In future this spatial shipwreck information will allow maritime archaeologists to target high potential areas around our coast. A team from the University of Ulster have started a programme of marine geophysics which will compliment this line of enquiry. Of the 10,000 wrecks around the Irish coast the vast majority lie in inshore areas under 50m in depth. This reflects the fact that most vessels lost have been blown ashore by inclement weather, or have struck submerged rocks or hazards in inshore areas. Indeed many of those further off shore, especially north of Donegal to Antrim and south of Kerry and Cork are associated with losses due to naval action along merchant shipping lanes in the Second World War.
Most shipwrecks lie in the busy Irish Sea area reflecting trade routes with large ports.
Eastern ports such as Dublin, Belfast and Drogheda have numerous wrecks in their vicinity. This is also the case for other busy ports around the rest of the coast including Waterford, Cork, Galway and Derry. Other hot spots for wrecks include natural hazards, predominantly submerged rocks or sandbanks. Wrecks tend to be clustered in these areas, many of which have had lighthouses or lightships installed over the years. Examples of treacherous rocks include Tuskar, off the south-east tip of Wexford and the North and South rocks off the Ards peninsula in Down.