The Rich History of the Saentis
The steam engine boat known as the Saentis was built in the late 1800s as a passenger ferry for those traveling around Lake Constance. In 1898, the beloved ship underwent some much needed renovations, then continued her service for another 35 years.
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During that time, the Saentis could carry up to 400 passengers across the lake. However, because she was a coal-powered steamship, the Saentis soon became more trouble than she was worth.
The Switch from Coal to Oil
The United States began producing oil to be used as fuel in 1859, but it wasn’t until the end of the century that ships around the world began to make the change from coal.
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However, by the 1920s, oil had become the preferred fuel for all nautical vehicles, as it had a higher energy density, providing far more energy per pound. And at this time, hundreds of coal ships around the world were essentially rendered useless.
The Saentis Was Simply Too Expensive to Run
As a coal powered ship, the Saentis was too expensive to operate fuel ships were available. But instead of taking the boat out of the water and taking it apart for scraps, the locals of Lake Constance decided to take a different tactic.
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They sank her to the bottom of the lake, where she has sat for 91 years. But while the story of the Sanetis steamship is certainly quite different from that of the famous Titanic, there are a strange number of similarities between the two.
Why the Saentis Is Called the “Titanic of the Alps”
First and foremost, the Saentis and the Titanic are both ships sitting at the bottom of a body of water, but that’s not the only thing they have in common.
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They were both cylinder steamships, which were in use during the first few years of the 20th century, and were run by coal.
The Titanic and the Saentis Sank in the Same Way
Maybe most interestingly, both the Saentis and the Titanic sank in a very similar way. While the Titanic split in half after hitting an iceberg, the Saentis sank while whole.
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However, in both cases, the stern, or the back of the boat, lifted vertically into the air below falling below the surface. Of course, there are no photographs of the Titanic sinking, but survivors reported what happened. And thankfully, there is a photograph of the Saentis sinking, and it seems the two were extremely similar.
The Titanic Sits Much Deeper Below the Surface than the Saentis
While there are several similarities, there are two major differences between the two ships and that is where they are in the world and how far deep below the surface they sit.
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The wreckage of what was once the Titanic is currently sitting 12,500 feet deep at the bottom of the Northern Atlantic Ocean. Whereas the Saentis rests only 689 feet down in a freshwater lake.
Salvage Divers Decided to See How the Saentis Was Doing
Because the Saentis is only 689 feet below the surface and is sitting in freshwater, salvagers hypothesized that the ship was not only reachable, but also probably in great condition.
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So a team from the Ship Salvage Association (SSA) decided to dive down and see for themselves.
They Found It Essentially Intact
Thanks to the lack of light and oxygen at the bottom of Lake Constance, the SSA found exactly what they thought they would. The Saentis is almost perfectly intact and, while slightly rusted, seems to be in great condition.
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President of the SSA, Silvan Paganini, told the press, “It’s in really good condition. We have here a freshwater lake, it’s really deep, it’s very dark there, [there’s] not much oxygen, so it’s really well conserved. You can still see the paint and read the letters on the side of the ship.”
The Plan to Resurface the “Titanic of the Alps”
Therefore, the SSA has decided to lift the century-old ship from the lake’s floor and restore it to its former glory. They’ve raised the $228,000 they need to complete their mission, and have released their impressive plan.
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The SSA will use lifting bags like balloons to first lift the ship from 689 feet to 39 feet in March, then a month later, they’ll use the same tactic to raise it all the way to the surface.
The Ship Will Eventually Make Its Way to a Local Museum for Everyone to Enjoy
According to the SSA, they plan to take the ship immediately to a shipyard in Romanshorn to be repaired and reconstructed where need be.
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Then, as soon as possible, the Saentis steamship that once floated along Lake Constance taking passengers between its surrounding countries will be placed in a museum for everyone to enjoy.
The “Titanic of the Alps” Is an Important Part of History
The Titanic is undoubtedly one of if not the most famous ship in history. However, since it’s currently in pieces thousands of feet below the ocean’s surface, it is likely that no one will ever see it with the naked eye again.
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But thankfully, a great piece of modern history, the “Titanic of the Alps,” will once again be admirable from above.