Photo: canva.com/Mark Borsi
“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, Lord, hear my cry.” (Psalm 130) Surely, this is the cry of our seas and oceans and it will continue to come from the depths!
There is continued sharing, planning and discussion about our care for our common earth and rightly so. But an aspect I am acutely aware of and one that many are unfortunately impervious to is the impact of shipwrecks on our seas and oceans. Thousands of ships have sunk throughout history. They are not all on the seabed. They are lying in our harbours, wedged in sand on our shores and drifting aimlessly like “ghost ships” on our oceans, reminiscent of the mythical supernatural ships in the novel The Flying Dutchman. And this will continue! I have been associated with the “Apostleship of the Sea-Stella Maris” for over thirty years and in recent times was appointed by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) as National Director.
In this time, much has been experienced and much learnt in matters relating to “our people of the sea”, Seafarers and, naturally enough, the Maritime Industry. Whilst fascinating, it is also very challenging and at times confronting!
I do not profess to be an expert on shipwrecks and their impact, so these are my personal thoughts and reflections. They may stimulate discussions among interested parties.
Growing up, I was fascinated by shipwrecks. It was the grandeur of ships past, the history, the countries, the battles fought, the fame and the fortune. Naturally enough, not every trip was “smooth sailing” - many crew and passengers were forced to set foot on ships that became vessels of horror, death, disease, uprootedness, shame and dominance.
Here in Victoria, our coastline is dotted with fascinating maritime stories. Wrecks abound. They may not be as numerous as they once were, but shipwrecks are nonetheless a reality of our modern times. What went to the bottom of the ocean was once wood and sail, fortunes and various goods. In our modern era, the wrecks now reveal something more sinister.
A once-glorious and simpler era has “stepped aside” for more modern, larger, faster and more powerful vessels. Now, our electronic and robotic age is all about business and service. Time is money. Some ships of our future will increase in size by half again. The average number of 25 crew members per ship will decrease. Time in any port will basically be a “drop-off and pick-up” industry development. While the future is unknown, one thing is certain: this change will have startling effects on our common oceans and seas as it will on our common earth. We must not forget ourselves - we humans will pay the price for our creativity! Sometimes my heart is full of guilt about the future; my mind is full of bewilderment and, above all, there is deep-seated frustration.
Why? A shipwreck is not just a shipwreck. Whether it be a small leisure craft, yacht, cruiser, a barge, leading up to the larger oil and gas tankers, bulk carriers, container ships and car carriers, if any one of these is a victim of the forces of nature, human error, abandonment, piracy and the like, then that which lies on any beach, floats in any ocean or sea and even that which plunges into the depths will cast its net of destruction, contamination and fear.
A vessel grounding can damage a coral reef; the dragging of an anchor can destroy marine flora and fauna. Leakages and spills can initiate varying degrees of pollution and death. We know from history how oil spills, in addition to taking forever and a day to clean up and control, affect our ecosystem almost to the point of no return.
Hazardous materials such as heavy metals (copper, nickel), asbestos and the many and varied chemicals used in shipbuilding and all maintenance procedures, the paint … all of these basically get weathered into our environment in due course, gradually leaching into the water and then into the soil; obviously, the beaches get contaminated, too.
Yes, ships and boats are at the mercy of tides and waves - but of us also. We can and must do something. We must not get caught in the nets of complacency; we must not get tied down by the ropes of denial, nor must we be consumed by the “flotsam and jetsam” that floats in our daily lives. Rusted machines and equipment will only poison our attitudes and actions and eventually we might come to a grinding halt.
Caring for our earth, caring for our ecosystem ... caring for Life, caring for potentiality! We forget that destroyed or polluted environments will very quickly affect seafood stocks. Fish may be poisoned, putting the health and well-being of all at risk. Socio-economic ramifications would bring financial loss to fishing communities. Tourism, which relies on clean beaches and aesthetic environments, would fail and marine attractions cease to exist or be valued and appreciated. The domino effect of such degradation and loss may be devastating.
We are victims of our modernity and like most things in our lives and world today, we and everything around us are under threat. Personal stewardship has to be partnered with environmental stewardship if we are to realise more fully the gifted creation and the relationships we should have with every person who walks our mother earth.
Let us strive to give and receive life and not allow anyone or anything to deny its fullness. The challenge and reality are before us.
It is not good enough to “be”. In all matters of life and relationships, no matter who or what, we must continually “become”. We are challenged to grow with the needs and the times and adjust accordingly to what is right and just. If not, then we will be swamped and no longer able to launch out into the deep.
The Lord holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the highest mountains as well. He made the sea; it belongs to him, the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands. (Psalm 95).
Columban Fr Tony Cox lives and works in Australia.
Listen to "The impact of shipwrecks"
Related links
- Read more from The Far East - September/October 2026
