The Mystery Collier

One of the shipwrecks that my team has been studying this summer is actually unidentified. We've been calling it the "Mystery Collier," because we know it's a coal schooner and very little else. The wreck rests in about 400 ft of water in the northeast corner of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and faces north-south. Was it coming to Boston to deliver a load of coal? What happened to the ship that made it sink? Who were the crew members on board, and where were they from? All these questions remain to be answered.

In our investigations this year, we've found several diagnostic features of the wreck that may help us identify it. During ROV operations, my collaborator, Calvin, regularly leans forward to point out artifacts he wants the pilot to focus on. Shoes and plates and bits of copper - all of them could be clues to the ship's identity. In his notebook, Calvin sketches a site plan so he can keep track of where all the artifacts are. He pulls out old photographs to compare to the images on the screen. 

While Calvin notes the artifacts, I scribble notes of my own. The Mystery Collier plays host to invertebrates and fish, as do most wrecks in the sanctuary. There are a number of different species - anemones, sponges, and sea stars - but the abundances are not actually that high. Most of the wreck is uncolonized, just empty space waiting for its first recruits. I signal to Calvin that this wreck is different - something's off. Why isn't more of the hull covered in animals?

The stern of the Mystery Collier, photographed using
ROV Pixel

As the ROV circles around the wreck again, Calvin points out that the green hue is likely the remnants of copper sheeting. Copper was used as anti-fouling in many 19th century vessels, and apparently, the metal's effectiveness lasts long after the ship has sunk. The wooden planks are enveloped in a toxic metal, and most of the seafloor around the wreck is covered by a mound of coal - these surfaces are not conducive to biological colonization. No wonder the abundances are so low!

The ROV comes to rest on the seafloor, and an anemone sways in the current of the starboard thruster. A cusk swims in front of the camera while krill swarm around the chandelier's lights. The Mystery Collier is a fascinating wreck with numerous secrets. With a bit of luck, we will uncover them all!