Archaeologists have uncovered the deepest known shipwreck in French territorial waters—more than 2.5 kilometers (approximately 8,200 feet) deep under the Mediterranean Sea, off the Ramatuelle coast close to Saint-Tropez. The shipwreck, also called Camarat 4, is an estimated 16th-century merchant vessel that was stumbled upon by France’s navy by accident in March 2025 while conducting a routine military seabed control operation.
The discovery was made by the French Navy’s specialist underwater operations team, CEPHISMER, during a general government mission to explore France’s deep-sea environment, including geological and cultural heritage ᴀssessment. The shipwreck was first discovered by submersible drones, followed by a second dive with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) confirming the significance of the discovery. The wreck, approximately 30 meters (100 feet) long by 7 meters (23 feet) wide, is believed to have sailed from the Ligurian coast of modern northern Italy based on the cargo recovered.
Credit: © National Navy
The vessel itself appears to have been a merchant ship with an excellent and varied cargo of ceramics consisting of some 200 faience jugs and perhaps 100 yellow plates. Most of the jugs were decorated with floral and geometric patterns or stamped with the Christogram “IHS,” the first three letters of Jesus’ name in Greek—traces that attest to the ceramics’ production in 16th-century Liguria. In addition to the ceramics, the wreck holds anchors, six cannons, and two large cauldrons, signs that it was highly equipped for long voyages and possibly protected against pirates.
The depth of the wreck has served as a natural protection against looting, currents, and other forces that wear out artifacts, making it possible for archaeologists to examine the site in an almost original state.
Arnaud Schaumᴀsse, head of the culture ministry’s underwater archaeology department, said: “It is the deepest shipwreck ever found in French territorial waters.” La Minerve, a French submarine, held the previous record until Camarat 4, which was found in 2019 at 2.3 kilometers.
Despite the well-preserved site, modern waste such as soda cans and yogurt containers were observed near the wreck, and this has already posed questions about sea pollution even at extreme depths. The researchers have thus considered incorporating environmental awareness and anti-pollution studies into their ongoing research and public outreach.
Future operations by French authorities and DRᴀssM will involve a multi-year research effort with experts in ceramics, naval architecture, artillery, material culture, and conservation. Work includes creating a complete pH๏τogrammetric 3D model of the wreck and recovering a limited number of artifacts in a careful manner to study them before returning them to the site or placing them in public collections. Such projects are considered a way of further enriching our understanding of maritime trade networks, shipbuilding techniques, and cultural exchanges in the Mediterranean during the Renaissance.
