Search for the Lost Whaling Fleets of the Western Arctic

Search for the Lost Whaling Fleets of the Western Arctic

Image and Video Gallery

This page contains photos and videos associated with the Search for the Lost Whaling Fleets of the Western Arctic expedition. Click on any image or video to view a larger version and for additional information.

Receiving the Crews

Receiving the Crews

Barks “Arctic” and “Progress” receiving the crews of the wrecked and abandoned ships south of icy cape.

Drop Camera

Final, assembled drop camera design.

Welding the Frame

Welding the Frame

Grace welding a side of the frame.

Bending the Tether Hook

Bending the Tether Hook

Devon bending the hook for the tether.

Setting Up the Experiment

Setting Up the Experiment

Myles and Devon on the tow carriage setting up the experiment.

Testing the Drop Camera

Testing the Drop Camera

Devon lowering the drop camera system into the tow tank.

Barrow

Beach at the village of Barrow, with artificial berm.

Wainwright

Rip-rap along the beach at Wainwright Village.

Tour of the R/V Ukpik

Tour of the R/V Ukpik

Tour of the R/V Ukpik.

Whaling-Era Merchant Shop

Whaling-Era Merchant Shop

Display from Hawaii Maritime Heritage Center of a whaling-era merchant shop.

Captain George Gilley

Captain George Gilley

Photograph of Captain George Gilley, the only known native Hawaiian whaling captain.

Video Report from the Chief Scientist

Video Report from the Chief Scientist

Video Report from the Chief Scientist, Brad Barr, Ph.D.

Coal in the Dunes

Coal in the Dunes

Drift of coal in the dunes.

Copper Hull Sheathing

Copper Hull Sheathing

Copper hull sheathing in dunes.

Patent Stamp

Patent stamp on sheathing section.

Anthracite Coal

Anthracite Coal

Anthracite coal, on shore in abundance.

Dunes at the Seahorse Islands

Dunes at the Seahorse Islands

Dunes and vegetation at the Seahorse Islands, August 2015.

Deploying the Gradiometer

Deploying the Gradiometer

Matthew Lawrence and Brad Barr deploying the gradiometer.

Monitoring the Magnetometer

Monitoring the Magnetometer

Monitoring the output from the magnetometer.

Single Dipole

Magnetometer readout image of a single dipole, likely a small isolated object.

Multiple Dipole

Multiple Dipole

Magnetometer readout image of multiple anomalies grouped together that likely represents a mass of material.

The Rendezvous At Icy Cape

The Rendezvous At Icy Cape

The Rendezvous At Icy Cape—The Boats Effecting a Landing.

Watching the Shore

Watching the Shore

Encountering polar bears along the beach of the survey area was an everpresent danger whenever people were sent ashore.

Point Franklin

This tower marks Point Franklin along the coast of the Chukchi Sea between Wainwright and Barrow.

Butchering Caribou

Butchering Caribou

Captain Arthur butchering caribou acquired from local subsistence hunter.

Gradiometer

The gradiometer is comprised of two magnetometers separated from each other in a rigid framework.

Preparing a Magnetometer

Preparing a Magnetometer

Matthew Lawrence prepares one of the magnetometers for deployment.

Prudhoe Bay

A view of the industrial landscape of Prudhoe Bay.

Abandonment of The Whalers

Abandonment of The Whalers

Abandonment of the whalers in the Arctic Ocean, September 1871.

Map of the Survey Area

Map of the Survey Area

This map shows the area that was surveyed during the Search for the Lost Whaling Fleets expedition.

Readying Equipment

Readying Equipment

The team readies the bowmounted swath bathymetry and sidescan sonar sensor for deployment.

Readying the Drop Camera

Readying the Drop Camera

Brad Barr readies the drop camera system for deployment.

Abandonment of the Whalers

Abandonment of the Whalers

Abandonment of the whalers in the Arctic Ocean, September 1871.

Cutting-in a Whale

Cutting-in a Whale

Cutting-in a whale.

Keeping Watch

Scientists and crew aboard R/V Ukpik keep a close watch over the shore party deploying the magnetometer base station until they return.

Sky Arrow 650TCN Survey Aircraft

Sky Arrow 650TCN Survey Aircraft

At the airport in Barrow preparing for Seahorse Islands flight in a Sky Arrow 650TCN survey aircraft.

The Seahouse Islands

The Seahouse Islands

Approaching the Seahorse Islands from the southeast, the narrow islands are barren and sandy, providing some bird habitat in the summer months.

Shipwreck Remains

Shipwreck Remains

The shipwreck remains located off Point Franklin represent 19th century wooden ship construction.

Whaling Vessel Wreckage

Whaling Vessel Wreckage

Documenting a large bow section of a wooden whaling vessel found along the shoreline.

Searching with ATVs

Searching with ATVs

The project team used ATVs to search the shoreline for wreckage and debris.

Diving with Metal Detector

Diving with Metal Detector

Using an underwater metal detector to search for metallic artifacts.

The Concordia

The Concordia

The bark Concordia, one of the ships in the 1871 fleet.

Building Remnants

Building Remnants

This structure, in the abandoned village of Atanik, was likely built to serve as a cache.

Remembering Mike Overfield

Remembering Mike Overfield

Mike Overfield.