2006
Delaware II Remote Sensing Cruise
The
sanctuary conducted a 12 day maritime heritage remote sensing
cruise on the NOAA ship Delaware II in February-March 2006. The
project's goal was to locate maritime heritage sites, such as
historic shipwrecks with side scan sonar. Survey areas were chosen
based upon historical accounts, reported vessel losses, and fishing
hangs. The survey covered approximately 15 square kilometers in
the sanctuary. Side scan sonar used sound pulses to create an
image of the seafloor which helps archaeologists locate and determine
if a feature on the bottom is manmade, biological, or geologic.
NOAA
ship Delaware II was the research vessel used during this
side scan survey. Courtesy of Melissa Madrigal.
The
vessel's wet lab served as the home base for the navigation and
side scan sonar operations. The project used an Edgetech 560D
sonar computer running Triton Elics International's Isis sonar
acquisition as well as HYPACK survey and navigation software.
An
Edgetech DF-1000 100/500 kHz dual frequency sidescan sonar towfish
(left) as well as a hydraulic winch (right) were the used to gather
images of the seafloor. Courtesy of Chris McCabe.
Sanctuary
maritime archaeologists were joined by two graduate students from
East Carolina University's Program in Maritime Studies and Coastal
Zone Management Program. The project was also supported by the
National Undersea Research Center at the University of Connecticut.
Potential shipwreck sites will be investigated in subsequent years
through diving investigations, remotely operated vehicles (ROV),
or an autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV).
A
beautiful sunset closes the day after many long cold
hours of surveying. Courtesy of Chris McCabe.
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