Researchers say they’re closing in on Captain Cook’s ship

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Researchers say they’ve identified a site off the coast of Rhode Island where they think the ship that 18th-century explorer Capt. James Cook used to sail around the world may be located.

The Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project, which is leading the search effort, and the Australian National Maritime Museum identified the site in the harbor near Newport, Rhode Island.

Archaeologists are meeting in Newport on Friday to talk about their recent fieldwork.

They describe the site as “promising” but said it’ll still take a lot more work and money to identify the ship.

Cook ran aground on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef during a voyage to the South Pacific nearly 250 years ago.

He used his ship, the Endeavour, to claim Australia for the British during his historic 1768-1771 voyage.