The Marine National Facility (MNF) offers Australia's maritime archaeologists and historians specialised capability, equipment and expertise to help discover, identify and protect our underwater cultural heritage. These projects can be delivered through grants of sea time (see Apply for sea time) as well as Piggyback Projects alongside other ocean exploration research being undertaken.
From lost shipwrecks to submerged cultural landscapes, we have been an important collaborator in many significant maritime heritage projects and discoveries along Australia's coastline. These projects have been delivered by both current and previous research vessels operated by the MNF.
Putting our underwater cultural heritage on the map
Since commissioning in 2014, research vessel (RV) Investigator has assisted with the both the identification of significant shipwrecks, as well as making several important shipwreck discoveries during voyages. These projects are highly collaborative endeavours and closely involve maritime heritage agencies, commercial operators, government and the wider community.
All underwater cultural heritage surveys by RV Investigator are conducted in accordance with a Standard Operating Procedure developed by the MNF in consultation with the maritime heritage community.
The national impact of these discoveries is significant. They provide maritime heritage managers with data to inform site management and preservation, and can provide clues to assist in understanding the events that led up to the vessel sinking. Further, these discoveries give members of the community closure for the resting place of the vessel and, in some cases, the people who were on board.
Explore some of our significant projects and shipwreck discoveries below.
Maritime heritage discoveries
| YEAR | VOYAGE | CATEGORY | SHIPWRECK | PARTNERS | STATEMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | IN2023_E03 | Investigation | SS Nemesis | Heritage NSW | CSIRO helps Heritage NSW solve 120-year maritime mystery of the SS Nemesis |
| 2023 | IN2023_V02 | Investigation | MV Blythe Star | CSIRO | Wreck of MV Blythe Star located after 50 years |
| 2022 | IN2022_V05 | Re-mapping | MV Limerick | Major Projects Foundation | - |
| 2019 | IN2019_V04 | Discovery | USS Neosho | James Cook University | Scientists think they’ve found Aussie defender’s last resting place |
| 2019 | IN2019_V07 | Discovery | SS Iron Crown |
Australian National Maritime Museum, Heritage Victoria |
WWII shipwreck discovered - SS Iron Crown sunk by submarine in 1942 |
| 2019 | IN2019_V07 | Locate | SS Federal | Australian National Maritime Museum, Heritage Victoria |
SS Federal’s watery grave studied in bid to solve century-old mystery |
| 2017 | IN2017_T01 | Discovery | SS Macumba | Northern Territory Government | 74 year-old mystery solved: RV Investigator finds WWII shipwreck |
| 2017 | IN2017_C02 | Discovery | Barque Carlisle | Heritage Victoria, Maritime Archaeology Association of Victoria |
RV Investigator probe reveals Bass Strait shipwreck after 'chance encounter' |
RV Investigator systems and equipment
Multibeam echosounder (MBES) technology and equipment that can be deployed from CSIRO research vessel (RV) Investigator to support maritime heritage research. RV Investigator has three MBES systems that can collect high quality and high quantity bathymetric data across the range of depths encountered anywhere within the Australian marine estate, from shallow coasts to full ocean depth. Two specialised underwater camera systems are available on RV Investigator: a Deep Towed Camera (HD video and still images) that can be deployed to 4000 metres and a Drop Camera System (SD video images) that can be deployed to 5000 metres. RV Investigator has the capacity to accommodate and deploy user supplied Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV), including small and large systems. These systems must be sourced by the user and deployment is subject to compatibility trials and safe integration with ship operating systems (and compatibility with specific voyage requirements and capacities). MBES
Underwater camera systems
Remotely Operated Vehicles
Shipwreck media
The following videos provide further details about some of the shipwreck investigations and discoveries made by RV Investigator.