Conference Agenda

The Battle of the Atlantic Research and Expedition Group conducted the first comprehensive underwater and historical survey of the German U-1105 “Black Panther” in nearly thirty years thanks to a non-capital grant from the Maryland Historical Trust. The U-1105 is Maryland’s first historic shipwreck preserve. Leveraging new archival data, divers conducted a multi-year evaluation of one of the most unique German U-boats to conduct a wartime patrol. This presentation provides an overview of the survey findings that included a comparative analysis of the original survey work completed during 1993-1995, and recommended next steps for the project.

Island regions, particularly because of their economy and accessibility seasonality, require sustainable strategies adapted to meet these challenges. A new multidimensional approach to underwater cultural tourism is necessary, with smart strategies adapted to the area characteristics, sustainable and with an ecological focus, while at the same time promoting the unique underwater cultural assets to raise public awareness among the community and ensure stakeholders involvement.

In this context, the ecoRoute project introduces an approach aiming at transforming three island destinations: Azores, Madeira and Martinique, into intelligent destinations of cultural underwater tourism. We will present the case study of north Martinique as an example of the ecoRoute pilot interventions, given its geographical proximity to North America and the sustainable tourism development potential for the Caribbean Islands. It is focusing on Saint-Pierre's shipwrecks as witnesses of the 19th-20th centuries maritime frequentation and "frozen" testimonies of the Montagne Pelée's catastrophic eruption in 1902.

The Lake Champlain Underwater Historic Preserves system was created in 1982 to provide public access for divers to experience shipwreck sites safely and without causing damage to these sensitive archaeological sites. Today, the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum is steward and caretaker for these shipwreck sites, maintaining signage and diving infrastructure and documenting the sites regularly through video and photogrammetry models. The Museum also conserved and now curates archaeological collections for many of the sites in the Underwater Historic Preserves on behalf of the State of Vermont. These collections are available to the public for research and some materials are on view in a new canal boat exhibit at the Museum. In the last two years, the Museum opened two new wreck sites, Potash Point Canal Sloop, and Providence Island Canal Sloop. This presentation will describe the Underwater Historic Preserves sites and the kinds of data their affiliated archaeological collections hold.

South Florida National Park archeologists analyzed maritime sites within Dry Tortugas National Park (DRTO) to determine specific sites for inclusion on a planned public-interpreted underwater maritime heritage trail. This research will examine different parameters of sites located in DRTO and compare them with sites on similar maritime heritage trails or sites open to public interpretation/visitation. The paper will discuss specific characteristics that make a site a good candidate for inclusion on an underwater trail, that these characteristics can be quantified and qualified, and that using these characteristics to choose sites will enable heritage managers to create and sustain a public engagement with maritime resources.

The Mallows Bay virtual trail is a collaboration between NOAA, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and Terrain360, and takes you on a tour of the remarkable aspects of the sanctuary waters and adjacent park. Choose from multiple hiking and water trails, or explore different themes, such as shipwrecks or ecology. The goal is to provide a unique opportunity to interact with Mallows Bay in a way that removes barriers to access. The virtual trail is an interactive, web-based experience that allows users to paddle among the historic World War I-era shipwrecks and inseparable ecology or walk the trails from the comfort of your own home. Accessible anywhere with a computer or smart device and internet, the virtual trail allows people of all abilities the opportunity to experience the sanctuary and surrounding shores. The sanctuary invites you to dive into the virtual trail and immerse yourself in its historical and ecological wonders.