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Scapa Flow, Orkney

Obstruction (Period Unassigned)

Site Name Scapa Flow, Orkney

Classification Obstruction (Period Unassigned)

Alternative Name(s) Flotta Oil Terminal, Spm No. 1; Foul

Canmore ID 102183

Site Number ND39NW 8005

NGR ND 34864 98755

Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/102183

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council Orkney Islands
  • Parish Maritime - Orkney
  • Former Region Orkney Islands Area
  • Former District Maritime
  • Former County Not Applicable

Archaeology Notes

ND39NW 8005 3486 9875

N58 52.2983 W3 7.78

NLO: Flotta [name: ND 37 94]

Scapa Flow [name centred HY 36 00].

Formerly entered as ND39NW 8719.

'Foul'.

G Ridley 1992.

Horizontal Datum = OGB

General water depth = 35

Surveying Details

-----------------------------

19 August 1974. An area of obstructions was reported, radius 152 metres, at 58 52 17.9N, 003 07 46.8W in a general depth of 35 metres.

Hydrographic Office, 1995.

Activities

Reference (19 April 2012)

UKHO Identifier : 001060

Feature Class : Obstn

Obstruction Category : Foul ground

State : LIVE

Classification : Unclassified

Position (Lat/long) : 58.87164,-3.12967

Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)

WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 58.87122,-3.13125

WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)

Position Quality : Precisely known

Depth Quality : Depth unknown

Water Depth : 35

Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide

Name : Foul

Contact Description : None reported

Original Sensor : Acoustic Sensor

Original Detection Year : 1974

Original Source : Other

Surveying Details : **H2017/72 19.8.74 FA, RADIUS 500FT, SHOWN IN 585217.9N, 030746.8W IN GEN DEPTH 115FT ON HUNTING SURVEYS [K6864/17]. - NM BLOCK 1550/74.

Chart Symbol : FA

Charting Comments : CIRCULAR AREA, RADIUS 152MTRS

Date Last Amended : 04/04/2001

Project (2013 - 2014)

The Scapa Flow 2013 Marine Archaeology Survey Project, commissioned by Historic Scotland, undertook remote sensing surveys and archaeological diving evaluations at some of the sites within Scapa Flow, Orkney and at the Churchill Barriers.

The project aimed to establish or confirm the identification, extent of survival, character and condition of around 28 known but mostly poorly recorded First and Second World War wreck sites, 8 salvage sites, several sites thought to be associated with Second World War Boom Defences, and a limited sample of geophysical features identified in previous studies (Project Adair).

The work built on that of previous surveys including those completed as part of the ScapaMap Project (2001 and 2006) and by Wessex Archaeology Scapa Flow Wrecks Survey (2012), amongst others.

The project was completed by ORCA Marine and SULA Diving

Side Scan Sonar Survey (2013)

The following sites (ND39NE 8039, ND39NW 8005, ND39NW 8006, ND39NW 8039, ND39NW 8052 and ND39NW 8060) were assessed by side scan sonar surveys using a winch-towed towfish.

The side scan images show the remains of numerous circular features, some larger rectangular features and a number of linear contacts, specific details of which are provided in the site descriptions below. In all cases, the circular features are interpreted as the remains of small boom buoys, while the linear features are interpreted as boom nets. The presence of such remains at this location is consistent with a line of boom defences that appears on historical maps of Scapa Flow indicating that boom defences were deployed in this area during World War II. These were confirmed by drop cam surveys. The larger rectangular features are thought to be the remains of the larger boom buoys that formed part of the defences, but none of these features were videoed during the drop camera surveys.

The coordinates provided for this targeted are a UKHO mark listed as foul ground.

The side scan images show one very small contact. The isolated nature of this target suggests it is probably a creel. The drop camera could not be deployed at this site as there were too many creels in the vicinity.

Information from Annalisa Christie, Kevin Heath and Mark Littlewood (ORCA) March 2014

References

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