Italy: Roman merchant ship found by police submarine

Genoa, 6 Aug. (AKI) - Police in northwest Italy have located the remains of a 2,000 year old Roman merchant ship.

The food-transport vessel was found by a police in a submarine off the shore of the town Varazze, 30 kilometres from Genoa, according to Lt Col. Francesco Schilardi, of the carabinieri military police, cited by the Italian media.

The ship was located following tips from fishermen who since the 1930s had caught vases used to store food in their nets, said Schilardi, who added that tests determined they contained picked fish, wine and oil that were traded in Spain for other goods.

Schilardi the police have asked maritime authorities to restrict area around the ship.