2004
Nancy Foster Remote Sensing Cruise
During
a 6-day period onboard the NOAA ship Nancy Foster in June
and July 2004, archaeologists and scientists used side scan sonar
to investigate the sanctuary's maritime heritage resources.
The NOAA ship Nancy Foster was used as the
survey platform for this project.
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Project
personnel launch
the towfish off the Nancy Foster's stern.
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The
research focused on determining the extent of the debris
field around the wrecks of steamship Portland and
schooners Frank A. Palmer and Louise B. Crary
and several new shipwreck sites were also identified during
the survey.
The
team used an Edgetech DF-1000 100/500 kHz dual frequency
side scan sonar towfish and an Edgetech 560D sonar computer
running Triton Elics International's Isis sonar acquisition
software. The side scan sonar is the primary tool the sanctuary
uses to located new maritime heritage sites.
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The
project team surveyed several square kilometers surrounding the
Portland using a spaced lane survey, popularly known as
"mowing the lawn." Sonar recorded a debris trail extending
south from the Portland towards Cape Cod. The project also
surveyed several square kilometers around the Palmer/Crary
site without locating a pronounced debris trail.
Side
scan sonar image of the schooners Frank A. Palmer and Louise
B. Crary captured during this survey.
Upon answering the initial research questions, the project surveyed
several areas where vessels reportedly sank. These surveys located
a number of shipwrecks. SBNMS archaeologists are currently conducting
further research to identify the newly discovered maritime heritage
sites.
Ensign Wells steers the Nancy Foster along the survey's
tracklines.
This
project was made possible through support from NOAA's
Maritime Heritage Program. Additional assistance was supplied
by NOAA's
National Maritime Sanctuary Program, NOAA's
Office of Coast Survey, the Massachusetts
Office of Coastal Zone Management, and the National
Undersea Research Center at the University of Connecticut.
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