In February 2024, a storm uncovered a shipwreck on Sanday, one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland. The ship has been identified as the Earl of Chatham, a British warship from the 1700s. The ship was built in 1749 and was first called HMS Hind. It was used by the Royal Navy. The ship joined battles in Canada and helped protect ships during the American War of Independence. In 1784, it was sold and renamed. It became a whaling ship in the Arctic. In 1788, the ship sank near Sanday, but all 56 crew members lived.

Scientists used a method called dendrochronology to study the ship’s wood. This method looks at tree rings to find out the wood’s age. The oak wood came from southern England and matched records from the 1700s. Local people helped move about 12 tons of wood using tractors and trailers. The remains are now in a water tank at the Sanday Heritage Centre. There are plans to make a public display. Experts say this discovery is a good example of teamwork between scientists and the community. More shipwrecks may appear in the future because of strong storms and changes to the coast.