Shipwrecks - Time Capsules of Human Civilization

NBC News Documentary - The Hunt for the Bermuda Triangle's Lost Mariner Aircraft

Welcome to those special invitees to this Shipwreck web log. We are the leading source for shipwreck information using the latest in high-tech underwater discovery and exploration research and technology. Although technically an aircraft is not a shipwreck, the techniques used to find an aircraft are very similar to finding a shipwreck. Unfortunately, an aircraft is much smaller and presents a unique challenge. Enclosed is the formal announcement from NBC News/SciFi Channel of our latest big-budget documentary looking for the lost Mariner rescue aircraft that was sent out over the Bermuda Triangle to find the legendary lost 5 Avenger aircraft. Starting next week, we will be giving you very specific information about our underwater expedition. In the meantime, enjoy the documentary that premieres on Sunday, November 27th and I wish you a safe and wonderful holiday season! To make this picture larger, double-click with the pointer on the picture.

Lost Navy Aircraft - Mr. Bright Goes to Washington

Although we are in the midst of our Titanic Photographic Series,  I would like to tell you about another very exciting wreck project that we led this summer. We had many diverse diving expeditions and projects in 2005 (see Updated News section of our corporate web site) but the most unique expedition of the year was the huge diving operation that we had in collaboration with the Naval Historical Center and NBC News. There will be more web log articles about this project later this month but I don't want to give away any of our discoveries just yet. As a sneak preview, visit this website that was recently created by the NBC News/Sci Fi Channel announcing the exciting documentary that will air on November 27th.

As part of the recognition of the 27 lost airmen, a resolution was introduced in Congress that would memorialize these brave Navy aviators. This congressional resolution has received formal approval and will be officially unveiled as part of a ceremony on Capitol Hill on Thursday November 17th. A global news conference has been scheduled up on the Hill to introduce this new exciting documentary and I will be one of the guests of honor with Florida Congressman Clay Shaw; NBC News Anchor Lester Holt; Bonnie Hammer, president of USA Networks and the Sci Fi Channel; and Dave Howe, Executive Vice President and GM of the Sci Fi Channel. This scientific research expedition was undertaken like no other previous expedition before to discover and explore the mysteries behind the disappearance of these Naval aircraft. This SPECIAL two-hour documentary will premiere on the Sci Fi Channel on November 27th at 9 pm EST/8 pm Central. Check your local listings for this show outside of the United States and out West.

Living Legend - US Navy Submersible Leader Don Walsh

I have been around diving for thirty-five years now and there are many pioneers in diving that I have met. The latest living legend that I met while lecturing out on the Russian research vessel Akademik Keldysh over the Titanic wreck site is Navy Captain Don Walsh USN-Ret. Captain Walsh is the leading United States naval expert on submersibles and was the head of their undersea submersible program for many years. Although this would be considered quite an accomplishment, Don is most famous for another wonderful achievement.

As a young lieutenant, Don Walsh was a member of the elite US submersible team that started the exploration of the deep ocean floor. When the revolutionary submersible Trieste became available to the US Navy, this elite squad of naval professionals were quick to seize the opportunity. On January 23, 1960, Don and French submersible pioneer Jacques Picard journeyed to the bottom of Challenger Deep in the Pacific Ocean's  Marianas Trench. At 37,800 feet, the Challenger Deep is the deepest spot known in all the oceans. No one has been back since and this feat will never be broken.  For this remarkable accomplishment, Don graced the cover of every news magazine throughout the world and was awarded a presidential medal by President Eisenhower.

Exploration of the deep oceans is still on-going; however, there are only 5 submersibles in the world that can dive deeper than the 12, 600 feet where Titanic resides. With the announced news that Wood's Hole's famous submersible Alvin will be retired, that leaves only the two Russian MIRs, the French Nautile and the Japanese Shinkai as the only submersibles that can do deep ocean exploration-although none of these vessels can make it down as deep as the Trieste did that historic moment in 1960. For that reason, Captain Don Walsh is immortalized as the deepest diver of all-time! As for the Trieste, she can be seen on display at the Washington (DC) Navy Yard.

RMS Olympic's Encounter with a U-boat

Many stories have been written about the two ill-fated White Star ocean liners, Titanic and Britannic. Because of the tragic sinking of these two liners, one by iceberg and the other due to a mine, these ships have been documented extensively in the press, web, documentaries and movies. The account of these other sisters have dwarfed those of the most successful White Star liner named RMS Olympic. The Olympic was known as "Old Reliable" because of its long service as a passenger liner, troop carrier and general purpose ship that the Crown used for various purposes. In its twenty-five year service, the Olympic steamed close to two hundred thousand miles into various ports around the world.

The Olympic has the unique distinction of being the only vessel of its kind to directly sink an enemy ship without the use of armaments. In 1915, the Crown needed to bring her into the war as a troop carrier to ferry soldiers to the front. Immediately she was repainted in the "dazzle" motif which was a bizarre, geometric-like abstract color pattern of black, white and gray on a yellow backdrop. This paint pattern was meant to confuse enemy ships from attacking this huge liner. In May of 1918, the Olympic, on its twenty-second voyage as a troop carrier, was attacked by a marauding German submarine U-103 in the English Channel. The submarine started the assault on the much quicker liner by launching two torpedoes directly at the ship's port-side bow. Unarmed but not defenseless, the Olympic used evasive maneuvers and was able to escape the torpedoes destructive impact. Even though the huge liner could of steamed away from harm's way following this torpedo attack, in a most courageous act, she turned on this deadly submarine and proceeded to ram the U-103. Even though the impact on the submarine was a glancing blow, the size and weight of the Olympic's attack proved to be deadly to the submarine and she quickly sank. Several submariners were able to escape and eventually were picked up by an American destroyer. The Olympic was the only merchant ship to sink an enemy warship during the war.

Discovery of the USS Monitor

I was reading a story fresh off the news wires about a tale of a black cat aboard the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor that was supposedly placed inside a cannon by a superstitious but desperate sailor as the vessel was sinking. Personnel at the Monitor Center in the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, VA are in the process of excavating the cannon and examining the contents within its barrel-very vigilant for the potential remains of this black cat. So far, the cat's remains have not been found. To read the account of the sailor, select this link to CNN News.

The USS Monitor was a very revolutionary vessel that was the prototype for all military vessels today. The discovery of the Monitor was not by salvors or divers that regularly dive the Graveyard of the Atlantic but was found by a group of geological and oceanographic scientists that were conducting topographical measurements on the ocean floor. The wreck was discovered in 1973 by the lead scientists Robert Sheridan, Harold Edgerton, Gordon Watts and John Newton and several members from Duke, University of Delaware and University of Rhode Island. One of the best nautical books that you will ever read is Robert Sheridan's book on the discovery of the Monitor entitled Iron from the Deep - The Discovery and Recovery of the USS Monitor. The interactions between the the academic world, the military and the government is a a unique glimpse into the maniacal world of bureaucracy and ego. Although there is a fair amount of science, it is extremely interesting and lends credibility for the discovery and identification of the Monitor. I met Dr. Sheridan over 15 years ago when I was diving the Monitor in collaboration with NOAA and continue to speak with him on a semi-regular basis. He is currently retired as professor emeritus at Rutgers University and still very involved in the story of the Monitor. I find it quite interesting that the story of the finding and recovery of the Monitor has always downplayed the role of these fine scientists. Hopefully, with the new Monitor Center, their scientific exploits and their significant role in the discovery of Monitor will be captured for the generations of future marine scientists.

USS Monitor - Revolutionary First Ironclad

During the 1860's, no one would know that a revolutionary nautical concept and design would change the way our current warships are constructed.  When the tiny, cigar-shaped object named Monitor was being built in Brooklyn, many critics scoffed at the validity of such a ship to wage a naval battle, let alone even be able to float. John Ericsson, the Swedish designer, had to pitch this unique design to the Unites States Navy many times before it was decided to give this boat a chance during the Civil War. Her battle with the Confederate ironclad named Virginia ( Merrimack) is legendary and she sank in a storm while being reassigned to blockade service down in Charleston during a heavy December winter storm.

Nautical Research Group was one of the first to dive and explore Monitor in conjunction with NOAA. During our two years of diving to the ship, we conducted metallurgical / corrosion studies while creating a photometric record of the state of decay on major structural points on the ship. We were given permission to photograph and recover items from the ship by NOAA Monitor sanctuary manager, John Broadwater, which were placed on permanent display in the Monitor Center in the Mariners' Museum in Newport News, Virginia. Later this summer, we will be devoting a segment of our blog on the discovery of Monitor in the mid-1970's and give an update on the latest developments in the nautical archaeology and recovery of this historic vessel.

USS Niagara - Tale of Two Ships

The name Niagara has been used by many different naval ships and by several different countries over the past 300 years. Even a class of Star Trek starships is named Niagara; however, it is not the focus of this web log to discuss starships. 

Originally, the Indian name for Niagara was Ongiara. Within years of Father Hennepin's visit to the Falls, the name gradually changed to become Niagara by the explorers and non-native settlers. The United States Navy has used the name Niagara many times ( there were eight Niagara-named naval vessels); however, we will discuss in this weblog two of the more recent uses of this name.  Our first USS Niagara was built on February 23,1855, commissioned on April 6th, 1857 and her first task was the laying of the transatlantic cable between Ireland and Newfoundland. This was a very monumental event that immortalized this USS Niagara. Additionally, she liberated 200 Africans from a brig that was bringing them over from Africa as slaves, transported the first Japanese diplomats from Washington to New York and served the Union as a blockade runner in the Civil War. The USS Niagara led a very long life and was decommissioned in 1864, remaining in the Boston Ship Yard until purchased by a private enterprise in 1885.

Our second USS Niagara originally was called the steam yacht Niagara and was built in 1898 in Wilmington, Delaware. Because of the onset of World War I, the United States Navy purchased her in 1917, converted her into a patrol boat and renamed her USS Niagara in 1918.  Like her earlier "sister" she was involved in the laying of cable between the United States and the West Indies - only this Niagara was used to escort the cable ships between several ports. Post-World War I, the Niagara spent the majority of her time performing vital surveying duties throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea areas. Much of our corporation's work in Florida owes a debt of thanks to the Niagara for providing us with accurate nautical charts of this region. Finally, the USS Niagara was decommissioned in early March 1931 and sold for scrap in September, 1933.

Niagara Falls Nostalgia - RMS Niagara and two USS Niagara(s)

I would like to thank Belinda Sawyer for breaking away from her busy schedule to give us a live report from the beautiful Malpelo and Cocos Islands. In three weeks, Belinda will report LIVE from the wreck site of the German battleship, Bismarck and our blog will have that exclusive story.

I would like to continue this coming week with ships that have a theme related to Niagara Falls.  The first ship that we will report on is the Royal Mail Ship - RMS Niagara. This converted luxury liner was carrying eight tons of gold bullion and hit a mine. She sank off New Zealand's waters on June 19th, 1940 in about 400 feet.

The other ships that we will report on are the two different USS Niagara(s). USS Niagara (the first) was built in 1857, served the Union in the Civil War and led a very long life. The second USS Niagara originally was called the steam yacht Niagara and was built in 1898. Because of the onset of World War I, the United States Navy purchased her in 1917 and renamed her USS Niagara.

Philadelphia's Rich Nautical History - Part V Philadelphia Naval Yard

No discussion of Philadelphia's rich nautical history would be complete without a weblog about the famous Philadelphia Naval Yard. Despite the extraordinary tale of the Philadelphia Experiment aside, the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard was the first Naval Shipyard commissioned in the United States. In 1799 the US Congress authorized $522,678 in funds for the purchase of land to establish the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. The shipyard was originally located in the Southwark region of Philadelphia. However, with growth of the city, the shipyard was relocated to its present site.

Philadelphia NSY is on League Island in the Delaware River in Philadelphia. The original naval yard was established in 1801. The yard underwent numerous upgrades, primarily in the early part of the 20th century. In 1917, the Naval Aircraft Factory was established on the island. After World War I, the factory focused on the development and manufacture of experimental aircraft and aircraft accessories. During World War II, the shipyard constructed 53 ships and repaired 574. The workforce was greatly reduced after World War II, from 40,000 to 12,000. The Naval Aircraft Factory was re-designated the Naval Air Material Center in 1943, and became the Naval Air Engineering Center in 1963. In 1974, the Naval Air Engineering Center was relocated to Lakehurst, NJ. The last ship completely built at the yard was finished in 1970. In 1987, fleet carriers underwent service life extension at the yard.

The 1991 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission recommended that the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard [PNSY] be closed but acknowledged that PNSY would perform the Service Life Extension Program for the USS. Kennedy from September 1993 until mid-1996. The work on the USS. Kennedy subsequently changed to a 24-month complex overhaul, which Congress required to be performed by PNSY. The Secretary of Defense concurred in this plan in September 1991. KENNEDY completed a two-year comprehensive overhaul in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on September 13, 1995 and then the Navy Shipyard closed on September 30, 1995.

The Navy Intermediate Ship Maintenance Facility (NIMSF) continued to store decommissioned and mothballed ships after the shipyard closed in the mid-1990s. In storage at the shipyard as of late 1995 were two battleships, one heavy cruiser, two aircraft carriers, two amphibious assault ships, two AEs, two AOs, two AORs, one AFS, four CGs, nine DDGs and seven FFs plus numerous small auxiliaries. These included the amphibious assault ships GUADALCANAL (LPH-7) and IWO JIMA (LPH-2); aircraft carriers SARATOGA (CV-60) and FORESTALL (CV-59); and the battleships IOWA (BB-61) and WISCONSIN (BB-64). 

After months of intensive negotiations, on 21 October 1997 Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge and Philadelphia Mayor Rendell signed an historic agreement with Kvaerner to to renovate and modernize the publicly owned yard. The shipyard project includes a public investment of $396 million in capital funding from federal, state and local sources. Public bodies will retain ownership in the yard and can recapture it should Kvaerner significantly reduce ship production.

Kvaerner is Europe's largest commercial shipbuilder, and an international engineering and construction company widely recognized as a world leader in high-tech transportation. In the deal with the city, Kvaerner committed to design and manufacture container and tanker ships using the world's most advanced robotics and software technology. The Philadelphia facility is Kvaerner's first American shipyard, and in the summer of 1998 the company established its North American headquarters in Philadelphia. Even though Kvaerner is actively involved in maintaining and running the shipyard, you can still see over 50 mothballed Navy vessels lining the northernmost docks of their shipyard within full view of Interstate 95.

Philadelphia's Rich Nautical History - Part III USS Becuna

Surrounded by the other much larger ships of Penn's Landing, the 'tiny' USS Becuna sits inauspiciously between the dock and the cruiser USS Olympia; however, looks can be very deceiving and the submarine Becuna was quite a mighty adversary.

Launched on January 30th, 1944, in the middle of World War II, from the famed shipyards of Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut, the Becuna conducted five wartime patrols with the U.S. Seventh Fleet in the Pacific. Becuna sank the 7500 ton freighter Nichiyoku Maru, two small coastal freighters, assisted USS Hawkbill with the sinking of the oiler Tokuwa Maru, and damaged another oiler. The submarine also served as a lifeguard for downed pilots and narrowly missed an attack on the battleship Yamato.

Following her World War II career, she was converted from her basic fleet boat configuration to a streamlined fast underwater submarine known as a GUPPY in 1951 that extended her service during the Korean War and Vietnam conflict in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. The Becuna serves as an educational resource and tourist attraction with the cruiser Olympia and is a registered National Historic Landmark.