our public file or website may contact RaMona Alexander by phone at
601-948-3333 or by email at RaMona.Alexander@fox40tv.com

»WDBD FCC Public File
»EEO Report
»Closed Captioning

 

  • Local News
  • National
  • Sports
  • Weather
  • The Super FOX 40 Giveaway
  • Mississippi Black History
  • More…
    • Lifestyle
      • Realizing DPP
    • Politics
    • Health
    • red cross
    • Science
    • Entertainment
      • Technology
      • What’s on TV?

CATEGORIES

  • Local News
  • National
  • Sports
  • Weather
  • The Super FOX 40 Giveaway
  • Mississippi Black History
  • More…
    • Lifestyle
      • Realizing DPP
    • Politics
    • Health
    • red cross
    • Science
    • Entertainment
      • Technology
      • What’s on TV?
GRIT TV Logo
Antenna_TV_logo
GRIT-TV Logo
Antenna_TV_logo

Copyright © 2023 · American Spirit Media LLC · WDBD TV · Jackson MS · Terms of Service · Privacy Policy