Skip to main content

 Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society

Dedicated to Preserving our Shipwrecks and Maritime History
"From Prevention to Preservation"

HomezzMadeira / Hesper Monitoring Project 2018



Madeira and Hesper Monitoring Project 2018

July 21 - 22, 2018

 

    

          

              

2017 Madeira / Hesper Monitoring Project Photos


Please join us for an adventure Diving the shipwrecks along the North Shore to help Monitor them for deterioration


During this project we are going to monitor the conditions of each shipwreck through visual observation drawings and also using both still and video photography.  


 

The Madeira and Hesper have been underwater for a very long time.  Mother nature has done a great job preserving them but she has beaten them up along the way.  As divers we dive these shipwrecks and will eventually cause wear from diving them year after year.


This is were volunteers from the GLSPS step in to help.  With the joint effort of the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) the GLSPS tries to help stabilize and preserve these shipwrecks from further deterioration.  We work closely with the state organizations and near by Cities near the shipwrecks, to gain access through special permitting to perform the underwater work we perform to preserve the shipwrecks and ultimately maritime history.
  

Before we can do any of this, we need to document and monitor each shipwrecks deterioration characteristics.  If the shipwreck looks like it's in danger of collapsing or is becoming a safety concern for divers, we formulate a preservation and stabilization plan and present it to the GLSPS Board of Directors.  If the Board and MHS approve the plan, we go to work and implement the plan.  We will also need to obtain permits from the MHS (and sometimes the DNR) to perform construction work on the shipwreck.  If we complete the process like planned, it will help to preserve the shipwreck for many years.  The shipwreck will be intact for future divers to be able to view, just like we saw when we first dived the shipwreck.

 

Here is your chance to dive the Madeira and Hesper aboard the R/V Preservation and have a great time learning the process of our research as well!


Corey Daniel
Project Leader
heygadjetman@yahoo.com
218-343-4970
Closing Report

July 21 - 22, 2018

   Lake Superior was kind this year during the Madeira/Hesper Monitoring project weekend in July.  The project group enjoyed fairly calm water and plenty of sunshine.  Wheeling the "Preservation" Saturday morning to the wreck of the Madeira was Tim Pranke, joined by myself(project leader), my dad, Steve Daniel, Jim Christenson and his friend and archeologist Mandy Peterson.  This was the first time Mandy has participated on a GLSPS project or cruised on the "Preservation".  Tim brought an extra dry suit for Mandy, who's diving experience was mainly in warm water.  She was ready to dive a shipwreck in Lake Superior.  Unfortunately the suit did not seal up well for her, but not before she had the chance to see some of "Madeira".  A short dive perhaps but I think Mandy will be back for more.  We dove in pairs with Mandy helping on deck.  Dad and I took some measurements from a stake I had installed last year to the pilot house and to the smoke stack.  After comparing the measurements to last year's numbers it appears nothing has moved.  We enjoyed viewing most of the wreck, from the stern to the pilot house then proceeding to the smoke stack and then over to the bath tub.  Along the hillside to the stern swim thru and on to the bow and back again.  There is a large piece of metal hanging in the stern swim thru towards the cliff that has dropped considerably since last year.  It is more obvious and I feel less of a threat to divers.  It appears more rivets are popping out of the hull plating on the stern section, starboard side.  A possible preservation project could be replacing the missing rivets with bolts to slow the process of collapse.  The stern is showing signs of shifting in different places.  I think certain areas will have to be focused on and better documented each year to determine how much change is occurring. 

   Once everyone got their fill of this amazing wreck for the day the "Preservation" headed back to Silver Bay, but not before taking a spin by Split Rock Lighthouse.  After securing the dock lines and stowing gear the group headed into town to enjoy a good dinner and swap stories.

   Sunday came along and again the weather was decent.  One long dive was enjoyed by everyone.  Dad and I stuck to the wreck, starting with the rudder and swimming back and forth on opposing edges of the large pieces.  I am always looking to catch site of something new.  The "Hesper" really doesn't change much from year to year, but I always enjoy diving this wreck to checkout old ship building techniques.  Tim  and Jimmy ventured East of the wreck and spotted a couple of life boat davits and some other wreckage debris.  The "Hesper" is intact and I believe it will remain that way for divers to enjoy for many more years. 

   The weekend was wrapped up with lunch and a good dose of housekeeping for the "Pres".  Thank you to everyone who participated on this project, bringing their individual skills, experience, knowledge and insight:  Tim Pranke, Steve Daniel, Jim Christenson, and Mandy Peterson.  I look forward to diving with you again.

  

Corey Daniel
Project Leader