SHIPWRECK EXPLORATION WORKSHOP IN NEARSHORE KEWEENAW WATERS

Ports of the Keweenaw were busy with copper mine commerce during times of active mining beginning in the 1840s and continuing for more than 100 years. There is a richness of shipwrecks in shallow near-and offshore waters of Lake Superior as well as the Keweenaw Waterway. These preserve geoheritage from mining times and are potential geotourism sites. Many are unidentified or undiscovered.

The Research Vessel Agassiz will use state-of- the-art technology to locate and image shipwrecks. The week-long experience is intended for people who are not divers and would like to learn how an actual shipwreck search and exploration is conducted. The base for these activities is the Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) on the Keweenaw Waterway at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan. Workshop attendees will work with experienced University staff aboard the R/V Agassiz searching for undiscovered wrecks and image known wrecks using the remote sensing technology deployed safely from the deck of our US Coast Guard inspected and certified 36-foot vessel. Outlander 10000 ROV and side-scan technology are tools that will be employed in the workshop.

This is a five-day experience. Weather permitting, four days will be spent aboard the Agassiz searching and imaging shipwrecks. Because research is a basic step in shipwreck exploration, one day will be spent doing archival research in the University Archives in the J. Robert Van Pelt and Opie Library. Dates are set for late June 2020.