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Small underwater drone discovers century-old vessel in “ship graveyard” off Australia coast
Deep in the waters off the west coast of Australia lies a burial ground of old ships. Known as the Rottnest graveyard, the area holds dozens of historically significant vessels that have been scuttled over the decades, including navy ships and secretive submarines.
Locating the wrecks has proven to be huge challenge, with some of the ships sitting at depths of up to 650 feet — but a small underwater drone has just discovered one sprawling 210-foot shipwreck that dates back about 100 years.
A 15-pound drone named Hydrus used high-tech sensors to capture 4K video and imagery of the shipwreck scattered across the seafloor, according to a news release from underwater exploration company Advanced Navigation, which released video of the discovery.
“Upon returning to the surface, the team analyzed the data and was thrilled to find Hydrus had examined a 64-metre shipwreck,” Peter Baker, subsea product manager at Advanced Navigation, said in a statement.
Advanced Navigation
After establishing the coordinates of the sunken vessel, the team used the drone to perform three missions and complete a full survey of the ship in less than five hours. Experts then were able to create an interactive 3D rendering of the wreckage.
Dr. Ross Anderson, a curator at the WA Museum, examined the images and determined the ship was an iron coal hulk that used to service steamships in Western Australia. The vessel, which was likely scuttled in the 1920s or 1930s, was built as a fast clipper ship used in the grain and wool trade between the U.K. and Australia.
Anderson said the maps and 3D models allow experts to “learn more about untold stories beneath the waves.”
The discovery of the coal ship comes just weeks after officials announced the discovery of the wreck of the coal steamship SS Nemesis off Australia’s coast, more than a century after it sank.
According to Advanced Navigation, there are roughly 3 million shipwrecks still waiting to be discovered off the shores of Western Australia, with only about 1,800 wrecks already recorded.
The company said its team would remain focused on finding other shipwrecks in the area, including the SS Koombana — a luxury passenger ship carrying over 150 passengers before it vanished in a storm in 1912.
CBS News
Kamala Harris will speak with “60 Minutes” tomorrow. Here’s what to know for the interview.
Voters will get the chance to hear from Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday as she presents her case for why she should be president in a “60 Minutes” election special.
For decades, “60 Minutes” has featured both Republican and Democratic nominees for presidents, but this year, former President Donald Trump backed out after previously indicating he would be on the show. Correspondent Scott Pelley, who’d been set to interview Trump, will instead travel to Arizona’s Maricopa County, home to more than 60% of Arizona’s voters and a critical battleground in a key swing state.
One thing is certain about the election; with the U.S. deeply involved in both the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, whoever wins on Nov. 5 will become a wartime president.
What Harris will discuss
Israel’s war started one year ago after Hamas launched a surprise terror attack and correspondent Bill Whitaker will discuss the ongoing war with Harris.
Harris will also discuss the economy, immigration, her record as vice president and the differences between herself and Trump.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz will also appear.
Whitaker joined the Democratic ticket on the campaign trail this week to gain insight into their platform’s priorities and values, and what the candidates believe voters should know.
Why Trump pulled out of the “60 Minutes” interview
Leading up to the candidate hour, Trump, through campaign spokespeople, was the first candidate to accept the “60 Minutes” request to be interviewed for the special, according to CBS News. It had been agreed that both candidates would receive equal time during the broadcast.
Trump last sat down with 60 Minutes in 2020. He walked out during the interview with Lesley Stahl. Trump referenced the incident on Tuesday night at a Milwaukee press conference when asked about his decision not to participate in the Oct. 7 “60 Minutes” election special.
“Well, right now, I went to – they came to me and would like me to do an interview, but first I want to get an apology, because the last time I did an interview with them, if you remember, they challenged me on the computer,” Trump said. “They said the ‘laptop from hell’ was from Russia, and I said it wasn’t from Russia. It was from Hunter, and I never got an apology, so I’m sort of waiting. I’d love to do ’60 Minutes.’ I do everything.”
The Republican nominee for president emphasized that he felt he was owed an apology from “60 Minutes.”
“Let’s see if they do it. I wouldn’t mind doing 60,” Trump continued. “I’ve done ’60 Minutes’ a lot.”
In a statement on Tuesday, Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung said that Trump’s team had not agreed to an interview.
“Fake News,” Cheung said in a post on X. “60 Minutes begged for an interview, even after they were caught lying about Hunter Biden’s laptop back in 2020. There were initial discussions, but nothing was ever scheduled or locked in. They also insisted on doing live fact checking, which is unprecedented.”
Previous Trump, Harris appearances on 60 Minutes
Trump previously sat down with “60 Minutes'” Mike Wallace in 1985, Pelley in 2015 and Lesley Stahl twice in 2016, first in July of that year and then again in November of 2016. He also spoke with Stahl again in 2018 and 2020.
Harris previously sat down with Whitaker last year. She also was interviewed by Norah O’Donnell, “CBS Evening News” anchor and “60 Minutes” contributing correspondent, in 2020.
How to watch the “60 Minutes” election special
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