Some of the most fascinating and historic shipwrecks on the ocean floor off the coast of Massachusetts need to be protected so researchers can “build on the success” that began in 2019, federal officials announced this week.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is reminding boaters and fishermen to keep track of 400 known shipwrecks in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, an 842-square-mile marine preserve at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay between Cape Ann and Cape Cod. I warned him to stay a foot away.
NOAA said gear caught on underwater wrecks “could cause significant damage to historically significant shipwrecks.”
According to NOAA, the preserve is home to more than 200 shipwrecks, including the World War II minesweeper USS Heroic, the trawler Josephine Marie, the 55-foot-long North Star, and eight unnamed ships. The ship and its coordinates are listed.
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Divers explore the World War II minesweeper Heroic off the coast of Massachusetts. (NOAA)
The shipwreck is protected under the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, NOAA said.
In a 2019 expedition, researchers explored the steamship Portland, which sank in November 1898, killing all 130 people on board.
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“The ship is often referred to as the ‘Titanic of New England,’ due to its long location, loss of life, and luxurious design,” NOAA said in a statement. said. “The wreck of the Portland is believed to be the best-preserved New England ‘night boat’ ever discovered.”
“The shipwreck was the first sanctuary shipwreck to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, giving rise to the storm’s name when it sank in a Portland gale in 1898.”
The steamship Portland sank off the coast of Massachusetts in 1898. (Art: Courtesy of the Marine Historical Society/NOAA)
Plates and cups from the wreckage of the steamship Portland. (NOAA)
The only other two shipwrecks named by NOAA are the trawler Josephine Marie and the 55-foot North Star.
The Josephine Marie was a steel-hulled trawler built in 1969 that sank after colliding with an object on February 1, 1992, according to NOAA.
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All four crew members were killed. It was discovered upside down in approximately 105 feet of water.
“The bow and rudder areas and exposed piping provide habitat for marine life, including sponges, sea anemones, and a variety of fish,” NOAA said. “Due to the strong currents around the site, it is necessary to time the dive when the water slackens.
“There are some types of fishing gear that divers must be careful with because of the dangers of diving.”
The trawler Josephine Marie sank on February 1, 1992. (Courtesy of John Harper/NOAA)
The propeller of the trawler Josephine Marie, which sank in 105 feet of water, was flipped upside down. (NOAA)
According to NOAA, “Due to the strong currents near the site, diving must be timed to time the water to slacken.” (NOAA)
The last named shipwreck was the 1967 rig dragger Northstar, which capsized and sank on August 28, 2003. Two of her crew members were killed.
The ship broke into three pieces when it sank. NOAA said the hull was at the north end of the diving site, the clam dredge fell about 100 feet away, and the deck machinery was found west of the dredge, still connected by tow cables.
“The wreck rested on a sandy bottom where active fishing was taking place,” NOAA wrote in the ship’s history. “It appears that the scallop’s gears may have moved significantly and caused damage to the wreckage fragments.”
The North Star in Gloucester Harbor before capsizing. (Len Parker Collection, Maritime Gloucester/NOAA)
The size of the Rig Dragger Northstar clam dwarfs the diver. (NOAA)
A diver inspects the propeller of the North Star. (NOAA)
Since the first dive in 2019, researchers have been studying marine life and how it interacts with the wreckage, while preserving a “time capsule” memorializing those who died when the ship sank more than 100 feet under water. I’ve been researching whether it works.
There are an estimated 200 shipwrecks in an 842 square mile area. NOAA said 47 cases have been recorded so far, 12 of which have been identified.
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The Steamboat Portland is the most iconic and best-studied shipwreck, largely due to its tremendous loss of life and the ship’s spectacular nature.
“In addition to investigating the Portland shipwreck, the research team will also work to unravel ocean mysteries,” NOAA said on its website. “In 2003, scientists at the preserve discovered a new shipwreck, dubbed the “Mysterious Coal Schooner.”
According to NOAA, “During the 19th and 20th centuries, schooners carried coal to heat homes, power plants, and fuel railroads.” “We want to find out what the coal schooner really is,” he added. About the whole shipwreck and historical research. ”
The wreck of the Steamboat Portland is home to a variety of marine life. (WHOI/NOAA)
Map of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Massachusetts. There, the remains of more than a dozen historically relevant ships are being investigated. (NOAA)
NOAA provided the coordinates of 11 specific shipwrecks on a map of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Massachusetts. (NOAA)
In addition to their interest in physical shipwrecks, researchers also study the range of marine life.
“Shipwrecks are underappreciated habitats, but they contain rich biological communities,” Kirstin Meyer Kaiser, the project’s lead scientist, said in a statement last year. “This project is designed to shed light on shipwrecks as habitats, answer some of our scientific questions, and help preserve shipwrecks for years to come. ”
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Since 2019, the preserve has been working with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Marine Imaging Technology to survey the shipwreck, collect video images and develop virtual 3D models, study invertebrate communities, and conduct underwater research. The excitement is being shown to the public in real time. broadcast.
