Early Encounters on a Western Frontier: The Search for Svyatoy Nikolai (1807-1808)

Past Expedition

Primary Goal

Identify and evaluate previously unidentified maritime heritage resources and characterize previously located but poorly understood maritime heritage resources in in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary

Dates
August 15 - September 15, 2023
Location
Pacific Ocean
Vessel
Research Vessel Storm Petrel, Research Vessel Minnow
Primary Technology
Side-scan sonar, magnetometer, multibeam sonar

Overview

In 2019, Congress designated the coastline of Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary as part of the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area. To better understand the sanctuary’s maritime heritage, a team of researchers explored the nearshore area off La Push, Washington, from August 15 to September 15, 2023, in search of shipwrecks, and one in particular: Svyatoy Nikolai, a historically significant survey vessel for the Russian-American Company.

The four-week project was conducted in three parts: a remote sensing survey, data analysis, and target investigation. During the remote sensing survey, team members collected seafloor data using side-scan sonar, a magnetometer, and multibeam sonar. They then analyzed these data, looking for seafloor anomalies that could be potential shipwrecks and unexpected hazards that could endanger their operations.

With a list of targets and their geographic positions in hand, divers from the NOAA Diving Program, the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, East Carolina University, and NOAA Fisheries used metal detectors to investigate them. A local remotely operated vehicle (ROV) team from Port Townsend, the Sea Dragons, also joined the search with their custom-built ROV. The majority of the dives were at depths of 55-60 feet; the greatest depth explored was approximately 90 feet.

Reported loss location of Svyatoy Nikolai as reported by crewmember Timofei Tarkanov (left). Location of site in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (top right) and sanctuary location relative to U.S. west coast (bottom right).
Reported loss location of Svyatoy Nikolai as reported by crewmember Timofei Tarkanov (left). Location of site in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (top right) and sanctuary location relative to U.S. west coast (bottom right). Maps courtesy of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
Download largest version (jpg, 2.6 MB).

Features

Today’s seafloor surveys and the maps that result are vital for navigation, environmental studies, resource management, natural disaster preparedness, and the detection and management of maritime heritage resources, like those sought during this project in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.
November 6, 2023
By the mid-18th century, colonial European endeavors were well underway in every corner of the world, and the sense of urgency to expand became pervasive among Europe’s ruling elite. Upon hearing reports from Siberian fur traders in 1741 that the Aleutian Islands and Alaskan Peninsula were abundant with fur seals and sea otters, the Russian government claimed these lands for Russia and set out to establish a colony in the New World. That colony became Russian America.
November 6, 2023

Multimedia

Featured multimedia assets associated with this project.

Education

Our Learn & Discover page provides the best of what the NOAA Ocean Exploration website has to offer to support educators in the classroom during this expedition. Each theme page includes expedition features, lessons, multimedia, career information, and associated past expeditions. Below are related top education themes for this expedition.

Meet the Exploration Team

Learn more about the team members and their contributions to this project.

Principal Investigator; Maritime Archaeologist, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Co-Principal Investigator; Resource Protection Specialist, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Co-Principal Investigator; Professor, Department of History, East Carolina University
Dive Safety Officer, East Carolina University
Graduate Student, East Carolina University

Resources & Contacts