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New Wrecks Discovered in Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument

Scientists investigating other wrecks in sanctuaries

by National Marine Sanctuaries

Dunnottar Castle
Maritime archaeologist Tane Casserley films the wreckage of a 3-masted sailing vessel wrecked at Kure Atoll. (Photo: Kelly Gleason)
Archaeologists with NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program made two remarkable discoveries at Kure Atoll, the most northwestern atoll in Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Maritime National Monument, while on a research cruise aboard the NOAA Ship Hi`ialakai.

The discoveries are the remains of the paddlewheel gunboat USS Saginaw, which sank there in 1870, and the remains of another vessel believed to be the Dunnottar Castle, a 258-foot, three-masted British sailing ship reported lost with a load of coal in 1886.

The team is also revisiting the wrecks of the British whaling ships Pearl and Hermes, the two oldest known wrecks in the Monument. Daily logs are being posted by the team here.

Other recently completed or upcoming expeditions include the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Photomosaic mission, the investigation of the Palmer and Crary in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and an extensive mapping expedition to the USS Monitor. Click the links to follow these missions.

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