Dr. William Schroeder displays samples of fan coral removed from the tanker Halo, one of six recently investigated ships wrecked in the Gulf during W.W. II.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A group of scientists, including a University of Alabama oceanographer, who investigated multiple ships that were sunk by Hitler’s U-boat activities in the Gulf of Mexico during World War II were recently honored for their contribution to science.

Dr. William Schroeder, a professor of biological sciences in UA’s marine science program who is stationed at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, participated in the Deep Wrecks Project, a collaboration of federal agencies, private companies and universities.

Acting Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett presented the group with the Cooperative Conservation Award at the U.S. Department of Interior Honor Awards Convocation held recently in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes cooperative conservation achievements that involved collaborative activity among a diverse range of entities including federal, state, local and tribal governments, private for-profit and nonprofit institutions, and other nongovernmental entities and individuals.

“Today we honor private citizens who heard the call of duty. They embody the concept of cooperative conservation and partnership,” Scarlett said at the event, held in the Sidney Yates Auditorium of the Main Interior Building. “Regardless of where or how they serve, all of today’s awardees have inspired us with their service.”

The German Submarine U-166 lying at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. This U-boat is one of many studied in the Deep Wrecks Project, designed to provide historical, archaeological and biological insight. (U-boat photos courtesy Minerals Management Service.)

The Deep Wrecks Project investigation was designed to provide historical, archaeological and biological insight.

The biological aspect of the study was meant to discover whether or not manmade artifacts function as artificial reefs in deepwater. Although the study is ongoing, preliminary findings show that artificial reefs can serve as a positive habitat and replace hard-bottom areas where they are lacking. The archaeological aspects of the study sought to document and identify the status of six ships sunk during World War II, including the submarine U-166.

The Deep Wrecks Project has far-reaching ramifications for deepwater oil and gas exploration and production. The results of the biological research serve to prove that deepwater shipwrecks and platforms in the Gulf of Mexico can and do serve as artificial reefs. Archaeologically, the study is one of the most comprehensive deepwater shipwreck investigations ever conducted.

During the summer of 2004, the multidisciplinary group, overseen by the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service, ventured into the Gulf of Mexico’s deep waters for the 16–day mission.

More background on the mission is available at http://www.pastfoundation.org/DeepWrecks/ and at http://uanews.ua.edu/anews2004/jul04/shipwrecks072204.htm.