In Massachusetts waters, where there have been an estimated 3,000 reported wrecks since 1626, shipwrecks are a part of the ocean environment. The vast majority of these wrecks have yet to be located; however, advancements in technology for mapping and monitoring the seafloor are making this task easier and more affordable. With more wrecks being visited than ever before, due largely to continued growth in the popularity of diving and the abundant shipwreck information available on the internet, many questions have been raised regarding the impact of wrecks on the environment. What happens to a vessel after it wrecks can provide some answers to these questions.

Obviously, vessels such as ocean-going and coastal oil tankers have the potential for tremendous environmental disaster if they ground and leak their cargo. The Argo Merchant, a Liberian tanker, ran aground on Nantucket shoals in December 1976 and split in two, spilling 7.5 million gallons of bunker oil (i.e., oil used for powering ships) into the sea. More recently, in April 2003, the tank barge Bouchard No. 120 ran across rocks south of Westport, Massachusetts. With a 12-foot hole in its hull, the vessel leaked 98,000 gallons of fuel oil into Buzzards Bay, a mess that would eventually spread to more than 90 miles of shoreline. But, many wrecks don’t make headlines. It is not uncommon for a ship to run afoul in shallow waters and have its contents, which could be anything from lumber to machinery to fine china, salvaged shortly after sinking. Once plucked of their valuables, they are left on the bottom. Through the natural processes of deterioration and colonization, these wrecked vessels are transformed from their original function to habitats (see www.mass.gov/czm/coastlines/2004-2005/habitat/s_wrecks.htm for more on this topic). In some instances, even wrecks with dangerous cargo and materials may stabilize on the ocean floor and, as long as they are not disturbed, pose a minimal threat to the environment. One such vessel is the Empire Knight, a British freighter containing mercury, among other cargo, which struck Boone Island Ledge, Maine, broke in two, and sank in February 1944. While mercury was recovered by divers, an estimated 16,000 pounds is believed to have settled within the cargo hold. Sampling showed negligible traces of mercury in the sediment around the wreck, supporting the conclusion that ecological risks are not imminent provided the site is not disturbed by such activities as dredging, fishing, and diving. With this in mind, it is important for shipwreck divers to be aware that their exploration of a wreck could impact its stability and have a negative effect on marine life that considers the vessel’s remains home. When in doubt, the best rule of thumb is to take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but bubbles.

A ship "wreck" to you, is a luxury high-rise for me and my friends.