Scapa Flow Shiptime Project 2017

Date 23 July 2017 - 31 July 2017

Event ID 1172129

Category Project

Type Project

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1172129

Scapa Flow underwater heritage investigations

HY 20190 26414 (HY22NW 8001), ND 36212 97158 (ND39NE 8045), ND 16083 98741 (ND19NE 8004), HY 43491 05253 (HY40NW 8001)

Multi-disciplinary survey project involving recording of the wrecks of the German High Seas Fleet in Scapa Flow, and the wrecks of the Royal Navy vessels HMS Hampshire, HMS Vanguard, HMS Pheasant and HMS Royal Oak in order to gather data to increase knowledge and understanding of the extent, survival and character of submerged cultural heritage remains located on the Orcadian seafloor.

The survey project was conducted on two vessels a) aboard the Marine Scotland survey vessel MV Scotia, using drop keel-mounted Teledyne ResonSeabat 7125 multibeam sonar, drop camera and Predator II inspection class Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV); and b) sidescan sonar and diving inspection aboard MV Challenger.

The project was led by Sandra Henry of ORCA Marine, University of Highlands and Islands in collaboration with a wider consortium of organisations, including universities (Ulster; Heriot Watt; Dundee), private companies (Sula Diving;Seatronics;Triscom Marine Ltd) and public authorities (Marine Scotland; MoD; Historic Environment Scotland). The project also benefited from community volunteer input.

Further projects conducted by partner institutions are ongoing or being planned to utilise the data captured during this project.

Archive: NRHE

Funder: Historic Environment Scotland

Paul Sharman – Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA)

(Source DES Volume 19)

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Related Event(s)

Event	Type	Subtype	Notes	Date
1173726	RECORDING	SIDE SCAN SONAR SURVEY	Sidescan sonar survey was conducted on the wreck of HMS Royal Oak, and a geophysical anomaly 250m to the south-west. The survey was carried out from MV Challenger using a C-Max CM2 sidescan. Analysis of the data for the Royal Oak clearly shows the rudders and prop shafts on one of the sonar runs to the north of the wreck, and to the south, the damage to the bow and superstructure on the seabed is clear. [...]	1 August 2017
1173569	RECORDING	DIVER INSPECTION	Diving operations were undertaken on HMS Vanguard under licence from the Ministry of Defence. Recording methodologies involved taking site notes, still photography and video footage to determine the character and condition of wreckage. Diving focused on the stern of HMS Vanguard and the surrounding wreckage. Additional dives were carried out on the bow section located 203m from the stern. The dive survey also aimed to characterise the biological communities present on the wreck structures. [...]	27 July 2017
1173745	RECORDING	DIVER INSPECTION	One dive was undertaken to evaluate a geophysical anomaly lying approximately 250m to the south-west of the Royal Oak. Upon investigation, this anomaly was identified as a small wooden vessel of a pinnace or picket boat design. The wreck was lying upright in approximately 28m water depth. The bow section was well preserved. Records indicate that a steam picket boat drifted away from the Royal Oak carrying survivors from the torpedo attack, but subsequently capsized and sank as it was overloaded. It almost certain that the wreckage examined on this survey was the remains of that vessel. [...]	28 July 2017

Scapa Flow Shiptime Project 2017

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References