2018 Survey & Dive Activity
The 2019 URA year started and continued with a confluence number of circumstances that severely strained the year's activity. It began in the fall of 2018 with the failure of the starboard engine which had to be replaced over the winter. In combination with terrible lake spring weather conditions we spent several weekends in heavy seas testing and setting the starboard engine, both in drydock and sea trials. The weather windows only presented short opportunities to get out and those in some pretty rough seas.
The spring weather persisted into the best survey months which present no thermoclines to interfere with the Klein side scan signals. But, survey we did. Kudos to all who spent many hours on the lake in barely tolerable weather conditions and often very rough/high seas returning in the boat as the weather windows closed to stormy weather.
As if this wasn't enough we struggled both in the survey phase and the early diving phases of the summer by considerable number of conflicting personal schedules presented to URA team members. So, some of the work was done on minimum staffing and in a few conditions we had to pass on good weather windows due to insufficient staff. This is normal as the team members all have "day jobs" and family responsibilities that we respect. But, this year Murphy seemed to strike with a vengeance on schedule conflicts.
Last, but not least, we seemed to suffer from a number of video and camera equipment failures and lack of access due to the staff shortages. So, not a lot of imagery to share on early 2019 activity. Trust us … more is coming … much more!
The team persevered!! And, we have had a number of successes and some outstanding opportunities that we have accepted and yet have to complete. So, stand by … and as we make more info public we'll post it on this 2019 activity page.
The spring weather persisted into the best survey months which present no thermoclines to interfere with the Klein side scan signals. But, survey we did. Kudos to all who spent many hours on the lake in barely tolerable weather conditions and often very rough/high seas returning in the boat as the weather windows closed to stormy weather.
As if this wasn't enough we struggled both in the survey phase and the early diving phases of the summer by considerable number of conflicting personal schedules presented to URA team members. So, some of the work was done on minimum staffing and in a few conditions we had to pass on good weather windows due to insufficient staff. This is normal as the team members all have "day jobs" and family responsibilities that we respect. But, this year Murphy seemed to strike with a vengeance on schedule conflicts.
Last, but not least, we seemed to suffer from a number of video and camera equipment failures and lack of access due to the staff shortages. So, not a lot of imagery to share on early 2019 activity. Trust us … more is coming … much more!
The team persevered!! And, we have had a number of successes and some outstanding opportunities that we have accepted and yet have to complete. So, stand by … and as we make more info public we'll post it on this 2019 activity page.
April 2019 - Boat Repair
May 2019 Boat Repairs
July - Diving Commences
Participating: Divers - Doug C, Keith C, Chad B, &Marty L - Surface Support - Mike M, Jared D, , Dave T
August 13th Dive on the Frank H. Goodyear
Great dive on the Goodyear by Rick H, Chad B, Andy P, Doug C and Marty L.....and new areas penetrated. Enjoy this preview of URA divers penetrating the Frank H. Goodyear to areas not previously visited since before she sunk!
August 25th Dive on BOW of Daniel J. Morrell
The divers were Keith Colombo, Chad Brunner, Andrew Pixley, & Martin Lutz. Surface support was provided by Dave Trotter, Mike Michaels, and John Debeck. CHECK OUT the story behind these image about the Morrell here: Morrell-URA-GLSM Project
STAY TUNED ... MORE TO COME
September 7th Dive on STERN of Daniel J. Morrell
The divers were Keith Colombo, Chad Brunner, Rick Heinman, & Martin Lutz. Surface support was provided by Dave Trotter, Mike Michaels, and John Debeck. CHECK OUT the story behind these image about the Morrell here: Morrell-URA-GLSM Project
September 20th - Diving the Morrell BOW
On September 20th URA divers were back out on the Daniel J. Morrell. This is a continuing effort to support our friend John DeBeck and the Whitefish Point museum effort to open a new huge memorial exhibit dedicated to the Morrell. (See more on this effort.)
The divers were Chad, Keith, & Marty … Dave & John DeBeck surface support. This was a "working dive" with a long list of tasks supporting the museum. Divers did an extensive search of the very large outer debris field, and did video examination of the hatches & hatch cover locks, etc. They were long dives! Weather was exceptional for this late in the fall.
The divers were Chad, Keith, & Marty … Dave & John DeBeck surface support. This was a "working dive" with a long list of tasks supporting the museum. Divers did an extensive search of the very large outer debris field, and did video examination of the hatches & hatch cover locks, etc. They were long dives! Weather was exceptional for this late in the fall.
October 20th - Diving the Twin Ferries
The divers were Keith Colombo, Andy Pixley, &, Rick Heineman. Surface support was provided by Dave Trotter, Mike Michaels & Bob Martelli. URA UW images extracted from video by Keith. The sun was out, the water was flat … and COLD … but a great day and a great dive. Below is a very short bit of info on the "Twin Ferries" history. I've included a few images from Becky Schott & Michigan Divers to fill in the slideshow until I get an opportunity to process the video shot on the wrecks by URA divers. Stay tuned for an update soon.
Two ferries sank in a storm while being towed to Kingston Ontario in 1964. The James Curran sits upsidown but suspended in the water column. You can see the tow cable still wrapped around it. On the other side about 150ft away is the McPhail that sits upright. Both have amazing wheelhouses and life boats. They sit in 200 feet of water in Lake Huron.
There is much more about the history of these two sunken car ferries! Prior to 1962 when the Mackinaw Bridge opened for car traffic all cars were forced to transit the Mackinaw Strait via car ferry. The cost early at the commencement of car ferry transit was $1/car. When the bridge opened some "commerce constraints" were added attached to the bridge use which prohibited any other car transit business within several miles either side of the bridge. It was the death knell of the car ferries. Being "towed" via tug to Lake Ontario for refit the tug hit a squall and the two ferries in tow were either broken loose ... or ... cut loose intentionally for insurance ??? The two ferries sunk still attached to each other. The shipwrecks were first discovered by Stan Stock in the 1980's ... and then independently "re-discovered" by URA just a very short time later while surveying the lake with the Klein side scan SONAR. Only a very few people still have the actual location fixes for the two shipwrecks.
Two ferries sank in a storm while being towed to Kingston Ontario in 1964. The James Curran sits upsidown but suspended in the water column. You can see the tow cable still wrapped around it. On the other side about 150ft away is the McPhail that sits upright. Both have amazing wheelhouses and life boats. They sit in 200 feet of water in Lake Huron.
There is much more about the history of these two sunken car ferries! Prior to 1962 when the Mackinaw Bridge opened for car traffic all cars were forced to transit the Mackinaw Strait via car ferry. The cost early at the commencement of car ferry transit was $1/car. When the bridge opened some "commerce constraints" were added attached to the bridge use which prohibited any other car transit business within several miles either side of the bridge. It was the death knell of the car ferries. Being "towed" via tug to Lake Ontario for refit the tug hit a squall and the two ferries in tow were either broken loose ... or ... cut loose intentionally for insurance ??? The two ferries sunk still attached to each other. The shipwrecks were first discovered by Stan Stock in the 1980's ... and then independently "re-discovered" by URA just a very short time later while surveying the lake with the Klein side scan SONAR. Only a very few people still have the actual location fixes for the two shipwrecks.
Nov 7 - URA Participates at Port Huron Museum's "Diving for Answers: Solving Mysteries of the Storm of 1913"
On Thursday November 7th, 2019 members of the URA team participated in the "opening reception" of Port Hurons newest exhibit. This exhibit will run at the Port Huron Museum from November 2019 - April 2020. Six member of URA team, Dave Trotter's wife Mickey, and URA guests attended. A very large number of the shipwrecks included in the exhibit were discovered by the URA team! The Port Huron Museum has a permanent maritime exhibit on the third floor which is also worth visiting.