Vernon Basin\Florida Escarpment\Gravel Shipwreck

3D Model

In the late afternoon on May 16, 2019, NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer during ROV engineering mission EX1902 dive 3, discovered a small shipwreck along the edge of the Florida Escarpment Gulf. The archaeologists on the call generally think this is a sailing vessel built sometime between 1840-1860, possibly a coastal schooner, or a brig or even a small ship rigged vessel. The fact that the hull is filled with gravel and lacked artifacts may indicate the gravel was cargo as opposed to ballast; as beach and river cobble and gravel were also used in the 19th century as ballast, the vessel may have carried a perishable cargo. Further, the general lack of artifacts may indicate the vessel was being used as a barge under tow. Some of the wood observed appears blackened and checked indicating possible fire.

Modeling by BOEM Archaeologist Scott Sorset