The Peace Association for the Protection of Maritime Heritage has identified the preliminary locations of nine historical ships that sank during World War I along the coasts of the southern provinces of Morocco, from territorial waters to the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The sinking of these ships, which belong to various nationalities including Japanese, Norwegian, French, British, Portuguese, and Italian, is attributed to the open submarine warfare launched by Germany during World War I. This strategy targeted commercial and military ships of the Allied countries, resulting in the sinking of many vessels off these coasts, the association stated in a press release. To safeguard this heritage and further research efforts, the association has provided the coordinates of the initial wreck locations in a report that details the history and characteristics of each ship. This report was forwarded to the National Coordination Committee for Hydrography, Oceanography, and Maritime Cartography. The committee, established by Decree No. 2.14.330 in 2014, is tasked with coordinating the work of public services and all parties involved in hydrography, oceanography, and maritime cartography. This research is part of a broader initiative that builds on the association's previous work, which includes the discovery of the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, the activation of the first UNESCO program dedicated to underwater cultural heritage, the organization of the International Coastal Forum, and cooperative programs with national and international institutions. The efforts culminated in the launch of the first training courses in Morocco on maritime heritage, in partnership with the National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage, as part of the Dakhla International Workshops. The Peace Association for the Protection of Maritime Heritage aims to draw the attention of both central and regional authorities to support the agreement signed by African institutions in Dakhla on October 15, 2024. The goal is to establish Dakhla-Wadi El Dahab as an international center for coordinating African efforts to protect maritime heritage, in alignment with the Royal Initiative of King Mohammed VI to position Dakhla as a strategic Atlantic frontier.
