USA: Maritime Archaeologists Begin Survey of Two Wrecks

June 21, 2012

A pair of maritime archaeologists with the Wisconsin Historical Society started a dive beneath the water of Lake Michigan to begin survey and cataloguing the wrecks of two of Davidson’s most famous wooden ships.

Tamara Thomsen and Keith Meverden will survey the Australasia and the Adriatic vessels. This two-year project is funded in part by the University Of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, Doorcountydailynews.com reports.

The Australasia has been discovered a few years ago. The vessel was launched in 1884, and was the fifth vessel constructed in Wisconsin. It sank in 1896 after catching fire and burning to the waterline. It was capable of carrying 3,000 tons of cargo.

The dives started yesterday and will continue through Monday.

In 2013, the maritime archaeologists will focus on the Adriatic, one of the earliest self-unloading schooners ever to sail the Great Lakes.

This wreck is currently in a docking place in the Sturgeon Bay shipyard.

[mappress]

Subsea World News Staff , June 21, 2012