The Lake Guardian , a 180-foot Environmental Protection Agency vessel based in Milwaukee, will be used for the expedition. It is expected that less than half the sanctuary will be covered this summer. Potential new shipwreck discoveries will not be explored this summer. Future phases involve completing the mapping and viewing new shipwreck discoveries with a remotely operated vehicle. For example, people who fish sometimes use simplified forms of sonar, called depth sounders or fish finders, to find how deep the water is where they are or to locate schools of fish.
Scientists use sidescan sonar to map features on the bottom of the ocean and Great Lakes.
In fact, IFE has conducted several projects either in National Marine Sanctuaries or in conjunction with NMS staff. The Institute's current programs focus on the themes of human history, natural history in deep environments, and underwater vehicle development. Dr. Robert D. Ballard, founder and head of IFE, has been involved in numerous high-profile maritime archeological expeditions including the discovery of the Titanic . The discovery of the oldest ships ever found in the deep sea, two Phoenician ships from the 9th century B.C. found off Ashkelon, Israel. Early this Fall, the first phase of setting up a live video link from a shipwreck to shore will be completed.