Magellan Limited Honours Victims of the SS Tilawa Civilian Tragedy

Magellan Limited, a global leader in deep-sea exploration and mapping, has transited to the wreck site of the SS Tilawa, a British passenger-cargo liner sunk during World War II in one of the rare large-scale civilian maritime tragedies of the conflict.

Commissioned to carry out this work, Magellan was tasked with laying a commemorative plaque at the wreck site in memory of the 280 lives lost, conducting a detailed video and photographic survey of the site, and supporting efforts to bring the personal histories of survivors into public view.

The SS Tilawa was torpedoed on November 23, 1942, by Japanese submarine I-29 while en route from Mumbai to Durban. Aboard were 732 passengers and 222 crew plus 4 gunners. After being struck by two torpedoes, the HMS Birmingham and the SS Carthage rescued 678; 280 men, women, and children were lost to the sea.

Using advanced submersible and imaging technology, Magellan’s team documented the wreck at a depth of approximately 4,200 meters, capturing high-resolution visual records to support historical preservation. A commemorative plaque was also placed at the site as a permanent tribute to those who perished.

“Being commissioned to work on the SS Tilawa site was both a technical challenge and a deep honour,” said a spokesperson for Magellan Limited. “This was more than a survey. It was an act of remembrance. By recording the wreck and helping to share the survivors’ stories, we aim to ensure the memory of this tragedy lives on.”

Known by some as the “Indian Titanic,” the story of the Tilawa has gained renewed interest in recent years. In 2017, British company Argentum Exploration located the wreck and later recovered over 2,300 silver bars that had been on board, valued at over £32million in 2024.

The work by Magellan Limited marks an important step in publicly acknowledging this overlooked chapter in maritime and wartime history, and ensures that both the lives lost and those who survived are not forgotten.

For further details and survivor accounts, visit www.tilawa1942.com.

Email: info@magellan.gg
Website: https://magellan.gg