The Torrent Shipwreck Project: 2006 Expedition Summary
The Torrent was a wooden sailing ship of 576 tons carrying troops of Battery F, Second Infantry, United States Army that had been dispatched to Cook Inlet to construct a military garrison to protect American trading interests in the region. It was the first American ship lost in Alaska waters following the American purchase of the territory from Russia in October 1867, and represents a truly unique and important incident in the history of Alaska.
Please click on this link to read about the original mission of the US Army transport bark Torrent and how the ship met its end.
Or check out some of my Previous Shipwreck Expeditions around Alaska.
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Expedition Report
After many months of planning and long weeks of preparation, the members of Team Torrent 2006 assembled in Anchorage to begin the journey south to Homer by road, where we launched our 26-foot research vessel for the voyage out into Cook Inlet and on to Dangerous Cape, where the Torrent met her end so many years ago.
Experienced rebreather diver and instructor Ken Koga-Moriuchi traveled from New York City, and Nick Teasdale journeyed all the way from Lima, Peru to join the search. Also accompanying our group was my good friend Charlie Reynolds, whose energetic and innovative work on the newly-conditioned boat continued virtually non-stop.
The expedition dive boat, newly rechristened "Obtanium" |
Ken's Meg features a really cool stand manufactured by Narked at 90. |
Ken Koga-Moriuchi (L) and Nick Teasdale (R) gear up for an exploratory dive |
I will report the details of the expedition in a future update, but for now I'll simply report that everyone returned safely, and that we were successful in locating material that conclusively indicates the presence of a shipwreck, in a location consistent with our research on the loss of the bark Torrent in the area in 1868.
Steve Lloyd (L), Ken Koga-Moriuchi (R) and Charlie Reynolds (at wheel) search for the Torrent's resting place |
Nick and Ken prepare for a descent in search of the wreck site |
Ken lent his considerable talents as expedition videographer |
Both topside and underwater conditions swung wildly during our search. The strong tides of Cook Inlet often combine with wind-driven chop from Port Graham, creating a confused sea with strong currents that can be dangerous for the boat, and hazardous for divers. We learned a great deal about how to conduct safe exploratory dives in this area, knowledge which will serve us well in future visits to the site.
Steve assists Ken with his Megalodon in preparation for an exploratory dive |
Nick Teasdale at the fuel dock in Seldovia, where we docked in a 20-knot broadside wind |
The core search team (L to R) Nick Teasdale, Ken Koga-Moriuchi, Steve Lloyd at the conclusion of this year's expedition |
