Scapa Map Report 2002
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SSCAPAMMAAPP22000000 –– 22000022 Acknowledgements The initial idea for the ScapaMAP project was conceived by Ian Oxley while working at Heriot-Watt University on his PhD thesis and came to fruition with the support of Gordon Barclay (Historic Scotland). Ian was also responsible for the management of the project in its first year. The final outcome of the project, however, was the culmination of the support of many individuals and organisations during the programme. In particular, thanks are due to Deanna Groom (Maritime Fife and the NMRS Maritime Record Enhancement Project, University of St Andrews) and Olwyn Owen (Historic Scotland). During diving operations the assistance of Martin Dean, Mark Lawrence and Steve Liscoe (Archaeological Diving Unit), Dave Burden (skipper MV Simitar) and the staff and students of the University Dive Unit. Dr Larry Meyers (Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping, University of New Hampshire) for allowing his staff time to take part in the 2001 field season. In particular, Dr Brian Calder and Richard Lear (RESON UK) for their efforts during the 2001 fieldwork and subsequent data analysis proved invaluably. Dougall Campbell for his recollections and archive material from his salvage operations. The assistance of the following organisations is also most gratefully acknowledged: Department of Civil and Offshore Engineering (Heriot-Watt University), Historic Scotland; the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, RESON UK, . Bobby Forbes Dive Unit School of Life Sciences Heriot-Watt University Orkney Campus SUMMARY • Year 1 of ScapaMAP included desk-based research and fieldwork involving a range of collaborators • Fieldwork comprised geophysical survey, Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) survey and diver-based assessment • An assessment was made of existing information relating to the wrecks including historical, oral testimony and photographic data • Contact was made with a variety of users in order to assess their interests in the sites • A large number of datasets and images derived from the geophysical survey have been collated and archived, and some manipulation and analysis has been carried out • A database designed specifically for maritime archaeological management purposes has been set up • A range of images and datasets have been prepared for input into ArcView GIS projects • Recommendations on the future management, education and research initiatives are discussed. Glossary Acronym Meaning ADU Archaeological Dive Unit ARCs Admiralty Raster Charts C-COM Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping CRM Cultural Resource Management DAN Diver Alert Network EANx Enriched Air Nitrox GeoZui3D Georeferenced Zooming user interface 3D GIS Geographic Information System ICZM Integrated Coastal Zone Management JHC Joint Hydrographic Center JNAPC Joint Nautical Archaeology Policy Committee JNCC Joint Nature Conservation Committee MCA Maritime & Coastguard Agency MoD Ministry of Defence NDT Non-Destructive Testing NMRS National Monuments Record for Scotland ODBOA Orkney Dive Boat Operators Association ODIG Orkney Diving Interest Group OIC Orkney Islands Council PMRA Protection of Military Remains Act ROV Remotely Operater Vehicle RTK Real Time Kenematic SAC ScapaMAP Acoustic Consortium SMR Sites and Monuments Record UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization WGS72 World Geodetic System 1972 BSAC British Sub-Aqua Club PADI Professional Association of Diving Instructors SAA Sub-Aqua Association List of Figures Figure Title Page 1 Scapa Flow and harbour limits. 2 2 ScapaMAP Survey area. 3 3 Plan of the SMS Brummer. 12 4 Seasonal seawater temperatures in Orkney Waters 1990 - 2000. 13 5 Number of divers visiting Scapa Flow 1981 - 2001. 14 6 Estimated number of divers visiting each wreck site in 2001 15 7 Image of deployed sonar tow fish. 17 8 IMAGENEX 858 image of the site of the SMS Bayern. 17 9a Uncorrected image of the SMS Koln from Klein 2000. 18 9b Corrected image of the SMS Koln from Klein 2000 . 19 10 Corrected image of the SMS Brummer from Klein 2000 . 19 11 Imagenex 858 image of SMS Koln. 20 12 Imagenex 858 image of SMS Markgraf 21 13 Halliburton Subsea swathe bathymetry image of Scapa Flow survey area. 23 14 Halliburton Subsea swathe bathymetry image of SMS Koln. 23 15 Halliburton Subsea swathe bathymetry image of SMS Bayern. 24 16 Halliburton Subsea swathe bathymetry image of HMS Royal Oak. 24 17 Halliburton Subsea swathe bathymetry image of HMS Vanguard. 25 18 June 2001 Reson survey area with overlayed navigation lines. 29 19 June 2001 Reson survey area with overlayed processed bathymetry. 29 20 Reson SeaBat 8125 screen information display at the SMS Brummer site. 30 21 Reson SeaBat 8125 information at the SMS Koln site after smoothing is applied. 30 22 Reson SeaBat 8125 information at the SMS Koln site after colour coding is applied. 31 23 Captured GeoZui3D image of the SMS Koln. 31 24 Data post processing procedures. 32 25 GeoZui3D image of mosaiced data lanes. 33 25 Sketch of the bow of the SMS Dresden. 35 27 Captured GeoZui3D image of the SMS Koln showing diver survey area.. 36 28 Captured GeoZui3D image of the SMS Brummer showing diver survey area.. 37 29 Captured GeoZui3D image of the SMS Dresden showing diver survey area.. 38 30 Sketch of the stern section of the SMS Brummer. 41 31 Sketch of the bow section of the SMS Dresden. 42 32 Sketch of the bow section of the SMS Koln. 43 33 GeoZui3D image of the salvage site of the SMS Kaiserin. 46 34 Tables and fields for a proposed maritime archaeological management database. 56 35 ScapaMAP database opening menu. 57 36 ScapaMAP database vessel data entry form. 57 37 ScapaMAP database History entry form. 58 38 ScapaMAP database Co-ordinates entry form. 58 39 ScapaMAP database Biotope entry form. 59 List of Plates Plate Description Page 1 German High Seas Fleet at anchor in Scapa Flow. 2 2 Reson SeaBat 8125 acoustic projector and sonar receiver. 26 3 Sound velocity probe. 26 4 Data capture station. 28 5 Survey planning and navigation station. 28 6 Hybal ROV on deck. 33 7 Hybal ROV exploring wreck. 33 8 Stills mosaic of bow plates of SMS Brummer. 38 9 Video mosaic of port edge of SMS Koln. 43 10 Encrusting marine growth on SMS Koln. 44 11 Fine sediment and brittle stars coveing vertical surfaces on SMS Koln. 44 12 Plate separation on SMS Koln showing rivet holes. 44 13 Corrosion on hull plates SMS Koln. 44 14 Bow of SMS Brummer 45 15 Spotting tower at the site of the SMS Kaiser. 46 List of Tables Table Description Page 1 Estimated number of divers visiting each scheduled monument site 16 Section Description Page 1 Introduction 1 2 Objectives 3 3 Maritime Archaeology - Past & Present 5 3.1 Overview 5 3.2 Models of Military Shipwreck Management 6 4 Assessment of Wreck Sites 10 4.1 Historical Data Sources 10 4.2 Remote Sensing Surveys 16 4.3 In-Situ Survey Methods 34 5 Discussion 47 5.1 Resourcew Management and the management Scheme 47 5.2 ScapaMAP Project 52 5.3 Education & Increasing Public Awareness 53 6 Recommendations 56 7 Bibliography 57 Appendices I National Monuments Record of Scotland record for the SMS Markgraf. II Examples of Information on Scapa Flow Wreck from the World Wide Web. III Oral Testimonies. IV Information Provided by Recreational Diving Agencies on Marine Archaeology. V Orkney Islands Council Department of Harbours Diving Permits. VI ODBOA Code of Practice. VII ODBOA Leaflet - A Voluntary Underwater Conservation Zone for Orkney Waters. VIII Proposed ScapaMAP Poster. IX ScapaMAP Website Information. 1 INTRODUCTION Scapa Flow is an almost totally enclosed expanse of water, bordered to the north by Mainland Orkney, to the east by the Holms, Burray and South Ronaldsay, on the west by Hoy and the south by Flotta. Its relatively sheltered waters and strategic position in Britain’s coastal defences lead to Admiral Jellicoe establishing Scapa Flow as the home base for the British High Seas Fleet prior to the outbreak of the Great War. Today the area is a designated harbour under the jurisdiction of Orkney Islands Council Department of Harbours. Following the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet they sailed under escort to the Firth of Forth and then proceeded to Scapa Flow to be interned. (Figure 1 & Plate 1). Over the next few months moral among the remaining crews deteriorated as little information came from the Armistice talks. In the misbelief that the interned fleet would be used against Germany in future conflicts on the 21st June 1919, while the British High Seas Fleet were out on manoeuvres, Admiral Von Reuter gave the order to scuttle all 74 vessels. Few vessels were saved, with the majority being partly or completely submerged. The scuttling is said to be the largest intentional sinking ever. The fleet comprised of five battle cruisers, eleven battleships, eight cruisers and fifty destroyers. Military remains in Scotland have been relative neglect as a historical and archaeological resource. Their full importance (and their long term preservation) has been partly rectified by Defence of Britain Project (Hunter 2000). However, they have yet to receive the full weight of archaeological credibility, and to be properly appreciated. Hunter suggests that although the scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet took place adjacent to the islands of Fara, Cava and Rysa Little, no tangible evidence of salvage working or of low tide wreckage appears to have survived. The naval wrecks of the Scapa Flow therefore form a unique underwater record of one of the great periods of British and German maritime history. In a relatively short period of time they have seen radical changes in their perceived value, from weapons of mass destruction (1918-21), salvage resource (1923), diving amenity (1960s onwards), to present day national historic and archaeological heritage (1990's).