Us Naval Oceanographic Office News

Military Sealift Command (MSC) oceanographic survey ship USNS Pathfinder (T-AGS 60) identified two sunken vessels during a joint, at-sea capabilities demonstration in Ukrainian territorial waters. German coastal submarine U-18 was the first target the oceanographers identified using underwater video capabilities with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The second ship is believed to be RUS Prut, a Russian minelayer that sank during World War I in 1914. "The sea floor is a resting place for brave sailors, regardless of the country they come from," said Dr. Serge A.

Military Sealift Command oceanographic survey ship USNS Pathfinder kicked off its scheduled at-sea capabilities demonstration Sept. 7 after departing . During the at-sea demonstration, Pathfinder is searching for Soviet-flagged hospital ship SS Armenia which was sunk during World War II. Civilian surveyors from the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office, Ukrainian sailors, surveyors and historians and a team of civilian oceanographers from the U.S.-based Institution for Exploration are conducting the search in Ukrainian territorial waters. Since the exact position of the wreckage is unknown, the Naval Oceanographic Office surveyors expect to use oceanographic tools such as a side-scan sonar and multi-beam sonar. This equipment uses sound pulses to locate possible shipwreck targets.