The Institute of Geological Sciences now British Geological Survey (BGS) were invited by French institutes BRGM and CNEXO to participate in a magnetic and shallow seismic survey in the English channel between Cherbourg and Falmouth on the first operational cruise of the new French oceanographic ship Noroit in August 1971.

This geophysical magnetic survey has been carried out by, Institute of Geological Sciences (IGS) now British Geological Survey (BGS) in cooperation with Hydrogrphic Department of the Navy for BGS, the survey took place from spring/summer 1972 in the western English Channel on board the MV Researcher. The purpose was to collect data as part of a regional geophysical survey programme. Details of the survey are contained in IGS Annual Report 1972.

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by English Heritage to undertake a project entitled ‘Wrecks on the Seabed: Assessment, Evaluation and Recording’. The project was supported by that part of the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) distributed by English Heritage. The specific aim of this project was to provide industry, regulators and contractors with guidance on the archaeological assessment, evaluation and recording of wreck sites. ‘Assessment, evaluation and recording’ are taken to include various methods of archaeological investigation that are intended to improve the understanding, preservation and appreciation of the historic environment. The term ‘wreck site’ is taken to include the remains on the seabed of both watercraft and aircraft. As part of a variation of this project Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by English Heritage to undertake a geophysical survey of four designated historic wrecks (A1 submarine, Hazardous, Invincible and Mary Rose) which focussed on the development and testing of methodology for rapid in situ recording using geophysical techniques. The geophysical survey included the use of multibeam echosounder, magnetometer and sub bottom profiler. The survey was undertaken from the 12.5 m Aquastar survey vessel Emu Surveyor belonging to Emu Ltd between 11th and 26th June 2003. The geology and geophysics component of the data are archived at British Geological Survey (BGS) MEDIN Data Archive Centre (DAC) for Geology and Geophysics. Data were also provided to other archive centres as appropriate.

Wessex Archaeology (WA) was commissioned by Cadw to acquire, process and interpret marine geophysical data over a number of known and suspected wreck site locations off the coast of Wales. This survey was conducted under the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973) contract and the data is Crown Copyright©. The data were acquired and processed by Wessex Archaeology. The marine geophysical surveys targeted a total of nine suspected wreck locations in Milford Haven area, off the coast of South Wales, seven of which represent the locations for the remains of 19th century Welsh vessels associated with the coal mining industry. Additional survey data were acquired over two 20th century sites within the Milford Haven, the Thor and the Sunderland. The acquisition of these data aimed to assist RCAHMW maritime team and the Sunderland Trust with on-going archaeological research and fund-raising. The marine geophysical surveys also targeted a total of ten suspected and known wreck site locations off the coast of Lleyn peninsula in North Wales. These included eight unconfirmed positions of 19th century Welsh vessels associated with the slate mining industry, two designated sites the Diamond and the Tal-Y-Bont, and the marine hazard of St Patrick’s Causeway with the aim of discovering new wreck sites. The project aimed to acquire marine geophysical data consisting of high resolution sidescan sonar and magnetic gradiometer data over a total of total of 21 known and suspected wreck positions and along the known marine hazard of St. Patrick’s Causeway. Since the sites were located in two different areas, they were surveyed during two separate surveys from the Pembroke based vessel Blue Shark. The first session surveyed sites mostly off Milford Haven in south Wales between 17th and 18th April 2010. The second session surveyed sites off the coast of Lleyn peninsula and along St. Patrick’s Causeway in north Wales between 23rd April 2010 and 2nd May 2010 with a day of mobilisation and a day of demobilisation at the start and end of the survey session. The geology and geophysics component of the data are archived at British Geological Survey (BGS) MEDIN Data Archive Centre (DAC) for Geology and Geophysics. Data were also provided to other archive centres as appropriate.

Not Entered

Wessex Archaeology (WA) was commissioned by English Heritage (EH) to undertake geophysical surveys as part of the project entitled ‘Wrecks on the Seabed: Assessing, Evaluating and Recording’, supported by Round 2 of the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF). The specific aim of this project was to provide industry, regulators and contractors with guidance on the archaeological assessment, evaluation and recording of wreck sites. ‘Assessment, evaluation and recording’ are taken to include various methods of archaeological investigation that are intended to improve the understanding, preservation and appreciation of the historic environment. Geophysical surveys were conducted over five wreck site areas. This archive relates to the geophysical survey over the Liberator, an unknown wreck, and the submarine U86. Sidescan sonar and magnetometer data were acquired from the vessel Wessex Explorer on the 9th and 12th August 2005 and the multibeam echosounder data were acquired on the 15th and 19th August 2005. The geology and geophysics component of the data are archived at British Geological Survey (BGS) MEDIN Data Archive Centre (DAC) for Geology and Geophysics. Data were also provided to other archive centres as appropriate.

Report: Deegan, SE. 1976. Cruise Report on Project 76/01. SW Approaches and English Channel. (IGS Report No 83) Navigation: Magnavox integrated satellite navigation/doppler sonar system, back-up control was from the Decca Navigator Mk 12. Equipment: Atlas Deso 10 and Edig 10 echo sounder, Askania GSS-3 gravity meter, Edo Pinger, EG&G 9 candle spark array, Klein Dual Scan Sonar System and BP Sonar System. No information on magnetometer. The first objective was to survey seven proposed borehole sites with sparker and pinger. These sites were to the north-west of Scilly. During leg 2 it became necessary to survey additional sites to the south-west of the Lizard. The second objective was a regional marine geophysical survey of the 1:250000 Scilly sheet, which would include the use of gravity meter, magnetometer, sparker, pinger and sonar.

Report: Arnold, SE. 1971. Cruise Report for MV Moray Firth IV North Irish Sea Survey. MGU Project 69/02. (IGS Report No 17) Positioning: Main Chain Decca with Mark12 receiver Echo Sounding: Kelvin Hughes MS 36 and MS32 Sonar Systems: EG&G side-scan sonar Kelvin Hughes MS43 Mk1 transit sonar Seismic Systems: Sparker System: EG&G sparker system with 16 element hydrophone streamer. Most lines run at either 0.5kJ or 3kJ Magnetometer: Varian magnetometer. See also IGS report 71/19.

This British Geological Survey (BGS) marine geophysical survey took place in May 1969 in the Firth of Clyde on board the MV Moray Firth IV. The purpose was to investigate the superficial deposits of the clyde area, this survey was Phase 1 of a 5 phase project. Sea floor data were collected using echosounder and sidescan sonar. Sub-bottom seismic profiling data were collected using Pinger and Sparker. These records are archived by BGS. Details of the survey are contained in IGS report 73/9.

Report: Deegan, SE. 1978. Gravity survey of the North Sea, north of 54N on MV Sperus. MGU Project 77/02. (IGS Report No 77, 89)