11 August 2005 Tennie & Laura, Port Washington
(August 12, 2005)
Paul Bentley and Rob Paddock set up the transducer that acoustically relays the ROV's GPS location while under water
Paul Bentley, Tamara Thomsen, Keith Meverden, Rob Paddock and John Karl boarded the R/V
Neeskay for today’s investigation. The ROV was launched in a mist of rain as wind and waves increased throughout the day. The good fortune of the previous two day's weather did not stay with us.
Rob pilots the ROV from the laboratory aboard R/V
NeeskayRob piloted the ROV up the port side of the wreck, recording white paint that is still vilisble on the outer hull planking. Although quagga mussels have began populating the deeper water, there has been little colonization of the wreck's wooden hull structure. A large debris field at the bow was surveyd, including what appeared to be an anchor stock emerging from the silt. Boom jaws came into focus as the ROV made its way around the wreck's bow. The size and location suggest that this piece may have been the foremast boom.
The boom jaws of
Tennie & Laura's foremast boom
At anchor, the Neeskay began swinging in the current and growing sea, and the ROV was repeatedly pulled away from the wreck site. Concerns increased that the ROV would be dragged into the rigging and become entangled, so the Neeskay was kept under power, anticipating the wave action to reduce the swing of the platform.
Once this stabilization technique was initiated, Rob flew the ROV back to the wreck site to continue examining construction along the deck rail. Information and video documentation continued as Rob slowly moved the ROV forward, examining the wreck's unique scow schooner construction.
ROV is winched onto the platform
With worsening conditions as the day waned, the ROV was winched back onto the platform. The team will return to the Tennie & Laura site later this fall to finish the site investigation and documentation.
WHS photos by Tamara Thomsen
