Ministry of Culture to host Protected Wreck Days events in August

Taipei, May 30 (CNA) The Ministry of Culture (MOC) has scheduled two events in mid-August as it introduces Protected Wreck Days to raise public awareness of Taiwan's underwater cultural heritage, the ministry said in a statement released Thursday.

In collaboration with National Tsing Hua University, the MOC will hold a three-day scuba diving event from Aug. 15-17, focusing on "Jiangjun No. 1" (將軍1號), a shipwreck discovered near Penghu County in 1995. A one-day seminar is also scheduled for Aug. 15, the statement said.

Jiangjun No. 1, located near Jiangjun Islet off Penghu County, is believed to be a flat-bottomed wooden vessel that ran aground and sank during the mid-Qing Dynasty while traveling between southern China and Penghu, according to the Bureau of Cultural Heritage under the MOC.

The ship was carrying building materials and ceramic goods. Artifacts recovered from the site include blue-and-white porcelain bowls, clay pots, tiles, and coins from the reign of Qing Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799), offering insights into trade in the region at the time.

The three-day diving event will take place in Penghu County, with 20 spots available for applicants holding a Divemaster certificate or higher. Registration is open until June 19, and a refundable deposit of NT$2,000 (US$67) is required.

The seminar will be held at the Penghu Living Museum and is open to 100 participants.

The concept of Protected Wreck Days was inspired by the U.K.-based Nautical Archaeology Society, which organizes dives for certified divers to visit and learn about the United Kingdom's protected wreck sites, the MOC said.