Journal Article

The Monterrey Wrecks: Characterization of Three Early 19 super(th) Century Shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico

Delgado, James, Borgens, Amy, Marzin, Catherine, Kiene, William, Caporaso, Alicia, Horrell, Christopher, Irion, Jack, Cantelas, Frank, Gittings, Steve, Brennan, Michael L, Wagner, Jamie, Hanselmann, Frederick

2014

Overview

In April 2012, the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer conducted the first reconnaissance of a shipwreck site 275 km from the Texas-Louisiana coast as part of an interdisciplinary exploration mission focusing on deepwater hard-bottom habitat, naturally occurring gas seeps, and potential shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico. First identified as a side-scan sonar target in 2011 by Shell Oil during a lease-area survey, a brief ROV dive imaged the undisturbed, early nineteenth century wooden-hulled, copper-sheathed sailing vessel containing artillery, firearms, navigation instruments, cooking and food storage items, medicines, and personal effects. \"Monterrey A\" is one of the more significant shipwrecks discovered in the Gulf of Mexico to date because of its degree of preservation and the insight it provides into a critical period in history when new nations were forming at the end of Colonial period and the Gulf of Mexico was opening to global trade.