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introduction

In June 2004, Aquatec – innerspace operations Ltd. came upon a wreck while diving in the area of Paralimni, Green Bay, East-Cyprus.

Originally, local divers discovered the wreck several years ago.

The wreck is named after its location at Green Bay.

The wreck remains are of old antique origin. it is estimated to be from the 17th century. it lays at a depth of about -30 meters.

On an immediate subsequent dive, photographs and a few basic measurements were taken.

The visual wreck site is about 30 meters x 20 meters.

Timbers of different size lay open on the slightly sloping sandy bottom within a poseidonia sea grass field. A part of the wreck field has organised timber fragments, which are approximately 1 meter in length where other parts of the site contain scrambled large timber fragments.

Within the site are numerous artefacts. Some smaller artefacts lay open and loose.

There are three cannons visible at the outskirts of the site. Two of them show rust spots. They are positioned in an angle laying flat on the bottom next to each other. They are 205 centimetres long. The front circumference is 60 cm, the end is 100 cm. Several meters away, one cannon is straight upright buried. Its front is sticking 78 cm out from the bottom. Front diameter is 22 cm with an inner barrel diameter of 10 cm. Towards its top are two rings of artwork. This cannon mite be of bronze.

The wreck site is partly covered by discarded fishing nets and lines.

Close to the wreck site an intact large amphorae of about 70 cm was found and it showed recent movement.

A GPS position was taken and the Department Of Antiquities of Cyprus was immediately informed of the finds.

The wreck is known by people. Several years ago, film footage was produced and aired by a Cypriot TV station.

So far, (August 2005) the wreck site is little protected and fishing remains on site possibly disturbing or destroying artefacts. During the dives, it became evident that artefacts were recently moved.

PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION

The 2004 visual site assessment with basic measurements and underwater photographs presents following results:

- the Department Of Antiquities of Cyprus is informed about the dives and findings.

- the remains of the wreck and its artefacts are of antique origin.

- the wreck remains and its artefacts make the site a valuable cultural heritage.

- it is highly anticipated that further wreck remains and artefacts are buried on and in the close vicinity of the site.

- the wreck site should be further investigated with the collection of detailed information.

- measurement of overall length and width of the wreck site is necessary.

- the site is in an easy accessible area and in a comfortable water depth to conduct underwater works.

- the wreck site is little known to the public.

- it is obvious that artefacts were recently moved and smaller artefacts are loose on the bottom.

- discarded fishing nets and lines on the site endanger artefacts and the wreck remains.

- fishing is ongoing on site.

- the wreck site is unprotected and only sporadic observed topside by the marine police.

- the wreck site needs immediate protection.

- the public should have more access to information about the wreck.

The project is under the authority of the

- Department Of Antiquities of Cyprus

and managed by

- Aquatec – Innerspace Operations Ltd.,

which has asked for support and cooperation the:

- NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY (NAS)

The objectives of the Green Bay Wreck project are:

1. protection of the wreck site. (CAMPAIGN #1)

2. preliminary data acquisition of the wreck site, wreck fragments and artefacts. (CAMPAIGN #2)

Primary task is to activate and ensure protection of the wreck.

Works set forth under the project objectives are non-destructive and are only a non-intrusive survey! It is not intended to move or change positioning of wreck remains and artefacts!

During the works on site, the bio-environmental disturbance will be kept to a minimum.

The project is accompanied by adequate documentation.

It is recommended to initiate the possibility for licensed guided access of the public to the wreck under rules and specifications set forth by the Department Of Antiquities of Cyprus.

A wreck adoption program should be initiated.

PROJECT DESIGN

The Green Bay Wreck project is designed as follows: 

- research objectives

- methodology and techniques

- anticipated funding

- time table

- composition, qualification, responsibility and experience of the team

- material conservation

- site management and maintenance

- arrangements for collaboration with museums and other institutions

- documentation

- health and safety

- report preparation

- deposition of archives, incl. underwater cultural heritage removed during investigation

- dissemination, incl. public participation.

FUNDING

Before activation of the Green Bay Wreck project, adequate funds must be assured and secured to complete all stages of this project.

at present the project costs are planned at about 30500 cyprus pounds.

PARTNERS

Department Of Antiquities of Cyprus

NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY (NAS)

OTHREE

YASUDA

Sea Eye

TOTOTHEO

ISLAND OIL

HSBC

Divetek

BRASAL MARINE SERVICES LTD.

TIME TABLE

the time table consists of three stages:

1. mobilisation of personnel and equipment: 5 days

2. work at wreck site*: 45 days

3. post production – documentation of results: 10 days

Total time: 60 days

* Days of activities at the wreck site are weather depending and their number is planned on actual working days.

With soon permission from the Department Of Antiquities of Cyprus and secured finance, the Green Bay Wreck project can be finalised before the end of 2005 and before winter weather sets in. Latter will make it difficult to conduct proper work until April 2006.

Due to the missing protection of the wreck site, immediate action is recommended to stop ongoing destruction and looting of the valuable cultural heritage.

Upon the evaluation of the results, an extension of time maybe decided.

*DIVE TIMES:

The dive times are calculated to maximise actual working bottom time incorporating safe diving practices.

The majority of the dives have a bottom time of 45 minutes and 30 minutes decompression. Each total dive time is 75 minutes.

With a team of four divers (two pairs), a daily practical and actual bottom working time of 6 hours can be achieved.

Based on above work at wreck site time, the actual underwater working time would amount to 270 hours.

Example dive timing:

Waypoint  at  35m for  45:00 (47) on Air Diluent, Setpoint 1.00, END 34

Deep Stop at  24m for   1:00 (49) on Air Diluent, Setpoint 1.00, END 20

Deep Stop at  18m for   1:00 (50) on Air Diluent, Setpoint 1.00, END 13

Norm Stop at   9m for   1:00 (53) on Air Diluent, Setpoint 1.00, END 1

Norm Stop at   6m for  27:00 (79) on Air Diluent, Setpoint 1.00, END 0

Total deco time: 30 minutes.

Dive run time: 79 minutes.

CNS Total: 26.2%

OTU's: 79

Time to Fly: 4.5 Hours

Based on above time plan and utilising two dive teams*, following underwater work times are planned:

*dive team #1 is indicated by italic times. Dive team #2 is indicated by normal written times.

NOTE:

The calculated dive plan/times are based on utilising closed circuit rebreather dive technology, which recycles diver breathing gas. It maximises the efficiency of working time, decompression times, safety and costs.

Compared to open circuit standard SCUBA dive equipment, above working times can only be achieved with an immense increased quantity of dive equipment, less safety and increased costs and therefore would be overall very inefficient.

PROJECT METHODOLOGY AND TECHNIQUES

The project methodology and techniques are based on the previous general outlined project objectives and design.

It includes the mobilisation of personnel and equipment, non-destructive / non-intrusive survey and data acquisition at the wreck site and postproduction / documentation of results.

From the beginning, the team will be briefed about necessary details of the project.

MOBILISATION

Official permissions, secured finance and project plan in place, mobilisation tasks will be distributed between the team members.

These tasks are:

- obtain the measurements of the overall size of the Green Bay Wreck site.

- organise the base-camp at Paralimni.

- ready dive boats.

- purchase of necessary equipment and tools.

- set up of dive and emergency equipment.

- construction of a mobile 1m² aluminium measure frame.

- construction of a mobile aluminium camera quad pod.

- construction and preparation of a primary site/anchor buoy.

- construction and preparation of four small secondary plastic buoys with concrete weights and lines.

- preparation of grid lines in according length segments.

- cutting of line rods for securing grid lines underwater.

- cutting and labelling of line reference tags and artefact labels.

- setup of camera and video equipment.

- a dive chamber with staff and the marine police at Paralimni will be informed about the forthcoming dive operations.

BASE CAMP

By the end of the mobilisation, the team will set up at base camp in Paralimni, which is close to the boat launch site (boat shelter) and wreck site. The base camp will be a simple apartment with small kitchen and bathroom to accommodate two to three team members.

DIVE CENTRES

The local dive centres “Sea Eye” and “Divetek” are participating with personnel, boats and dive equipment logistics. They are based in Paralimni and Protaras. they are chosen as they are the only ones in the area to provide adequate experience, dive boats, personnel, equipment and logistics needed to conduct professional underwater works for this project.

DIVE BOAT

The licensed dive boat is owned and operated by the “Sea Eye” dive centre. It is a fibreglass boat with cabin, dive platform and comfortable deck space for 6 to 8 divers. The boat is based at the Paralimni boat shelter.

REMOVAL OF DISCARDED FISHING EQUIPMENT

First dives on the Green Bay Wreck will deal with the removal of discarded fishing nets and lines. This is done without moving or destroying wreck remains and artefacts. The discarded fishing material is lifted to the surface and disposed at appropriate site on shore. The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research of Cyprus offered co-operation with this task.

MAIN BUOY

The next dive mission will place the anchor/site buoy close to the wreck site in a distance safe for the wreck and close enough for reference. The main buoy is of larger size. Its “anchor” will be a standard barrel filled with concrete. The surface marker is a yellow standard sized plastic barrel filled with empty small plastic bottles to increase safe flotation and is sealed waterproof (H: 100cm, diameter: 45cm). The yellow surface marker has an orange steel frame and orange flashlight, which is powered by solar energy. The main buoy is connected to the concrete anchor with 3 meter chain at each end and rope in-between. This fixed main buoy will act three fold:

1. as anchor for the dive boat to refrain from repetitive anchoring, which has the risk of destroying wreck material.

2. as down and up line for the divers.

3. display as nautical signal to a protected cultural heritage where no anchoring, fishing or passing of vessels should be allowed within a radius of 50 meters. Upon placement of this main buoy, its position will be reported to the Hydrographic Office of Cyprus.

SITE GRID AND LABELLING

At present (August 2005) the site is estimated of about 30 meters x 20 meters in size. Based on the actual size of the site an elevated line grid will be placed over the entire survey area for reference during the data acquisition. The grid elevation has the purpose not to disturb wreck remains and artefacts. This line grid will form 5 meter squares and includes baselines for detailed measurements. Each end of a line is secured with two metal rods of 1 meter length. They are placed into the ground to stabilise and stretch the grid lines. The corresponding lines to the 5 meter squares are labelled with small plastic slates in chess manner by numbers and letters. This will give reference for the documentation about areas within the site. Line and labels are white with black signing for visual contrast. Numbers and letters will not start with 1/A in order to give room if at a later point the survey area is expanded.

Additional labels and tags will be available for documentation reference in photo/film and other data acquisition.

SITE SURFACE MARKERS

Upon establishing the bottom grid, four small orange markers are set at each corner of the wreck site. They are fixed with small concrete blocks and connected with a line. They give surface reference to the submerged work area.

SURVEY AND DATA ACQUISITION

From the base lines, triangular measurements of wreck details are performed with measure tapes. Measurements are taken horizontally and vertically to produce 3D data. All data is recorded and documented and will produce a map with positions and sizes of wreck details and artefacts.

The team will work along each 5 meter square utilising the mobile 1 meter metal measure frame for increased detail accuracy. Additional drawings of specific details will be done.

The whole site will be photographed and a photo mosaic of the wreck site will be produced. For this photo mosaic, a quad pod for the camera will be used to capture each 5 meter square in one frame. Different sizes of lenses will be utilised. Additional photos of specific artefacts or wreck parts will be taken. Further, photographic and video capture of the team members at work will be produced. All photos and videos will incorporate reference labels and measurements. Drawings, measurements, photo and video will be accompanied by written notes.

The condition of the wreck remains, artefacts, certain marine biological and geological features and marine environmental data will be recorded.

All recorded data is referenced to dates and times.

Dive operations

Dive and boat safety must be in place before underwater works commence.

Daily and through the work on site pre- and post briefings of the divers are mandatory. For each dive a dive plan is produced. All important dive details are logged.

Dives are planned as decompression dives. Divers will work on a rotating basis.

The main buoy line functions as boat anchor and diver downline.

Most of the divers use closed circuit rebreather technology, which is a breathing gas recycling system. It maximises work time and safety and minimises breathing gas quantity and costs.

Note: Compared to open circuit standard SCUBA dive equipment valuable working times can only be achieved with an immense increased quantity of dive equipment, less safety and increased costs and therefore would be overall very inefficient.

All dives are conducted on NITROX appropriate to the working depth of -35 meters. NITROX is oxygen enriched air breathing gas. As a healthier breathing gas then air it maximises underwater working time with minimised decompression times.

The majority of dive equipment is supplied by the individual diver. Other dive equipment is supplied by “Sea Eye”, “Divetek” and AQUATEC - INNERSPACE OPERATIONS LTD. .

POST PRODUCTIONS

They include the final organisation of the compiled data for the upcoming documentation, possible disassembling of the site grid, demobilisation of equipment and tools and debriefing of the team.

QUALIFICATIONS, RESPONSIBILITY AND EXPERIENCE

During the survey work, at all times, certified NAS divers will be present.

AQUATEC - INNERSPACE OPERATIONS LTD. will be in charge for the project management and takes the responsibility that the survey is conducted in a professional and safe manner.

For the Green Bay Wreck project the team composition is multi-national. the total number of team members will be more then five to rotate divers. on site only 4-5 divers will operate per day.

Highly experienced divers including commercial divers and licensed NAS divers are chosen to get the job done in a professional, safe and timely manner. The majority of the team will use rebreather (gas-recycling) dive technology to maximise underwater working time, dive safety and cost efficiency. All divers are required to have a valid dive license.

The survey of the Green Bay Wreck is non-intrusive and non-destructive!

There will be daily communications with the Department Of Antiquities of Cyprus and the Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) for information and data exchange.

DOCUMENTATION

Documentation and records during the project includes several means of media:

- general daily log

- dive logs

- field notes

- survey data notes

- drawings

- maps

- audio recordings

- photos

- video

- electronic documentations (website, etc…)

- final presentable documentations of results

- print media

Throughout the project, a continuous updated general log of the daily activities is produced.

All recorded data is referenced to dates and times.

For each dive, divers have to produce a dive plan and dive log in writing.

Diver activity data is supplemented by boat/topside diver data recordings.

Drawings, measurements, photo and video will be accompanied by written notes. Field notes at surface and underwater will complement the result presentations.

On a daily base the underwater survey data of drawings, measurements, and maps will be collected and organised.

Photo, video and audio recordings will be documented in print and electronic form. A photo mosaic of the wreck site will be produced. Photographic, video and audio capture of the team members at work will be collected. Photos and videos will incorporate reference labels and measurements.

A webpage about the Green Bay Wreck project will supply the public with relevant updated information.

The condition of the wreck remains, artefacts, certain marine biological and geological features and marine environmental data will be recorded.

Together with incoming results, project documentations will be presented on a day-to-day basis to the Department Of Antiquities of Cyprus.

Upon finalisation of the project survey, above collected data and results will be included in a final electronic and print document and presented to the Department Of Antiquities of Cyprus for publication.

MATERIAL CONSERVATION

The Green Bay Wreck project is a non-intrusive and non-destructive survey!

Upon request by the Department Of Antiquities of Cyprus  AQUATEC - INNERSPACE OPERATIONS LTD. can utilize all necessary safe steps including recordings and documentation to provide salvage, transport, storage and delivery of wreck items and artifacts.

site management and maintenance

The site management and maintenance deals mainly with the protection of the Green Bay Wreck.

As stated before the wreck is a valuable cultural heritage but is presently (August 2005) poorly protected. Ongoing fishing, looting and marine traffic endanger it.

The submerged line grid can be removed, as can the buoys and markers. However, it maybe necessary to extend further work on the site and if so the markings should stay in place.

Recommendations:

- increase daily monitoring by the nearby stationed marine police.

- marking of the site with regular maintenance of markers or buoys.

- entrust appointed staff of close by hotels, waters sports, dive centres or fishermen to monitor the wreck area at surface.

- periodic visual checks underwater with photo or video documentation.

- official declaration to consider the wreck as valuable cultural heritage.

- proclamation of wreck site as a no-take zone, no fishing, anchoring or crossing of marine traffic within a radius of 50 meters.

- public information about the cultural heritage site.

- public guided access to the wreck.

- Introduce an “Adopt A Wreck” policy.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Safety of personnel, equipment and environment has overall priority.

On a periodic basis, the team will be briefed in specific work, dive and boat emergency drills.

Marine police and dive chamber staff will be informed about start and end of each underwater working day.

Dive boat operations will display the according international navigational signals related to the underwater works.

The dive boat carries all required communication systems and medical, life support and rescue emergency equipment.

All divers participating in the Green Bay Wreck project must have a valid medical evaluation and dive insurance.

During dives, rebreather divers must carry at all times adequate bailout gas, enabling the diver to complete the dive to the surface in case of total main unit failure.

Additional staged bailout and back-up dive equipment will be placed underwater and at surface.

Sufficient breathing oxygen for emergency must be on site.

For emergency evacuation all necessary manuals and information related to divers and their underwater operations must be on site.

REPORTING

Together with incoming results, project documentations will be presented on a day-to-day basis to the Department Of Antiquities of Cyprus.

Continuous reports and updates about project details are displayed for the public at the  PROJECT NEWS.

CURATION

All documentation will be deposited and archived at the Department Of Antiquities of Cyprus.

DISSEMINATION

Public awareness of the results of the Green Bay Wreck and the significance of this underwater cultural heritage will be locally and internationally promoted through popular presentation in a range of media.

Co-operation with local communities and groups is encouraged, as is co-operation with communities and groups that are particularly associated with the underwater cultural heritage concerned. It is desirable that investigations proceed with the consent and endorsement of such communities and groups.

AQUATEC - INNERSPACE OPERATIONS LTD. seeks to involve communities and interest groups in the investigating works to the extent that such involvement is compatible with protection and management.

Together with the Department Of Antiquities of Cyprus, the Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) and “Divetek”, AQUATEC - INNERSPACE OPERATIONS LTD. promotes opportunities for the public to develop marine archaeological skills through training and education.

international co-operation

International co-operation is essential for protection and management of underwater cultural heritage.

For the Green Bay Wreck project, AQUATEC - INNERSPACE OPERATIONS LTD. utilized the collaboration and assistance of archaeologists and professionals from relevant archaeological international institutions and societies.

With the consent of the Department Of Antiquities of Cyprus the project management is asking above institutions and societies to participate with professional personnel on site.

the Green Bay Wreck project team is multi-national.