Multibeam Sonar Reveals Ship That Warned Titanic of Icebergs - Hydro International

12/2/23, 12:28 PM Multibeam sonar reveals ship that warned Titanic of icebergs | Hydro International
NEWS
Multibeam sonar reveals ship that

warned Titanic of icebergs
T
October 3, 2022
he ship that sent an iceberg warning to the RMS

Titanic before the ocean liner sank has been
identified in the Irish Sea. Using state-of-the art
multibeam sonar, researchers at Bangor University
have finally been able to positively identify the wreck
and reveal its position for the first time.
https://www.hydro-international.com/content/news/multibeam-sonar-reveals-ship-that-warned-titanic-of-icebergs 1/9
In 1912, the merchant steamship SS Mesaba was crossing the

Atlantic and sent a warning radio message to the RMS Titanic. The
message was received, but never reached the bridge. Later that
night, the supposedly unsinkable Titanic hit an iceberg and sank on
her maiden voyage, taking 1,500 lives and becoming the world’s
most infamous shipwreck. The steamship continued as a merchant
ship over the next six years before being torpedoed while in convoy
in 1918.
Enabling highly detailed seabed
mapping
Multibeam sonar proved to be the solution to identify the wreck.
For marine archaeologists, this technology has the potential to be
as impactful as the use of aerial photography was for landscape
archaeology. Multibeam sonar enables seabed mapping of such
detail that superstructure details can be revealed on the sonar
images.
The SS Mesaba was one of 273 shipwrecks lying in 12,000 square
kilometres of Irish Sea that were scanned and cross-referenced
against the UK Hydrographic Office’s database of wrecks and other
sources. It was thought that 101 wrecks were unidentified, but the
number of newly identified wrecks was far higher, as many – the SS
Mesaba included – had been wrongly identified in the past.
Details of all the wrecks have been published in a new book,
Echoes from the Deep, by Dr Innes McCartney of Bangor
University, conducted under a Leverhulme Fellowship while at
Bournemouth University.
The SS Mesaba. (Courtesy: State Library of Queensland / Bangor University)
Game-changer in marine
archaeology
McCartney commented: “The results of the work described in the
book have validated the multidisciplinary technique employed
and represent a ‘game-changer’ for marine archaeology. Previously,
we would be able to dive to a few sites a year to visually identify
wrecks. The Prince Madog’s unique sonar capabilities have enabled
us to develop a relatively low-cost means of examining the wrecks.
We can connect this back to the historical information without
costly physical interaction with each site. It should be of key
interest to marine scientists, environmental agencies,
hydrographers, heritage managers, maritime archaeologists and
historians.”
Dr Michael Roberts, who led the sonar surveys at the University’s
School of Ocean Sciences, explained: “The expertise and unique
resources we have at Bangor University, such as the Prince
Madog, enable us to deliver high-quality scientific research in an
extremely cost-effective manner. Identifying shipwrecks such as
those documented in the publication for historical research and
environmental impact studies is just one example of this. We have
also been examining these wreck sites to better understand how
objects on the seabed interact with physical and biological

processes, which in turn can help scientists support the
development and growth of the marine energy sector.”
Using state-of-the art multibeam sonar, researchers at Bangor University

have finally been able to positively identify the SS Mesaba wreck and have
revealed her position for the first time. (Source: Bangor University)
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12/2/23, 12:28 PM Multibeam sonar reveals ship that warned Titanic of icebergs | Hydro International

Multibeam sonar reveals ship that

he ship that sent an iceberg warning to the RMS

In 1912, the merchant steamship SS Mesaba was crossing the

The SS Mesaba. (Courtesy: State Library of Queensland / Bangor University)

objects on the seabed interact with physical and biological

Using state-of-the art multibeam sonar, researchers at Bangor University

PDF Print Share

Value staying current with

On the key role of the hydrographer of

Updating archive data with airborne

Rising tides: exploring the expanding

Anders Ekelund • November 24, 2023

Expanding the capabilities of autonomous

Enhancing safety and data processing

Bathymetric sensors in education

Mapping northern Greenland waters

Towards a positive future for Kiribati

Who will benefit from the Galileo High

Navigating the rising tide

Pioneering ocean mapping for a better

Pushing subsea boundaries with hybrid

Read current issue

View magazine archive

Hydro International started out as a print magazine in 1996 and soon

Privacy Cookies Terms & Conditions Sitemap Contact Advertise

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