Due to the extremely low water level of the Sava River, parts of the wreck of the steam tugboat 'Slovenac', which sank in 1945, have become visible again. The ship struck a German magnetic mine in the final days of World War II.
The low water level of the Sava River has once again revealed a long-forgotten historical artifact. Near Sremska Mitrovica, close to the village of Drenovac, the remains of the steam tugboat 'Slovenac', also known to the public as the 'Sava Titanic', have resurfaced from the water. This silent witness to a turbulent past has been lying at the bottom of the river for over eight decades.
Photographs of the wreck, captured by photographer Antonio Ahel, show parts of the ship that are completely hidden beneath the surface during periods of higher water levels. This year's appearance of the wreck is a striking sight that bears witness to the consequences of prolonged drought and extremely low river levels.
The steam tugboat was built in 1913 in Budapest, where it initially bore the name 'Vag'. In accordance with the provisions of the Treaty of Paris from 1921, after the end of World War I and the new political circumstances in Europe, the vessel was assigned to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. It was then renamed 'Slovenac', the name under which it has been remembered.
Due to its shallow draft, it was ideal for navigating the Sava, and for most of its working history, it was used for cargo transport and other work tasks. During World War II, it performed communication duties for the Yugoslav army.
Its voyage, which lasted nearly thirty years, came to an end in the final days of the war. In April 1945, not far from Sremska Mitrovica, specifically near the village of Drenovac, the 'Slovenac' struck a German magnetic mine. After a powerful explosion, the ship sank along the right bank of the Sava, where its remains lie to this day, waiting for the river to reveal them once more.
