Special Features & Items of Interest

 

Admiral Balchin's HMS Victory Discovered  - World's Mightiest Ship Was Lost Without a Trace in 1744 and Sank With a Substantial Amount of Gold & Silver Onboard.
Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc.  pioneers in the field of deep-ocean shipwreck exploration, have discovered the long-sought shipwreck of HMS Victory lost in 1744, solving one of the greatest mysteries in naval history.

The direct predecessor and inspiration behind Nelson’s flagship, Balchin’s Victory was the mightiest and technically most advanced vessel of her age. She sank during a storm in 1744 with all hands and was the last Royal Navy warship to be lost at sea with a complete complement of bronze cannon. Two of the greatest admirals in English history, Sir John Norris and Sir John Balchin, called her their flagship. Research indicates that Balchin’s Victory sank with a substantial amount of gold and silver specie aboard.

Odyssey has been cooperating closely with the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) on the project, and all activities at the site have been conducted in accordance with protocols agreed with MOD and Royal Navy officials. Terms of collaboration between Odyssey and the UK MOD on the project are currently being negotiated, and an agreement similar to the Sussex Partnering Agreement has been proposed.

“Finding this shipwreck has solved one of the greatest shipwreck mysteries in history. Having discovered it in deep water far from where history says it was lost has served to exonerate Admiral Balchin and his officers from the accusation of having let the ship run aground on the Casquets due to faulty navigation,” commented Greg Stemm, Odyssey’s Chief Executive Officer. “We have worked closely with the MOD on this operation, and anticipate that we will continue the excellent cooperative relationship that we have enjoyed working together on the Sussex project. Fortunately, this shipwreck is not in waters claimed by any other country, so we do not expect any interference in further exploration of the site.”

Odyssey discovered the site nearly 100 km from where the ship was historically believed to have been wrecked on a reef near the Channel Islands. In an operation conducted in cooperation with the MOD, Odyssey has completed an archaeological pre-disturbance survey of the site, conducted limited test trenching, and recovered two bronze cannon to confirm the identity of the shipwreck. The cannon recovered include a 12-pounder featuring the royal arms of George II and a 4 ton, 42-pounder bearing the crest of George I. The huge 42-pounder recovered is the only known example of a gun of this type and size currently in existence on dry land. The only other artifacts recovered to date were two small brick fragments that were brought into U.S. federal court in order to file an admiralty arrest of the site.

During these operations, evidence was discovered of substantial damage to the site from natural deterioration, scouring, extensive fishing trawl net damage and the intrusion of modern trash and debris.

“Rather than staying frozen in time beneath the waves, this unique shipwreck is fading fast,” warns marine archaeologist Dr. Sean Kingsley, Director of Wreck Watch International., “The Victory lies in an area of intensive trawling, and her hull and contents are being ploughed away by these bulldozers of the deep day in, day out. Leaving the Victory’s rich archaeology so vulnerable to the ravages of man is like allowing a motorway to smash straight through a historic site on land without excavating it. The archaeological recovery of the artifacts from the site should begin as soon as possible or the story of England’s most important lost man-of-war may not survive to be told.”

Sir Robert Balchin, descendant of Admiral Sir John Balchin, stated, “This is the most astonishing news; for generations my family has wondered about the fate of Sir John and the Victory. Now that the wreck has been found, I and my family hope that as many of the artifacts on it as possible will be raised to the surface; our fear is that erosion, or trawler fishing will destroy what is there within a very few years. It would be wonderful to see these historic artifacts on permanent display in a museum where they will give a unique insight into naval warfare in the mid 18th century.”

A preliminary archaeological report detailing research and work to date on the site, which identifies the shipwreck as that of HMS Victory is available at www.shipwreck.net/publications.php

Odyssey’s work on the Victory site was all conducted while cameras for Discovery Channel’s “Treasure Quest” were rolling. In the United States, the “Treasure Quest” episode featuring the identification of HMS Victory was aired on Thursday, February 5. In the United Kingdom, a special presentation of “Treasure Quest” featuring HMS Victory was premiere on Sunday, February 8. “Treasure Quest” is produced by Primetime Emmy® Award-winning JWM Productions.

Will the Delta Queen receive a new lease on-life?
The Delta Queen steamboat's new role as a hotel won't stop a grassroots effort to save the vessel, said the Cincinnati woman behind the campaign.

Vicki Webster has fought since 1970 to preserve the exemption that allows the 82-year-old, mostly wooden boat -- the last of its kind -- to operate overnight river cruises for up to 176 passengers. Federal law prohibits such boats from carrying more than 50 overnight passengers.

The Delta Queen's exemption expired in October. On Wednesday, the boat will leave its winter home in New Orleans for Chattanooga, Tenn., where it will be anchored as a riverfront hotel. Its owner, California-based Ambassadors International, had been shopping around the idea of a potential lease in recent months.

Webster said she thinks what's happened to the boat is "stupid" and "horribly wrong."

"I can't imagine the river without her," said Webster, a freelance writer who moved from St. Louis to the vessel's former home port of Cincinnati in 2007 to be closer to the heart of the debate. "When she's gone, so much will be lost."

Webster plans to continue lobbying lawmakers to renew its exemption. Her "Save the Delta Queen Campaign" includes plenty of volunteers, but she's the driving force.

"She can shoot down any argument against saving the boat in language that is clear and concise," said former U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, an Ohio Republican who championed Webster's cause. "She's not in this for the money or an ulterior motive. She's doing this for the love of the boat."

Individual preservation campaigns like Webster's aren't unusual, said Peter Brink, senior vice president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C.

"Historic places are often saved by the efforts of one person," Brink said.

The boat was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989. Webster fell in love with it years earlier, in 1970, on a vacation from her job in President Richard Nixon's White House. She lobbied that year for the boat's exemption and thought it would continue to be renewed, only to realize she'd have to pick up the fight again.

Along the way, she's learned to counter critics' objections to the exemption, including that the boat is a fire hazard and that its crew should be unionized.

The Delta Queen's on-board historian, Mary Charlton, said Webster has a knack for pitching her argument in terms that anyone can understand.

"To speak the specific language of steam boating, you have to love the boat and be a little crazy," Charlton said. "That's Vicki."

Historic SS United States Reportedly Up for Sale

The SS United States Conservancy has issued an alert to its supporters that the 1952-built liner SS United States might be up for sale. The United States was purchased by Norwegian Cruise Line in 2003, and ownership of the vessel was recently transferred to a holding company controlled by NCL’s parent, Hong Kong-based Star Cruises, the conservancy said. “In light of current economic conditions, the SS United States is now in grave danger of being sold for scrap,” the Conservancy said.


The American-built SS United States shattered all trans-Atlantic speed records on its maiden voyage in 1952 and remains the fastest passenger liner ever built. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places before attaining 50 years of age because of its “compelling national significance,” the organization said. “We believe that a project to restore and revitalize the SS United States could create thousands of jobs and help stimulate the economy in these challenging times as well as preserve one of the world’s finest engineering achievements.” The SS United States Conservancy has been working behind the scenes to secure a future home and reuse for the ship. The Conservancy is launching a public education and outreach campaign and urged supporters to contact federal senators and representatives. For more information, visit www.ssunitedstatesconservancy.org.

QUEEN MARY - Lease Auction Over with no buyers
Following the auction of QUEEN MARY's lease, at which no buyers came forward, the lenders Garrison Investment Group have taken full control over the ship and 55 acre site from Save The Queen the group led by a Newport Beach, CA developer which had previously defaulted. It appears for now that things will continue to run as before with Hostmark running daily operations on the ship.