Refining and Revising the Gulf of Mexico Ocs Region High Probability Model for Historic Shipwrecks, Volume I: Executive Summary, Volume II: Technical Narrative, and Volume III: Appendices

Summary

Branch: Executive

Category: Executive Agency Publications

SuDoc Class Number: I 72.

Government Author: Interior Department, Minerals Management Service

Personal Author: Pearson CE; James SR Jr; Krivor MC; El Darragi SD; Cunningham L

Series Title: BOEM Environmental Studies

Publication Title: Refining and Revising the Gulf of Mexico Ocs Region High Probability Model for Historic Shipwrecks, Volume I: Executive Summary, Volume II: Technical Narrative, and Volume III: Appendices

Date Issued: 2003

Subject: Cultural; Heritage and Marine Archaeology
Marine Archaeological Resources
Gulf of Mexico; Shipwreck; Probability Model; Survey; Magnetometer; Line Spacing

Obligation Number: 14-35-01-00-CT-31054

Geographic Scope: Gulf of Mexico

Report Number: 2003-060, 2003-061, & 2003-062

CSE Reference: Pearson CE, James SR Jr, Krivor MC, El Darragi SD, Cunningham L (Panamerican Consultants, Inc., Memphis, TN; Coastal Environments, Inc. Baton Rouge, LA). 2003. Refining and revising the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region high probability model for historic shipwrecks, volume I: executive summary; volume II: technical narrative; volume III: appendices. New Orleans (LA): US Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service. 5 p. Obligation No.: 14-35-01-00-CT-31054. Report No.: OCS Study MMS 2003-060, OCS Study MMS 2003-061, & OCS Study MMS 2003-062. URL: https://espis.boem.gov/Technical%20Summaries/3036.pdf

Abstract: For 20 years, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) has required cultural resources assessments for oil and gas leases in the northern Gulf of Mexico. In 1989, the Texas A&M Research Foundation completed a study for the MMS to identify high probability areas and establish remote sensing survey guidelines and equipment requirements most appropriate for locating historic shipwrecks on Federal lands in the Gulf of Mexico Region (GOMR). Over the years, deficiencies in the 1989 model of historic shipwreck distributions and occurrences have been noted, plus new remote sensing technologies have been developed that have application to the MMS program of offshore surveys. The present study was undertaken to refine the model of shipwreck distributions presented in the 1989 study and reevaluate the survey strategies and instrumentation recommended. The objective is: (1) To update and expand the existing MMS GOMR shipwreck database by examining primary and secondary sources for shipwreck information, (2) To determine the spatial correlation between shipwreck locations in the updated shipwreck database and recorded seafloor hang sites and sidescan sonar targets and anomalies representing potential shipwrecks identified during previous OCS lease block surveys. Then, to ground-truth selected locations where hang sites and reported shipwreck locations appear to correlate to determine if hang sites are shipwrecks, (3) To conduct a marine magnetometer survey over several verified shipwreck sites using both the “industry-standard” proton precession magnetometer and the new cesium magnetometer, as well as two other types to determine whether there is a significant difference in their performance in detecting shipwrecks and to assess whether changes are warranted in MMS GOMR survey methodology, and (4) Based on the results from objectives (1), (2) and (3) prepare a revised predictive model for shipwrecks in the GOMR, and recommend survey instrumentation and strategies that would be the most effective in locating these shipwrecks.