TORONTO (May 15, 2017) – It’s been the subject of countless books, movies, and pirate lore for centuries. Now for the first time, Discovery uses new, cutting-edge technology and sophisticated equipment to reveal the “wickedest city on Earth” in the original Canadian documentary DRAIN PIRATE CITY, premiering Sunday, May 28 at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT.

The latest edition of Discovery’s popular “Drain” series, the special uses a unique, virtual CGI draining process to recreate what happened one fateful day when the ocean swallowed up the city of Port Royal, Jamaica, sealing a moment in time for the infamous port and its real-life pirates who roamed the Caribbean.

“For more than 300 years, these ruins have been hidden beneath the sea, and now with the latest Discovery exclusive “Drain” documentary special, we are finally able to take viewers on an adventure to resurrect past secrets,” said Ken MacDonald, Vice-President and General Manager, Discovery Networks. “What still exists of what was once one of the richest cities in the world?”

Famous for its pirates, liquor, and prostitution, the unofficial capital of Jamaica was one of the busiest and wealthiest ports in the West Indies. Uniquely positioned for quick access to trade routes and even quicker getaways for treasure stealing pirates, the original “sin city” was home to more bars and brothels than any other city in the whole of the English colonies.

The glory days of Port Royal ended in a flash in the summer of 1692, when disaster struck – a massive earthquake, a tsunami, and quicksand swallowed the infamous town beneath the waves, killing thousands in a flash. Two thirds of the buildings were sucked into the ocean, the rest buried where they sank. Now, a team led by marine archaeologist Jon Henderson goes in search of what happened, combining scientific data with computer graphics to drain the waters and investigate the final moments.

Commissioned and developed by Discovery, DRAIN PIRATE CITY follows Henderson on his search to uncover how the disaster unfolded at the catastrophic site, creating the Pompeii of the New World. Remarkably, the investigation reveals that Port Royal was no shanty town, but a thriving mercantile hub of the central Caribbean that surpassed London and Boston in wealth, architecture, and sophistication.

In association with Discovery Canada, DRAIN PIRATE CITY is produced by Northern Sky Entertainment. Wayne Abbott is producer and director for Northern Sky Entertainment. Ken MacDonald is the production executive and Vice-President and General Manager, Discovery Networks. Tracey Pearce is President, Distribution and Pay, Bell Media.