The Rooswijk Web Tour

Client – Historic England/MSDS Marine

CGI/Content– Grant Cox (ArtasMedia/CloudTour)

Software – 3DS Max/Vray/After Effects/Photoshop

Web Design – Stuart Graham (CyanSub/CloudTour)

Specialist Consultant – Tom Harrison (MSDS Marine)

The Rooswijk was a Dutch East India Company vessel which sank on the treacherous Goodwin Sands, off Kent, in January 1740. The ship was outward-bound for Batavia (modern-day Jakarta) with trade goods. The site is now protected by the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 and all access is controlled by a licensing system administered by Historic England on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The ship’s remains lie at a depth of some 25 metres and are owned by the Dutch Government. The UK government is responsible for managing shipwrecks in British waters, therefore both countries work closely together to manage and protect the wreck site. The Maritime Programme of the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture) and Historic England (on behalf of the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) are responsible for the joint management of the Rooswijk.

To create the Web Tour, a CGI model was created in 3DS Max using survey data and illustration from the site. This was then lit using virtual diver helmet lights to recreate the atmospheric nature of the site for the non diving public.

Explore the web tour here!