Education: Themes: Maritime Heritage: Multimedia: NOAA Ocean Exploration

Maritime heritage is the history of human involvement with the ocean and coasts. It includes physical resources, such as historic shipwrecks and ancient archaeological sites, as well as archival documents and oral histories. It takes many different skills and a wide variety of tools to reveal and understand maritime heritage sites.

While conducting an 'engineering dive' to test new ROV equipment, the team made an unexpected – and exciting – discovery: the wreck of what is likely a mid-19th century wooden sailing vessel.

The Lost Whaler

During Dive 02 of NOAA Ocean Exploration’s 2022 ROV and Mapping Shakedown on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, scientists on ship and shore explored the wreck of what they believed to be an historic 19th century whaler.

The Wreck of Humaitá (ex-USS Muskallunge)

During the final dive of the 2021 ROV Shakedown, we explored the wreck of Humaitá (ex-USS Muskallunge), an American submarine that served in two navies between 1942 and 1968 (U.S. and Brazilian).

An Unexpected Shipwreck Discovery

While conducting an "engineering dive" to test new ROV equipment, the team made an unexpected – and exciting – discovery: the wreck of what is likely a mid-19th century wooden sailing vessel.

Discovery of the USS Abner Read

Video from the discovery of the missing stern of the USS Abner Read.

Dive 09: Deep-sea Detectives

A chance discovery in the submersible Alvin in 2015 revealed the faint “ghost” of a wooden shipwreck more than a hundred miles off the coast of North Carolina in several thousand feet of water.

Photogrammetric Survey

Time-lapse video of photogrammetric survey on the Pillar Dollar Wreck in Biscayne National Park, Florida.

WWII B-29 Bomber

Tinian and Saipan served as major air bases during the final year of WWII with B-29 bombers flying long-range missions to Japan. Many aircraft were lost on take-off and landing.

Battle of the Atlantic: Underwater WWII Battlefield

This video shows the wrecks of the two ships from the “Battle of the Atlantic: Archaeology of an Underwater WWII Battlefield” expedition.

Amakasu Maru WWII Shipwreck

This video shows the wreck of the Japanese water tanker Amakasu Maru No. 1, which was sunk by a U.S. submarine in 1942.

Dive 05: April 17, 2014: Exploration of Monterrey Shipwreck site found in 2012.

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer: Gulf of Mexico 2014 Expedition

Exploration of the Monterrey Shipwreck site, originally found in the Gulf of Mexico in 2012.

During Dive 07, the team explored a shipwreck known only as 'Wreck 15377,' which was first identified from an oil and gas industry survey back in 2002, but never visually surveyed – until now.

The Shipwreck Puzzle

Based on our preliminary analysis of the artifacts, the hull form, fasteners, and rigging elements, that the ship likely post-dates 1830 to perhaps mid-century.

During Dive 12, we set out to explore a side scan sonar target thought to represent an archaeological site and related debris; however, the target instead ended up being a 40-foot shipping container and its contents (washing machines!). While not the shipwreck we were expecting, the dive provided valuable information. Identification markings found on the container may help to track it, which could provide a maximum date as to when observed animals colonized these structures, allowing us to estimate growth rates of sessile organisms. The dive also served as a reminder that, even in the deep ocean, humans can have an impact.

Dive 12: Wreck 15725: Deep Clean

We set out to explore a side scan sonar target thought to represent an archaeological site and related debris; however, the target instead ended up being a 40-foot shipping container and its contents.

True Treasure

For marine archaeologists, 'treasure' comes not in the form of material goods collected from a shipwreck, but rather the knowledge that can be gained from studying the wreck. On December 9, 2017, we explored 'Wreck 15377,' gathering information that will help us learn from and connect to our past.

Lessons from the USS Baltimore

During Dive 22 of the expedition, the sunken wreck of the iron hulled USS Baltimore, which was scuttled 73 years ago, was explored and described in detail.

Furnace and Anchor

During Dive 02 of the 2022 ROV and Mapping Shakedown, we explored the wreck of what is likely a 19th century whaler.

High resolution sidescan sonar image of a WWII B-25 discovered by members of Project Recover in 2017 in Papua New Guinea.

WWII B-25 Bomber

High resolution sidescan sonar image of a WWII B-25 discovered in 2017.

3-D Reconstruction

Multiple ROV passes over this Underwater Cultural Heritage site were needed to make a three-dimensional reconstruction of the wreck.

B-29 Superfortress

The B-29 Superfortress, one of the largest aircraft flown by the United States in World War II, had a wingspan measuring just over 141 feet.

Nemo Submersible Approaches the U-576

In 2016 scientists located and explored the German U-576. This was the first time since the submarine was sunk on July 15, 1942, that anyone had laid eyes on the vessel.

The Wreck of the USS YP-389, a United States Navy Yard Patrol Boat

Human divers collected imagery along with a complete photogrammetric model of the wreck of the USS YP-389.

Copper sheathing covers the vessel's stern post and aft part of the lower hull. The rudder attached to the stern post has been twisted around to the left, or port, side, making it difficult to see in this image. This type of damage suggests the vessel impacted the seafloor stern-first, displacing the rudder. Two draft marks made of lead are visible on the stern post.

Copper Sheathing - Monterrey Wreck

Copper sheathing covering the stern post and aft part of the lower hull of the Monterrey wreck.

Monterrey Artifacts - Daily Life on Board

A variety of artifacts inside the ship's hull relate to daily life on board.

R.M.S. Titanic Expedition 2003

A view of the bathtub in Captain Smith’s bathroom on the Titanic. Rusticles are observed growing over most of the pipes and fixtures in the room.

Steamship Portland 2003

Side scan sonar image of the steamship Portland.

Sonar image of the USS Monitor recorded by the NOAA Ship Whiting, 2000.

Preserving the USS Monitor 2001

Sonar image of the USS Monitor recorded by NOAA Ship Whiting, 2000.

Monterrey Shipwreck Site A

The large cannon on the Monterrey A Shipwreck appears to have been mounted on a pivot carriage which has led archaeologists to believe the site may be the remains of a privateer.

Draft Marks

Lead draft marks on the wreck's stem post at what appeared to be one-foot intervals suggest that a significant portion of the hull remains buried under sediment.

F4U Corsair

An underwater filmmaker documents the wing section of a F4U Corsair at Midway Atoll.

What is Maritime Archaeology?

Maritime archaeology is the study, from what people leave behind, of how we as human beings have interacted with the oceans and with lakes and rivers.

Journey through Time

While maritime archaeology is best known for its focus on shipwrecks, it is really the study of everything connected to seafaring.

Adventures of a Marine Archaeologist

So much of history has really been tightly kept in a little box that archaeology is now cracking open.

Ocean Time Capsules

The way archaeology works is often times it gives us information that isn’t in the history books. In some cases, there are no history books.

Sanctuaries: The Underwater Museum

There is good news for people that want to protect the oceans. And that is marine protected areas, but in particular, in the United States, it’s National Marine Sanctuaries.

Shipwrecked!

There may be more than three million shipwrecks on the ocean floor but only one percent have been discovered. These shipwrecks are often frozen in time, deep beneath the sea, waiting for scientists and archaeologists to explore and study.

View video footage captured by the Little Hercules remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and camera platform during the April 26, 2012, ROV dive from NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer during the Gulf of Mexico Expedition 2012.

Gulf of Mexico 2012: Spectacular New Shipwreck Discovery

View video footage captured by the Little Hercules (ROV) and camera platform during the Gulf of Mexico Expedition 2012.

Education Theme: Maritime Heritage

Multimedia