Fascinated by Shipwrecks Podcast Episode 10: Where Do Ships Go When They Die?
Mallows Bay, located on the Potomac River in Maryland, is not only a shipwreck site filled with decades of maritime cultural heritage, but it is also an excellent training ground for students immersed in studying maritime archaeology at East Carolina University.“When the United States entered the First World War, they had a plan to build about 1,000 wooden steamers to carry material to Europe. About 118 or so of those vessels were dumped in Mallows Bay in the 1920s and salvaged," said Dr. Nathan Richards.In this episode, host Kathy A. Smith talks with Professor Richards about ship abandonment
2025 Janus Review: USV Industry Trends
The 2025 Janus Review, which will be launched at the Sea, Air and Space Exhibition at National Harbor Maryland April 6-9, highlights key trends, addresses critical challenges, and showcases new applications and technologies that are shaping the USV sector. Significant technological gaps are limiting the widespread adoption and full autonomy of USVs, the report reveals.Published annually by Janus Marine and Defense, a US-owned marine autonomy specialist, this year’s review says USVs have the potential to revolutionize maritime operations, from defense and security to offshore research and logistics
NOAA Scientist Dismissals Spark Protests
lives here in Colorado, is reckless and dangerous.”Demonstrators emphasized that defending scientific research and public safety should be a bipartisan effort.NOAA declined to respond to requests for comment on the layoffs or the number of employees affected in Boulder.Meanwhile, in Silver Spring, Maryland—home to another major NOAA facility—another 1,000 protesters gathered, calling for the reinstatement of dismissed scientists.“NOAA is critical to so many aspects of our lives, from safe seafood to hurricane forecasts,” said protester Mike Tidwell. “We need to keep this
Bacteria Fuel Cell Could Power Ocean Sensors
The University of Maryland is leading a project aiming to developing a fuel cell that uses energy derived from marine bacteria to power ocean sensors.The Persistent Oceanographic Device Power (PODPower) could consistently produce 10 watts for over a year to power ocean sensing devices such as those used to monitor water chemistry or the movement of whales and dolphins.The system will be suspended in the water where it can collect and concentrate ocean microbes and bits of organic matter in a special fermentation chamber. Bacteria in the chamber will pre-digest the material, producing a more efficient
Phoenix Dive Crews Wrap Up at Baltimore Bridge Wreck Site
Holdings, Inc. reports it dive crews have completed their work at the site of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.Phoenix said it was contracted by DonJon Marine for diving support in their cleanup and salvage operations shortly after the containership Dali lost power and struck the Maryland bridge in March, killing six people and destroying the Patapsco River crossing.Phoenix Bayou Vista quickly mobilized a 10-man dive team and dispatched its containerized diving systems with chambers and various required equipment to Baltimore to aid in this endeavor. As the only diving contractor
Manta Ray UUV Prototype Completes In-water Testing
program manager for Manta Ray. “The combination of cross-country modular transportation, in-field assembly, and subsequent deployment demonstrates a first-of-kind capability for an extra-large UUV.”Northrop Grumman shipped the Manta Ray prototype in subsections from the build location in Maryland to its test location in California. The demonstrated ease of shipping and assembly supports the possibility of rapid deployment throughout the world without crowding valuable pier space at naval facilities.“Shipping the vehicle directly to its intended area of operation conserves energy that
USGS : New Topobathymetric Dataset for Potomac River
Teledyne Geospatial said the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Dewberry, a privately held professional services firm, published a new topobathymetric lidar dataset for the Potomac River. The Potomac River flows from the Potomac Highlands in West Virginia to the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. The lidar survey was conducted for USGS’s 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), with stakeholders including the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science Center (EROS), National Geospatial Program (NGP), and Eastern Ecological Science Center (EESC) programs, as well as the Interstate Commission on the Potomac
US Awards $6.7 Million for Sea Level Rise and Coastal Resilience Research
University of California, Irvine and University of Miami received nearly $500,000 to evaluate how nature-based solutions can empower more equitable flood risk management in Los Angeles County, California.(IRA-funded) George Mason University, The Nature Conservancy, Resources for the Future and Maryland Department of Natural Resources received nearly $500,000 to evaluate flood mitigation designs under future climate scenarios to inform restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay region.University of Texas at Arlington and University of Arkansas received nearly $500,000 to evaluate how different shoreline
New USGS National Map Data Reveals the Potomac River’s Submerged Topography
biological assessments, flood mapping, and many other applications.The lidar point clouds and topobathymetric digital elevation models for the Potomac River Basin can be visualized or downloaded through the 3DEP LidarExplorer here.Map of the Potomac River topobathymetric lidar survey area in Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia. (Image: USGS
February 2025
