A mysterious shipwreck has been discovered on the shores of Newfoundland centuries after it is thought to have sunk.

The 80ft ship is believed to have been dredged up by post-tropical storm Fiona before it was spotted by residents of Cape Ray, a small Canadian coastal town.

“It’s amazing, there is no other word for it,” said Gordon Blackmore, 21, who was hunting seabirds when he noticed a dark shadow in the waters. “I’m just curious if they can name the ship, and how old it is and if there were any souls lost on her.”

The boat is thought to date from the 19th-century because of its use of wooden dowels and copper pegs, common in the 1800s, in its construction.

But little else is known about its origin, while marine experts are mulling over the mystery of its sudden appearance in January.

Neil Burgess, the president of the Shipwreck Preservation Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, suspects the vessel was freed by coastal erosion and a storm that damaged more than 100 homes.

Mr Burgess told UPI news: “If it’s oak or beech or a hardwood species like that, it will tell us it wasn’t made here in Newfoundland and was probably made over in Europe. There are databases of shipwrecks, we can search for what was recorded as being lost around Cape Ray.”

A government team has been sent to assess and preserve the wreck which could rapidly become a destination for souvenir hunters. There are also fears it could succumb to sea ice or be pulled back out to sea by strong winds.

Cape Ray, where the extraordinary find has become the talk of the town, is home to around 350 people and used to be situated on a high-traffic shipping route.

The community’s Facebook page has transformed into a hub of speculation and offers of research into the wreck’s possible origins.

One resident, Bert Osmond, has been praised for standing guard. “This story has gone world wide and hopefully we can secure the wreck so the officials can document it,” wrote Anne Osmond on the Facebook page.

“We want to give a big shout-out to Bert for being there daily to watch over this piece of history as well as everyone else who helped out and offered ropes to secure it.”