2009 Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
Maritime Heritage Characterization and Monitoring Cruise

The National Undersea Research Center at the University of Connecticut partnered with the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) in September 2009 for a two-day remotely operated vehicle (ROV) cruise. The collaborative project sought to characterize and monitor the sanctuary's maritime heritage resources. Researchers conducted operations off the R/V Connecticut with the newly developed ROV Kraken 2 (K2). The cruise returned to the steamship Portland and documented four other historic shipwrecks. NURC-UConn's staff and technical capabilities allow the SBNMS to fulfill its National Historic Preservation Act mandates, which require the sanctuary to inventory the historic resources under its jurisdiction and assess them for eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places.

K2 was an ideal platform for archaeological survey. The ROV's Zeus high definition video camera and Scorpio still camera captured imagery of diagnostic features and artifacts that will help sanctuary archaeologists interpret the shipwrecks. Dives on the steamship Portland focused on previously documented areas, to record changes to the site's structure and artifact distribution. The updated imaging capabilities of K2 resulted in the highest quality imagery yet captured on the shipwreck.

Revisiting the Portland on a nearly annual basis (2002-2006 and 2009), the project is documenting changes to the site from biologic, oceanographic, and anthropogenic forces. The ROV surveys recorded human impacts to the site, such as the presence of fishing gear, the movement of artifacts, and the destruction of artifacts and features, to inform management decisions seeking to preserve the shipwreck for current and future generations. Research has shown that the greatest impact and biggest future threat to the archaeological integrity of sanctuary shipwrecks is from commercial fishing. Commercial fishing also negatively affects a shipwreck's aesthetic and recreational qualities.

Center scientists bring a holistic approach to the project through their ability to characterize the marine life now living on the shipwrecks. Sanctuary shipwrecks become oases of biological diversity hosting a myriad array of colorful Gulf of Maine marine life that use the shipwreck structure as substrate and refuge. K2's advanced imaging capabilities were also put to good use collecting photos and video of these organisms for further analysis.

Project support was provided by the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries' Maritime Heritage Program and Office of National Marine Sanctuaries' Northeast Region. Since 2002, SBNMS and NURC-UConn have documented 23 shipwrecks sites in SBNMS with an ROV resulting in three sites, Portland, Frank A. Palmer/Louise B. Crary, and Joffre, being successfully nominated to the National Register of Historic Places.

For more information visit:

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
http://stellwagen.noaa.gov/

Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/