OCS Study 

MMS 2003-060 

 

Refining and Revising the Gulf of Mexico 

Outer Continental Shelf Region 

High-Probability Model 

for Historic Shipwrecks 

Final Report 

Volume I: Executive Summary 

U.S. Department of the Interior

Minerals Management Service 

Gulf of Mexico OCS Region 
U.S. Department of the Interior

Minerals Management Service 

Gulf of Mexico OCS Region 

OCS Study 

MMS 2003-060 

Refining and Revising the Gulf of Mexico 

Outer Continental Shelf Region 

High-Probability Model 

for Historic Shipwrecks 

Final Report 

Volume I: Executive Summary 

Authors 

Charles E. Pearson 

Stephen R. James, Jr. 

Michael C. Krivor 

S. Dean El Darragi 

Lori Cunningham 

Prepared under MMS Contract 

1435-01-00-CT-31054 

by 

Panamerican Consultants, Inc. 

Memphis, Tennessee 

and 

Coastal Environments, Inc. 

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 

Published by 

New Orleans

December 2003 
ii

DISCLAIMER

This report was prepared under contract between the Minerals Management Service

(MMS), Panamerican Consultants, Inc., and Coastal Environments, Inc. This report has

been technically reviewed by the MMS and it has been approved for publication.

Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of

the MMS, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute

endorsement or recommendation for use. It is, however, exempt from review and

compliance with the MMS editorial standards.

REPORT AVAILIBILITY

Extra copies of this report may be obtained from the Public Information Unit (Mail Stop

5034) at the following address:

U.S. Department of the Interior

Minerals Management Service

Gulf of Mexico OCS Region

Public Information Unit (MS 5034)

1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard

New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394

Telephone: (504) 736-2519 or

1-800-200-GULF

CITATION

Suggested citation:

Pearson, C.E., S.R. James, Jr., M.C. Krivor, S.D. El Darragi, and L. Cunningham.

2003. Refining and Revising the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Region

High-Probability Model for Historic Shipwrecks: Final report. Volume I:

Executive Summary. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Minerals Management Service,

Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, New Orleans, LA. OCS Study MMS 2003-060, 13

pp., 3 volumes.
iii

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. These

assessments reflect the obligations of the MMS relative to the identification, protection

and management of prehistoric and historic properties that may exist on Federal lands in

this area. In 1989, the Texas A&M Research Foundation conducted a study for MMS

(Garrison et al. 1989) to identify high-probability areas and establish remote-sensing

survey guidelines and equipment requirements most appropriate for locating historic

shipwrecks on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) 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.

This study involved four principal tasks. Task 1 involved archival data collection to

update, expand and evaluate the shipwreck database produced in the 1989 study and the

development of a new database. Task 2 involved the correlation of shipwreck data with

other sorts of submerged object data from the GOMR, such as reported snag and hang

data and objects and vessels identified during offshore remote-sensing surveys. This task

included diving on selected offshore targets to determine their identity. Task 3 involved

conducting magnetometer surveys at two selected shipwreck locations using differing

equipment and survey strategies to compare and evaluate the instruments, refine the

survey strategies currently used and determine the minimally acceptable survey line

spacing for detecting historic shipwrecks. Task 4 involved the synthesis of collected

data, the preparation of a revised predictive model for shipwrecks in the GOMR (Figure

1) relying on the findings of Tasks 1 and 2, making recommendations on survey

instrumentation and strategies that would be the most effective in locating these

shipwrecks relying on the findings of Task 3, and preparing a technical report of findings.

During Task 1, information on reported and known shipwrecks in the GOMR was

collected from a variety of sources to expand the information presented in the 1989 study.

The 1989 shipwreck database was revised and expanded to include a number of variables

on vessel characteristics and circumstances of loss that might aid in wreck identification

if discovered. All of the information on shipwrecks collected during Task 1 was

incorporated into a relational database (Microsoft Access) and into a GIS program

(ArcView) that can serve as a tool by MMS personnel for the continued assessment and

monitoring of shipwreck data in the GOMR. Data on a variety of variables relating to the

characteristics of vessels and objects were collected for the over two thousand entries

ultimately included in the shipwreck database. The sample of reported shipwrecks was

examined in terms of a variety of factors such as year of loss, season of loss, types of

vessels, causes of loss, etc., in an effort to characterize the population of wrecks that

exists in the GOMR.
iv

20o

25o

30o

24o

0 80 160 240

miles

kilometers

0 100 300

RIO

GRANDE

TAMPA

MOBILE TALLAHASSEE

NEW

ORLEANS GALVESTON

MEXICO

TEXAS

LOUISIANA

MISSISSIPPI ALABAMA

FLORIDA

CUBA

HAVANA

YUCATAN

98o 95o 90o 85o 81o

SOUTHERN BOUNDARY OF STUDY AREA FEDERAL LEASE BLOCKS

GULF OF MEXICO

Figure 1. Study area.

In Task 2, the collected shipwreck data were compared against other classes of

submerged objects, such as reported snags and hangs, to determine if spatial correlations

existed. In an effort to determine if reported hangs and unidentified objects equated with

shipwrecks, remote-sensing survey and diving were conducted at selected hang sites,

unknown objects, unknown vessels and reported shipwreck locations. Twenty target

areas, which actually represented 52 recorded target locations (i.e., hangs, unknown

vessels, obstructions, etc.), 31 of which were reported hang locations, were selected for

both survey and subsequent diver investigation. Of the targets investigated, only three

could have been or caused a hang site: a modern shipwreck and two areas of modern

debris associated with the oil industry. These results raise numerous questions, the least

of which is coordinate accuracy of hangs, especially in light of the fact that of the 31

hang locations only 10 percent were found to actually contain objects that could result in

a hang.

To accomplish Task 3, a survey was conducted over two known shipwrecks at

varying transect intervals with a Geometrics 866, a Geometrics 881 cesium

magnetometer, a Geometrics 877 proton precession magnetometer, and a SeaSPY Marine

Magnetics Overhauser-type magnetometer. A submersible base station was also

employed to determine its applicability to offshore surveys as it might apply to postmission processing of magnetic data. All four magnetometers were run on three grids of

varying intervals and speeds over the two shipwrecks in order to assess how each
v

instrument recorded the same wreck site and, if differences were present, determine if

these findings predicated changes to the current MMS GOMR survey methodology.

As part of Task 4, a revised model for shipwreck occurrences in the GOMR was

developed. The development of a new model required an evaluation of the 1989 model

of shipwreck distributions now used to direct offshore surveys. This evaluation found

that there is considerable unreliability in the 1989 model’s identification of highprobability areas. Data from offshore remote-sensing surveys reveal that there is no

statistically significant difference between finding a shipwreck in a designated highprobability area and finding one in any other area. In the development of a new model an

effort is made to increase the predictability of historic shipwreck locations, and the

resulting identifications of high-probability areas, by incorporating quantitative measures

of “reliability” into the positions of loss recorded for reported shipwrecks. This

information, in conjunction with patterns of shipwreck density distributions, is used to

identify high-probability zones and individual clusters of high-probability lease blocks in

the GOMR. The new model identifies considerably more high-probability lease blocks in

the GOMR than did the 1989 study. Task 4 also included recommendations for survey

instrumentation and strategies based on the findings of Task 3. It was found that all

magnetometers used performed well in the field trials, but it is recommended that a closer

transect interval than the 50-m now used should be considered for use in high-probability

areas. Additionally, the functionality of submersible base stations is discussed, as are the

relationships of magnetic duration and amplitude relative to vessel speed, and comments

are provided on several factors that influence the conduct of MMS GOMR surveys and

the subsequent analysis of data.
vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................. iii

LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................vii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.............................................................................................viii

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................. 1

REFERENCES CITED................................................................................................. 13
vii

LIST OF FIGURES

PAGE

Figure 1. Study area. ..................................................................................................... i v

Figure 2. High-probability lease blocks identified in the study area.................................10
viii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many individuals, organizations and agencies have contributed to this study and

are acknowledged and thanked here. Dr. Rik Anuskiewicz, archaeologist with MMS,

New Orleans, served as Project Manager on this study for MMS. Dr. Jack Irion and

David Ball, archaeologists at MMS, New Orleans, freely provided information pertinent

to this study.

Several individuals were involved in the collection of shipwreck information from

various state agencies. Amy Mitchell examined Florida records, Andy Hall examined

records in Texas, and Sara Hahn visited depositories in Louisiana, Alabama and

Mississippi. Personnel at all of the state archaeological offices are thanked for the help

and information they provided. Particularly thanked are Dr. Thomas Eubanks, Louisiana

State Archaeologist; Steven Hoyt, Texas Marine Archaeologist; Dr. Thomas Maher,

Alabama State Archaeologist; Dr. Roger Smith, Florida Underwater Archaeology

Program, Bureau of Archaeological Research; and Doug Sims, formerly an archaeologist

with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, now with the U.S. Army Corps

of Engineers. The various Corps of Engineers Districts that border the Gulf of Mexico,

also, were contacted for information on shipwrecks in their areas. Individuals from these

districts who provided information were Tommy Birchett, Dottie Gibbens, Joe Giliberti

and Brian Guevin.

Several individuals and agencies provided critical database information for this

study. These included Carl Clausen and Prasnee Wilschp of the National Imagery and

Mapping Agency; Steve Avery, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Roy

Lukins of the Gulf States Artificial Reef Committee; and David Ledet, Marine

Information Section, United States Coast Guard, 8th District. All of these individuals

provided electronic databases maintained by their agencies and willingly answered

questions concerning those databases. Amy Broussard and Eric Graham, Texas Sea

Grant Program, provided the database of snags and hangs maintained by Texas A&M

University; Bruce Ballard of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and Irvin

Jackson, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, provided information on data

their agencies maintain on hangs and losses off of these two states. Avery Munson of

Broussard, Louisiana shared his extensive knowledge of wrecks off of coastal Louisiana

and Rob Floyd of Thales Geo Solutions, Prairieville, Louisiana, provided information

derived from his very extensive experience in conducting offshore remote-sensing

surveys. Allen Saltus, Jr. of Prairieville, Louisiana provided additional information on

offshore survey and shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Erv Garrison, Department of

Anthropology, University of Georgia, provided information on some specific questions

concerning his earlier study, and Dr. Dan Mossler, Hampden-Sydney College, advised on

some of the statistical analyses used in this study. Staff at the Mariners Museum,

Newport News, Virginia, and the National Archives, Washington, D.C., are thanked for

the aid they provided researchers.
ix

Lori Cunningham of Coastal Environments, Inc., was responsible for all aspects

of the study involved with placing collected data into Microsoft Access and ArcView.

This included design of the database, manipulation of the collected data, and

development and design of all of the maps included with the ArcView database. Her

efforts were key to the success of this project. Dion O’Rielly, also of Coastal

Environments, Inc., aided Ms. Cunningham, and was responsible for finalizing the

Access database and converting much of the collected data into formats compatible for

use in Access and ArcView.

Panamerican would like to thank the many people involved with this project for

their time and effort. First and foremost we would like to thank the Minerals

Management Service and more specifically Dr. Rik Anuskiewicz for allowing

Panamerican the opportunity to conduct this research. Dr. Anuskiewicz assisted us with

all phases of the project and his contributions are too numerous to mention.

Several people involved directly with the Task 3 survey must be thanked. We

would like to acknowledge Ross Johnson, Jon Bellino, and Misha Tchernychev of

Geometrics, Inc. as well as Melissa Marlowe and Doug Hrvoic with Marine Magnetics.

Each of these groups provided equipment, and more importantly, their time to make sure

the magnetometer data collected was suitable.

Panamerican acknowledges the help of Chris Appleyard, Mike Main, and Trace

Maurin of Vision Project Services, Inc. of Houston, Texas who were responsible for the

collection and processing of data. We appreciate the generosity of Loudes Ramos and

Coastal Oceanographics, Inc. for providing a copy of Hypack MAXTM for the survey. To

ensure the quality of data collected, we would like to extend our appreciation to S. Dean

El Darragi with Telesis Geophysical Services of Lafayette, Louisiana. Larry Stephenson

of Harvey-Lynch, Inc. in Stafford, Texas has always provided much-needed assistance

while in the field and was helpful in discussing the industry standards of magnetometers.

For logistical assistance and permitting for the State of Florida we must thank

James J. Miller and Della Scott-Ireton with the Bureau of Archaeological Research. We

also appreciate the help of Riley Hoggard with the National Park Service for assisting

with permits for the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

We must thank the boat captains who helped make this project a success: Jay

Venable and the crew with the M/V Enterprise and M/V Offshore Retriever, of Tampa,

Florida; Captain Kenny Barhanovich with the Miss Hospitality out of Biloxi, Mississippi;

and Captain Mac McLean with the Undertow III, out of Pensacola, Florida. We would

also like to thank Sea Boat Rentals, Inc. for providing offshore support during Task 2.

A number of Panamerican personnel contributed to the success of the project.

The remote-sensing and dive crew consisted of Mike Tuttle, Jim Duff, Matt Elliott, Andy

Lydecker, Chris Rhodes, and Chuck Meide. John Rawls, Robin Moore, and Clay Gilpin

assisted as field technicians during Task 3 operations. Kate Gilow provided technical and

logistical support during all phases of the study. Kelly Blount compiled and edited the

report while Stephanie Gray provided computer graphics assistance.
1

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

For 20 years, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) has required cultural

resources assessments for oil and gas leases in the northern Gulf of Mexico. These

assessments reflect the obligations of the MMS relative to the identification, protection

and management of prehistoric and historic properties that may exist on the Outer

Continental Shelf (OCS) in this area, known as the Gulf of Mexico Region (GOMR).

Thousands of oil and gas wells have been drilled, thousands of miles of pipelines have

been laid and other facilities and features comprising the infrastructure of the mineral

extraction industry have been developed in this region. All of these activities are ongoing

and have a potential for impacting cultural remains, including historic shipwrecks, that

might exist on the vast area of submerged lands in the Gulf of Mexico.

The MMS has sponsored several studies to collect information on cultural

resources in the GOMR. These studies have been used to help design and guide a remotesensing survey program intended to identify cultural resources on the GOMR OCS.

Studies conducted in 1977 (Coastal Environments, Inc. 1977) and 1989 (Garrison et al.

1989) were directed specifically at collecting information on historic shipwreck resources

in the region. The MMS has used the results of the 1977 Coastal Environments, Inc.

study and, more specifically, the 1989 Garrison et al. effort to determine where remotesensing surveys for historic shipwrecks will be required in the Gulf of Mexico.

Specifically, this information has been used to identify individual 3-mile-square lease

blocks and groups of lease blocks that have a high-probability of containing historic

shipwrecks and, further, to develop remote-sensing survey strategies for these lease

blocks. As of the summer of 2000, approximately 2,800 archaeological reports had been

received by MMS of remote-sensing surveys conducted within lease blocks and along

pipeline rights-of-way in the GOMR.

These surveys have resulted in the discovery of a number of shipwrecks.

However, over the years deficiencies in the model of wreck 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 initiated in

the summer of 2000 specifically to reevaluate and refine the model of shipwreck

occurrences and distributions presently in use.

The objectives of this study are:

1. To update and expand the existing MMS GOMR shipwreck database by

examining primary and secondary sources for shipwreck information. The

existing shipwreck database will be expanded to include specific identifying

characteristics of vessels potentially located on the OCS.

2. To determine the spatial correlation between: 1) shipwreck locations in the

updated shipwreck database; 2) recorded seafloor hang sites listed on the

MMS GOMR/NOAA sponsored “Fisherman’s Contingency Fund” or other
2

published or private fisherman hang books; and 3) 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 instrumentation to determine whether there is a

significant difference in their performance in detecting shipwrecks.

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.

In order to achieve these objectives, this study was divided into four principal

tasks. Task 1 involved archival data collection to update, expand and evaluate the

shipwreck database developed in the 1989 study and the development of a new database.

Task 2 involved the correlation of shipwreck data with other sorts of submerged object

data from the GOMR, such as reported snag and hang data and objects and vessels

identified during offshore remote-sensing surveys. This task included diving on selected

offshore targets to determine their identity. Task 3 involved conducting magnetometer

surveys at two selected shipwreck locations using differing equipment and survey

strategies to help refine the offshore survey approaches currently used. Task 4 involved

the synthesis of collected data, the preparation of a revised predictive model for

shipwrecks in the GOMR relying on the findings of Tasks 1 and 2, making

recommendations on survey instrumentation and strategies that would be the most

effective in locating these shipwrecks relying on the findings of Task 3, and preparing a

technical report of findings.

All of the information on shipwrecks collected during Task 1 was incorporated

into a relational database (Microsoft Access) and incorporated into a GIS application

(ArcView) that can serve as a tool for MMS personnel for the continued assessment and

monitoring of shipwreck data in the GOMR. The present study considered only those

shipwrecks lying in OCS waters. The very large number of shipwrecks known to lie in

state waters in the Gulf of Mexico (Garrison et al. 1989) is not included in the shipwreck

database developed. Data on a variety of variables relating to the characteristics of

vessels were collected for the 2,106 entries ultimately included in the database. These

variables included categories such as vessel type, mode of propulsion, dimensions, date

of build, builder, date of loss, cause of loss, etc. Information on non-shipwreck “objects,”

hang sites, etc., identified in the GOMR was also included in the database.

The data on shipwrecks, objects and hangs come from a variety of sources. These

include wreck information from the two earlier MMS studies and data from offshore

lease block surveys. Several computerized databases containing information on vessel
3

losses and other objects in the GOMR were utilized. These included records from the

U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA, the National Imagery and Mapping Agency, the U.S Fish and

Wildlife Service, and similar agencies from each of the Gulf states. In addition, the

records at all of the state archaeologist’s offices of the Gulf states were examined to

collect information on offshore remote-sensing surveys or shipwreck work that has been

done. Also examined were pertinent publications dealing with shipwrecks, including

historical and archaeological works as well as sport divers publications. Net hang data

from the government’s fisherman compensation fund as well as hang and obstruction data

from Texas A&M University and the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources were

also collected.

One aspect of this study was to “test” the 1989 model in terms of its reliability in

the identification of high-probability offshore lease blocks. This was done, principally,

through using the results of remote-sensing surveys provided by MMS. These surveys

have identified a large number of sunken vessels, possible vessels, and unidentified

objects in the GOMR. The locations of the approximately 90 items believed to represent

shipwreck remains were compared against the high-probability areas identified in the

1989 study. It was found that many of the wrecks identified in offshore surveys are not

located in designated high-probability blocks. Statistical analyses revealed that there is

no significant difference in finding a shipwreck in a designated high-probability lease

block and finding one in a lease block not so designated. These findings bring into

question the reliability of the 1989 data in the identification of high-probability lease

blocks and its overall utility as a “predictive model.” It was found that the principal

reason for lack of predictability in the 1989 model rests in an overall lack of precision in

reported shipwreck positions. An effort was made to quantify the precision existing in

reported positions of loss by assigning measures of reliability to the positions obtained

for each entry in the database. These “Reliability Factors” (numbered from 1-high

reliability, to 4-low reliability) were one of the elements used in the delineation of highprobability areas in the GOMR. Essentially, vessels assigned a very low reliability of

position of loss have little utility in modeling spatial distributions, except in the very

broadest sense, or in developing reliable predictive statements about these distributions.

Thus, these vessels have not been used in defining tightly drawn high-probability areas.

The sample of reported shipwrecks in the database was examined relative to a

variety of factors, such as year of loss, season of loss, types of vessels, causes of loss,

etc., in an effort to characterize the population of wrecks that exists in the GOMR.

Findings indicate that the frequency of losses increases over time, mirroring the findings

of the Garrison et al. (1989) study. In fact, approximately 41 percent of all shipwreck

losses in the database with known dates of loss have occurred in the past 25 years and

slightly over 77 percent have occurred in the past 50 years. This pattern is in large part a

reflection of the great increase in the number of vessels operating in the Gulf of Mexico

in the past 50 years, particularly fishing (shrimping) vessels, recreational craft, and

vessels associated with the offshore oil and gas industry. Additionally, this pattern is a

reflection of the underreporting of losses during earlier historic periods.
4

Interestingly, other studies, including the Coastal Environments, Inc. (1977) study

of losses in the Gulf of Mexico, have not shown similar increases in casualties and losses

in recent years. This discrepancy appears to lie principally in the types of sources used to

collect shipwreck information and the definition of what an historic shipwreck might be.

Other studies have tended to rely on sources that provide information only on named

vessels and/or on vessels that can generally be categorized as “commercial” in nature.

This has resulted in the exclusion of large numbers of unnamed and unidentified wrecks

and many smaller vessels, such as those involved in fishing and recreational activities, all

of which were included in the present study.

The age of vessels at time of loss was examined and the results indicate no strong

correlation between the age of a vessel and the historical period when it was lost.

However, there is a correlation between the age of vessel at loss and its type. Large,

twentieth-century merchant ships lost in the GOMR are the oldest vessels as a class, with

an average life of about 25 years, while the average use life of modern fishing vessels is

only about 15 years. The average age of the small sample of pre-modern, steampowered vessels lost in the study area was only about nine years.

Additionally, assessments of the known age of vessels at the time of loss reveals

some important information concerning the use of year of loss as a measure in assessing

historical significance. Generally, for cultural properties to be considered significant and

eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places they have to be at least

50 years old. Because of the 1989 study, vessels lost in the previous 50 years were

excluded from consideration in some delineations of high-probability areas. Shipwreck

data in this study indicates that approximately 49 percent of all vessels reported lost in

the past 50 years for which the date of build is known are actually greater than 50 years

old. If the year of loss were the only criterion used for establishing potential historical

significance, these vessels would be eliminated from consideration and their locations of

loss would not be used in the delineation of high-probability areas as, in fact, has been

done in the 1989 model. It is impossible to know if this proportion can be extended to

those vessels of unknown date of build that have been lost in the past 50 years, but it is

presumed that a fairly large percentage of them are greater than 50 years old. It is

obvious that date of build, if known, must be used rather than the sinking date in making

assessments of historical significance and, by extension, delineating high-probability

areas.

Information on month of loss was used to examine seasonal patterns in sinkings.

It was anticipated that some increases would occur during the hurricane season and

during the winter months when weather conditions in the Gulf of Mexico are at their

worst. However, the available data show no significant differences in the frequencies of

losses by month of the year when the entire shipwreck database is considered. It is

apparent that, overall, seasonal weather conditions have not been primary determinants of

vessel losses. These findings, coupled with the unreliability of so many positions of loss,

mean that efforts to correlate spatial distributions of shipwrecks with specific hurricane

tracks are likely to be unproductive. This is particularly true in the open waters of the

Gulf, as is the area considered here, where many reported positions of loss are very
5

unreliable, particularly for earlier time periods. These types of correlations can best be

undertaken with known vessels at known positions and, by and large, these wrecks will

be found onshore or in inshore state waters, outside of the present study area.

Information on month of loss does show that certain types of vessels exhibit

distinct seasonal patterns of loss. Specifically, the losses of craft identified broadly as

“shrimping vessels” show peaks during June and July and during November. These

months correspond with the two principal peaks of the shrimping seasons. These data

suggest that the number of vessels operating in the Gulf at any one time is a greater

predictor of frequency of loss than are seasonal weather phenomena. Similar findings

have been made for shipwrecks in the area of the Dry Tortugas, where it was argued that

for some classes of vessels seasonal shipping activities had a greater influence on loss

frequencies than did weather (Murphy and Jonsson 1993).

Information collected on vessel types lost in the GOMR shows that fishing vessels

of various sorts are the most numerous class of losses reported, and likely represent the

most numerous type of vessel in the entire population of wrecks. Most of these fishing

vessels are shrimp trawlers, are twentieth century in date, and generally have been

overlooked by historians and archaeologists. Early vessels that attract the most historical

and archaeological interest are relatively few in numbers and widely scattered in

distribution.

The overall patterns of wreck distributions seen in the 2001 database are in many

ways similar to those shown in the 1989 study, even though most of the discussions in

that earlier study did consider nearshore and onshore wrecks not utilized in this study.

The concentration of reported losses in waters closer to shore shown by most researchers

is reflected in the 2001 GOMR shipwreck data. However, because losses occurring

inshore of OCS waters are not included in the present study, the data on reported wreck

locations relative to the shoreline is not directly comparable to other studies. Just over 82

percent of all reported losses in the present database fall inside of the 60-m contour line.

The overall distribution of wrecks in the study area reflects broad settlement and

economic trends. These show very few losses in the study area prior to 1750, and

significant increases in numbers do not appear until after 1850. Few early vessel losses

are seen in the western Gulf, and the early losses after 1700 are generally indicative of

settlement band trading activities along the central and eastern Gulf relating to the

expansion of French settlement and control along the northern Gulf coast. The patterns

of wreck distributions over time clearly show that, at a broad level, the locations of loss

correlate with the development of historic shipping routes.

Increased numbers and concentrations of losses in nearshore areas of the central

and western Gulf beginning in 1900 and particularly after 1950 appear to be closely

related to the growth of the fishing (principally shrimping) industry as well as

recreational boating and the offshore oil and gas industry. Beginning in the nineteenth

century, concentrations of vessels occur off of major ports of the central and western

Gulf, but these are not so apparent along the Florida coast.
6

The potentials for shipwreck preservation in the GOMR are reviewed,

supplementing information provided in Garrison et al. (1989) with more recent

information on losses from the open waters of the Gulf. The new data suggest that

conditions for preservation in high-energy settings in the Gulf region appear to be

somewhat better and more widespread than previously had been thought. In general,

however, these types of high-energy settings are relatively rare in the GOMR such that

sediment transport and deposition is low over much of the study area. A review of

sidescan sonar records from MMS-mandated surveys reveals that a large number of the

vessels identified appear to be relatively intact, show minimal scatter of wreckage and

are, commonly, only partially buried by sediment. These conditions appear to exist

throughout the GOMR where water depths are over 10 m or so. However, many of the

vessels seen in these sidescan records appear to be relatively modern and might represent

steel-hulled ships whose preservation will differ from wooden-hulled examples. Few of

these vessels, however, have been examined by divers and specifics on their identities

and conditions remain unknown.

Only in recent years has any information been collected on the condition of

wrecks in deepwater portions of the GOMR. Although only a small number of deepwater

wrecks have been found, the available evidence suggests that preservation is good,

generally supporting findings from other parts of the world.

In Task 2, shipwreck data were correlated with other sorts of submerged object

data from the GOMR, such as reported snag and hang locations and objects and vessels

identified during offshore remote-sensing surveys. This task also included remotesensing survey and diving on selected offshore targets to determine their identity. The

initial remote-sensing survey of each of the 20 target areas ultimately selected revealed

that only ten contained bottom features indicative of submerged cultural resources.

Target inspection by divers indicated that of the ten potential targets, only one

represented a shipwreck. Designated Target 15, this wreck was a modern, steel-hulled

shrimp trawler unassociated with any reported hangs, and historically nonsignificant

based on National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility criteria. Of the

remaining nine targets, two represented modern debris such as pipe or platform debris

associated with the oil industry, and seven represented natural bottom features or had

negative findings.

The 20 target areas investigated actually contained 51 recorded target locations

(i.e., hangs, unknown vessel, obstruction, etc.), 29 of which were reported hang locations.

Of the targets investigated, only three could have been or caused a hang site: a shipwreck

and two areas of modern debris associated with the oil industry. These results raise

numerous questions, the least of which is coordinate accuracy of hangs, especially in

light of the fact that of the 29 hang locations only 10 percent was found to actually

contain objects that could result in a hang.

With regard to hangs representing shipwreck sites, only one target (Target 15)

was identified as a wreck, albeit a modern trawler. However, while Target 15 was

covered by shrimp net, it was never recorded as a hang location, making correlation of
7

our findings further problematic. Our findings aside, we know that net hangs can and do

represent historic shipwrecks. Two examples include the 303 Hang site, off the Texas

coast, and the El Nuevo Constante site, off the Louisiana coast, both of which are

discussed in the technical narrative.

To accomplish Task 3, a survey was to be conducted with both the “industrystandard” proton precession magnetometer and the new cesium magnetometer over two

known shipwrecks at varying transect intervals. The wrecks employed in the survey

initially included the Josephine, an iron-hulled sidewheeler and the Rhoda, a woodenhulled sailing ship, but subsequently included a barge suspected of being iron-hulled.

While only two magnetometers were initially identified for the study, it was

decided that it would be beneficial to the investigation to field-assess other magnetometer

models in addition to the two currently identified in the contract for the survey trials of

Task 3. These included an Overhauser effect proton magnetometer and the new

Geometrics 877 proton precession magnetometer. The Geometrics 877 is the

replacement for the proton precession industry standards currently employed in the Gulf,

i.e., the Geometrics 801 and the Geometrics 866 proton precession magnetometers.

These latter models, while still employed by many of the survey companies involved in

the oil and gas industry, are no longer being produced (as well as their respective parts),

and are being phased out by many firms. Relative to employment of the Overhauser type

magnetometers produced by Marine Magnetics and others (i.e., GEM Systems),

Overhauser magnetometers offer nearly the same sensitivity as the cesium

magnetometers, particularly at moderate speeds. Perhaps more germane to our study is

the fact that these magnetometers are and will be employed by Gulf survey companies on

projects that will have MMS purview. Therefore, the addition of these two models

offered to keep the study “up-to-date” and more reflective of systems employed now and

that will be employed in the future by oil and gas industry-related companies. The four

models employed in our survey included a Geometrics 866 (G-866), a Geometrics 877

(G-877), a Geometrics 881 (G-881), and a Marine Magnetics SeaSPY (SeaSPY).

Besides the two additional magnetometers, it was also decided that a submersible

base station be tested to determine its applicability to offshore surveys as it might apply

to post-mission processing of magnetic data, especially with regard to surveys with line

spacing of 50m. Mirroring the Notice to Lessees (NTL) 98-06, the new NTL 2002-01

(MMS 1998; 2002) requirements do not stipulate the employment of base stations or

contouring of magnetometer data. This is a reflection of the fact that, apart from oil rigs

or platforms which cannot be employed as a suitable location because of their inherent

magnetism, there is nowhere to place a base station in offshore Gulf waters. Currently,

the locations of encountered magnetic anomalies are simply marked with a symbol (▲)

and an identifying number, and presented in tabular format with anomaly information

including line number, shot point, and coordinates. With regard to the latter, exact

coordinates for a magnetic anomaly are next to impossible to acquire when data is not

contoured. Contouring would in many cases locate the anomaly exactly. However,

surveys are oftentimes conducted over many days with interruptions by weather common.

Without a base station to correct for this effect the diurnal variation that would be
8

recorded during surveys which extended over a long period of time makes contouring

problematic at best. Therefore, a Sentinel® submersible base station was included in this

task in an effort to assess its functionality in the field, and answer questions concerning

employment in offshore surveys relative to issues of diurnal variation and the

applicability of contouring.

During Task 3 of the investigation, all four magnetometers were run on three

grids of varying intervals and speed over two shipwrecks in an effort to determine how

each instrument detected that same wreck site with regard to maximum amplitude and

duration. It should be stated that this aspect of the investigation was not a contest to

determine which instrument recorded the highest gamma amplitude or deviation at the

greatest spaced interval, nor was it a controlled laboratory experiment where a sensor

could be pulled past a piece of iron of a known mass along an unwavering track spaced at

an exactly known distance unaffected by wind or current. Rather, it was a field trial

conducted to simulate an actual survey environment, with the Josephine situated in a

high-current, open-ocean location and the Rhoda in a somewhat protected bay

environment, and to assess how each instrument recorded the same wreck site, and if

differences were present, determine if these findings predicated changes to the current

MMS GOMR survey methodology.

Task 4 involved the synthesis of collected data, the preparation of a revised

predictive model for shipwreck distribution in the GOMR, and making recommendations

on survey instrumentation and strategies that would be most effective in locating these

shipwrecks. A general assessment of the probability of occurrence of shipwrecks in the

study area was achieved by comparing reported shipwreck densities with preservation

potentials across the GOMR, generally following the approach used by Garrison et al.

(1989). This analysis demonstrated that shipwreck potentials were moderate to high

along the western and central Gulf in nearshore lease areas, decreasing to a low and low

to moderate potential in the nearshore areas in the eastern part of the Gulf. This is

generally the trend observed by Garrison et al. (1989). However, it is suspected that the

overall shipwreck potentials obtained for some lease areas are underestimates of their true

potential. This is particularly true for some of the lease areas off the central and western

Louisiana coast and just to the east of the mouth of the Mississippi River.

An effort was made to objectively identify high-probability zones and areas in the

GOMR using the analytical tools in the GIS program ArcView. ArcView was used to

identify areas of varying size that showed clustering of reported losses of various

densities. Ultimately, it was determined that those areas containing densities of 25 or

more reported shipwrecks per 0.5-degree unit of area should be classified as highprobability areas. To strengthen the reliability of the true shipwreck potential of these

selected areas, all vessels with a low (i.e., Reliability Factor 4) or unknown reliability in

their reported position of loss were eliminated in the analysis.

These high-probability 0.5-degree units exist as overlapping and adjacent entities

extending along the central and western Gulf coast. None occur in the eastern Gulf off

the coast of Florida. Although Garrison et al. (1989) used losses from inshore state
9

waters, the distribution of the 0.5-degree high-probability units in that study resembled,

to some extent, the ones obtained here.

These 0.5-degree units encompass only a segment of the reported shipwreck

population in the GOMR, and we have identified high-probability areas outside of these

high-density zones to account for other reported wrecks. The identification of these other

areas relied heavily on the Reliability Factors discussed above. First, all lease blocks

containing reported or discovered shipwrecks assigned a Reliability Factor of 1 are

classified as high-probability lease blocks. Secondly, all lease blocks containing the

positions of reported shipwrecks assigned a Reliability Factor 2 are considered as highprobability lease blocks. Further, following the lead of Garrison et al. (1989), because of

the potential for error assigned to Reliability Factor 2 the eight contiguous lease blocks

around the one containing the vessel position are included as high-probability blocks. No

effort is made to further refine the identification of these lease blocks on other vessel

attributes, of which age is probably the most important. Specifically, vessels generally

have to be over 50 years old to be considered historically significant and, thus, of greatest

concern to MMS management. However, age is a “moving target” and it seems more

appropriate for the MMS to use ArcView to identify those vessels (and associated

individual lease blocks or 9-lease block clusters) that should be maintained in this highprobability class through time. As discussed earlier, date of build is available for many

vessels in the database and should be used over the date of loss in computing age for an

assessment of potential significance and in the identification of high-probability lease

blocks.

Vessels assigned Reliability Factor 3 have been eliminated from consideration in

the selection of individual high-probability lease blocks because of concerns about the

potential for error in their reported position. They have, however, been used in the

identification of the more general 0.5-degree areas of high probability.

The distributions of all of these various classes of high-probability areas are

shown in Figure 2. High-probability zones are concentrated off the central and western

Gulf coasts, principally within the 60-m contour line. The most significant concentration

of high-probability areas beyond the 60-m contour is in the area off the mouth of the

Mississippi River.

These high-probability areas constitute the most important expression of the

“model” of shipwreck occurrence in the Gulf of Mexico relative to MMS management of

historic shipwrecks in the GOMR. It is a “model,” and thus is a simplified expression of

sets of complex phenomena. An effort has been made to make the reported shipwreck

data more useful in identifying high-probability locations through the collection of more

information on more attributes than had been done in the 1989 study. In addition, the

concept of “Reliability” in terms of reported position of loss has been incorporated in an

attempt to strengthen the identification of high-probability areas.
Figure 2. High-probability lease blocks identified in the study area.
11

Based on the findings of Task 3, recommendations on survey instrumentation and

strategies that would be most effective in locating shipwrecks within the GOMR include

the following:

• The investigation revealed that all magnetometers performed well in the field trials,

including the G-866, the “industry-standard” that we feel at this time has become

antiquated although is still functional in most respects.

• The ability of the current 50-m transect interval to effectively record the wrecks

examined in this study has been amply demonstrated and argues for its effectiveness

in locating many of the classes of vessels known to have been lost in the GOMR.

However, it should be emphasized that the vessels examined in the present study are

large and contain considerable quantities of ferrous metal. The 50-m interval is

unlikely to be effective in identifying all wreck types in the GOMR, especially earlier

wrecks containing less iron or small wooden vessels or parts of wooden vessels that

produce smaller magnetic signatures. Therefore, it is recommended that in order to

provide better detection capability for all types of shipwrecks, especially earlier

wrecks which might be the most historically significant types within the GOMR, a

closer spaced transect interval, such as the 30-m interval, should be considered by the

MMS for employment in high-probability areas.

• Reflecting abilities of the for-years industry standard but now antiquated G-866

system, the NTL requires dual scale readings, strip chart speeds, and annotation of the

strip charts with shot points and recorder speed. However, given the computerdriven, digital-nature of all instruments today, these requirements appear now to be

outmoded and in need of revision, at least for those magnetometers that are totally

digital (i.e., G-877, G-881, SeaSPY, etc.). Magnetic data from these digital models

are collected simultaneously in the same file along with positioning, depth, time,

layback, gyro, etc., making annotation unnecessary. Additionally, the strip chart is

presented digitally on the screen in current navigation programs (i.e., Hypack®) and

may be set at any gamma scale. Furthermore, when post-processing data, track lines

and any attendant anomalies can also be viewed and presented in any gamma scale to

allow for optimum characterization of that anomaly.

• Relative to the increased depth of 200 meters or less for survey of high-probability

OCS lease blocks, early magnetometer sensor types such as the G-866 have

significant limitations in that they will not physically sink below 225 feet below the

water surface regardless of how much tow cable is deployed. This does not allow the

sensor to be within the MMS specification of being within six meters of the seafloor

in deeper waters. Therefore, the magnetometer chosen for survey at the deeper

depths should be required to meet depth parameters.

• Durations for each instrument vary to the point that no real comparisons can be made.

And, durations and amplitude do not appear to be affected by speeds up to seven

knots.
12

• While not stipulated as a requirement by the NTL, employment of the Sentinel during

our investigation highlighted its potential as an offshore tool in the collection of data

for post-processing of magnetic survey data. Although the actual magnetometer

operated excellently, collecting extremely smooth data, as discussed above the

acoustic release failed on one occasion and had to be retrieved manually by divers, a

scenario impossible in most GOMR survey situations. A prototype, the release is said

to have undergone corrective redesign. Because of the release mechanism’s failure

more in-field research is needed before any recommendations on its use can be made.

• Because contouring presents critical analytic data, it is recommended that even

without the use of a base station, offshore magnetometer survey data should be

contoured in situations where a survey is conducted as a single unit (i.e., not split over

multiple days).

• For all magnetometers, the manufacturer’s firmware automatic monitoring feature

should be switched off if it will impede the collection of data such as occurred with

the SeaSPY.
13

REFERENCES CITED

Coastal Environments, Inc. 1977. Cultural Resources Evaluation of the Northern Gulf of

Mexico Continental Shelf. 3 volumes. Prepared by Coastal Environments, Inc.,

for the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior, New

Orleans Outer Continental Shelf Office. Springfield, Virginia: National

Technical Information Service.

Garrison, E.G., C.P. Giammona, F.J. Kelly, A.R. Tripp, and G.A. Wolff. 1989. Historic

Shipwrecks and Magnetic Anomalies of the Northern Gulf of Mexico:

Reevaluation of Archaeological Resource Management Zone 1. 3 volumes. The

Texas A&M Research Foundation, College Station, Texas. OCS Study/MMS 89-

0024. U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of

Mexico OCS Region, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Minerals Management Service. 1998. NTL No. 98-06, August 10, 1998. Notice to

Lessees and Operators of Federal Oil, Gas, Sulphur, and Salt Leases and Pipeline

Right-of-Way Holders in the Outer Continental Shelf, Gulf of Mexico OCS

Region. Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico Region, New Orleans.

Minerals Management Service. 2002. NTL No. 2002-G01, March 15, 2002. Notice to

Lessees and Operators of Federal Oil, Gas, Sulphur, and Salt Leases and Pipeline

Right-of-Way Holders in the Outer Continental Shelf, Gulf of Mexico OCS

Region. Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, New

Orleans.

Murphy, L.E. and R.W. Jonsson. 1993. Fort Jefferson National Monument Documented

Maritime Casualties. In Dry Tortugas National Park, Submerged Cultural

Resources Assessment, edited by Larry E. Murphy, pp. 143-166. Submerged

Cultural Resources Center Professional Papers, No. 45. Submerged Cultural

Resources Unit, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The Department of the Interior Mission

As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has responsibility 

for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural resources. This includes fostering 

sound use of our land and water resources; protecting our fish, wildlife, and biological diversity; 

preserving the environmental and cultural values of our national parks and historical places; 

and providing for the enjoyment of life through outdoor recreation. The Department assesses 

our energy and mineral resources and works to ensure that their development is in the best 

interests of all our people by encouraging stewardship and citizen participation in their care. 

The Department also has a major responsibility for American Indian reservation communities 

and for people who live in island territories under U.S. administration. 

The Minerals Management Service Mission 

As a bureau of the Department of the Interior, the Minerals Management Service's (MMS) 

primary responsibilities are to manage the mineral resources located on the Nation's Outer 

Continental Shelf (OCS), collect revenue from the Federal OCS and onshore Federal and Indian 

lands, and distribute those revenues. 

Moreover, in working to meet its responsibilities, the Offshore Minerals Management Program 

administers the OCS competitive leasing program and oversees the safe and environmentally 

sound exploration and production of our Nation's offshore natural gas, oil and other mineral 

resources. The MMS Minerals Revenue Management meets its responsibilities by ensuring the 

efficient, timely and accurate collection and disbursement of revenue from mineral leasing and 

production due to Indian tribes and allottees, States and the U.S. Treasury. 

The MMS strives to fulfill its responsibilities through the general guiding principles of: (1) being 

responsive to the public's concerns and interests by maintaining a dialogue with all potentially 

affected parties and (2) carrying out its programs with an emphasis on working to enhance the 

quality of life for all Americans by lending MMS assistance and expertise to economic 

development and environmental protection.