L'Ametlla de Mar, its coast, and the Gulf of Sant Jordi have witnessed many shipwrecks throughout different periods of history. However, it was in the early 20th century, during World War I, when the most numerous and significant shipwrecks occurred.

The area closest to the coast of the Gulf of Sant Jordi was used by many cargo ships and military transport vessels to make routes that were protected as they were within a neutral zone, theoretically safe from attack by German submarines that were operating in the area. However, too often, knowing the shape of the Gulf, the ships would take a straight route from Cap de Salou to Cap de Tortosa (Delta de l'Ebre), and right in front of L'Ametlla de Mar, they would enter international waters, where submarines waited to sink them.

Over time, the existence of the so-called "gantxos" (hooks) became known. This was the name used by fishermen who hooked their nets as they passed over these numerous wrecks.

But recently, about fifteen large-tonnage ships that sank have been investigated, and each has its own story, which has been studied and is now being highlighted.

The Correu

Correu is the name of one of the most famous ship. When it sank off the coast of L'Ametlla de Mar in 1917, it was called Cavour. It lies 2 miles from the coast at a depth of 52 meters.

The Cavour collided with the Caprera, an auxiliary ship that was accompanying it. However, before this, in 1909, the Cavour was called Florida and belonged to a different company. During one of its voyages off the coast of New York, it was involved in an accident with a large transatlantic ship called Republic.

The Republic sank, and our Florida suffered severe damage. Thanks to a person named Jack Bins, the first use of wireless telegraphy was employed to manage the evacuation of the Republic. Three people died, but the rest were saved as many other ships arrived to assist passengers and crew.

The Republic belonged to the White Star Line company, and as a side note, after the loss of their most important ship, the crew was informed that they were building the largest transatlantic ship in history, the Titanic, and as a reward for their crucial rescue, they would join the Titanic's crew.

The cause of all this confusion rests under the waters of L'Ametlla de Mar. Due to a transcription error at the time, its location was not known, as it had been published that the Cavour-Florida was sunk off the coast of "Armeville," when it turned out it was actually "Ametlla."

Another significant sinking with many victims was the Medjerda, in 1918. A ship transporting troops and supplies, which, in an attempt to escape from a German submarine, was torpedoed and now lies at a depth of 105 meters. A total of 352 people died.

These are just two of the ships sunk between 1916 and 1918. There are others of great tonnage, each with its own particular history: Skogland, Ausonia, Lefkòsia, Gratangen, Fert, Chulmleigh, and up to approximately 35 wrecks in total, with a tonnage of 99,000 tons.

Four commanders of German submarines were the most active during those years