During the first expedition to search for SS Norlindo, scientists used autonomous underwater vehicle Eagle Ray to collect bathymetry and backscatter data to identify potential targets that may be the shipwreck. Image courtesy of L. Macelloni. Download largest version (jpg, 6.2 MB).
April 14 - 22, 2023, the team of scientists from the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) will continue their search for the wreck of SS Norlindo on USM’s Research Vessel Point Sur.
Norlindo, an American steam freighter, was sunk by a German U-boat on May 4, 1942, becoming the first casualty of World War II in the Gulf of Mexico. Previous expeditions carried out by the team resulted in the identification of several magnetic anomalies that could indicate a shipwreck. Unfortunately, both expeditions were prematurely terminated due to foul weather, leaving nearly half of the search area unexplored.
In this upcoming expedition, the team intends to deploy a deep towed high-resolution side-scan sonar to hopefully complete the exploration of the search area and identify magnetic anomalies that may be the remains of Norlindo. If promising targets are located, the team will conduct a successive expedition to deploy a remotely operated vehicle to visually determine if they have indeed found the wreck of this significant piece of our nation’s history.
Published April 13, 2023
