One of the most famous shipwrecks in Brazil, the Corvette V 17 – Ipiranga, from the Brazilian Navy, rests at about sixty meters in the waters of Ponta da Sapata in Fernando de Noronha.
Very well protected by the island's diving operators, the Ipiranga corvette has practically all its structures preserved and inside are almost all the objects and belongings that were abandoned by the crew during the shipwreck.
History at Corvette Ipiranga
The Corvette was the fourth ship to bear that name in the Brazilian Navy, to the historic stream of São Paulo on whose banks, symbolically, Brazil's Independence would have been declared.
The Corvette suffered a navigation accident and sank at a depth of 62 m near the island of Fernando de Noronha, making it one of the best known dives in the region and in Brazil.
The keel strike took place on October 17, 1953.
It was incorporated into the Brazilian Armada in 1955. In 1983, it was shipwrecked during a commission in Fernando de Noronha. Its wreckage is at a depth of approximately 62 meters.
The corvette was on a patrol trip along the northeast coast of the country.
On a calm morning, the ship was approaching Fernando de Noronha, where it would carry out support tasks for the island's garrison, when it suddenly collided with Cabeça da Sapata.
Video about the Ipiranga Corvette
This rock, located off Ponta da Sapata, protrudes from more than 70 meters in depth to just under 2 meters during low tide.
Although it is a known danger to navigation, which is even suspected of having caused the sinking of the Nau de Américo Vespucci, there is no nautical signage in the place.
After the collision with Zapata's head, the Corvette Ipiranga slowly sinks.
In the background, Morro do Pico from the position in which the corvette Ipiranga ended up sinking.
The crew was rescued by fishermen from Fernando de Noronha island.
After the crash, the Corvette V-17 took about 8 hours to sink. During this period, several boats from the island approached the corvette, helping with the unloading and removal of several important parts and the crew.
The navy inquiry concluded that they were not to blame for the accident.
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