Missing shipwreck found after 128 years thanks to invasive species of mussels

Published

11 months ago

October 20, 2023

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While producing a documentary about a mussel species in the Great Lakes, two filmmakers discovered a shipwreck that went missing 128 years ago.

Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick were in the process of filming the invasive quagga mussel in Lake Huron when they stumbled upon the Africa, a steamship that went missing in October 1895 while carrying coal from Ohio to Ontario, Fox Weather reported.

The Africa vanished after one night “on the turbulent and wind-whipped waters of Lake Huron,” the news site continued.

Drebert and Melnick also found themselves in the midst of turbulent weather while searching for the invasive species of mussels.

“Just like when the Africa went down in 1895 early season storms, it was getting rough,” Drebert shared with Fox Weather.

“When we went out to check it out, it was supposed to be nice and calm, but of course, the wind kept coming up. We actually brought some friends with us,” she added. 5 The Giant Africa shipwreck that went missing in 1895 is seen. Inspired Planet Productions

“We thought we were just going to see a pile of rocks, so why not? But it got pretty rough, and they were feeling a little seasick. So we had to call it a day.”

After Drebert and Melnick’s underwater drone detected something rather large, the pair and their team sent a robotic camera down to get a better look.

The camera captured images of the mussels they had been documenting. But when they saw a shadow come into frame, it left them amazed. 5 The Africa vanished after one night “on the turbulent and wind-whipped waters of Lake Huron.” Inspired Planet Productions

“It got more and more definition as we got closer and closer, and all of a sudden, we could see, ‘Wow! This is a steamship, a wooden steamship,’” Melnik told Fox Weather.

“So this is old, and it is incredibly well intact.”

The invasive mussels that brought the two filmmakers out to Lake Huron seem to have discovered the buried treasure before they had. 5 The steamship is covered with mussels which helps with wreck identification, butthe invasive specieswill eventually destroy the ship.Inspired Planet Productions

“The quaggas are the reason we’re able to see the shipwreck in almost 300 feet of water without any additional lights,” Melnick continued.

The steamship is covered with mussels which helps with wreck identification, but the invasive species will eventually destroy the ship.

The filmmakers were able to identify the vessel as the Africa due to the size of the ship and the coal found around the wreck. 5 The filmmakers were able to identify the vessel as the Africa due to the size of the ship and the coal found around the wreck. Inspired Planet Productions

Discovery of the shipwreck brought excitement to the film team, but it also brought a sense of closure to the families of the crew who went missing in the shipwreck.

“One of the incredible things that’s happened since this story has come to light just a couple of weeks ago is that several of the descendants of family members who died on this wreck so many years ago have reached out to us,” Melnick shared.

He went on, “And we’re working with those families to try to find a way to remember those sailors who had died 128 years ago. 5 The Africa was carrying coal when after one night “on the turbulent and wind-whipped waters of Lake Huron,” the ship vanished. Inspired Planet Productions

The Center of Invasive Species Research in Riverside, California, reports that quagga [and zebra mussels] invasions “have had catastrophic impacts in the ecosystems in which they have established.”

“These organisms clog water intake structures (e.g., pipes and screens), which greatly increases maintenance costs for water treatment and power plants,” the organization adds on its website.

“Recreational activities on lakes and rivers are adversely affected as mussels accumulate on docks, buoys, boat hulls, anchors and beaches can become heavily encrusted.”

“Interestingly, invasions by quagga and zebra mussels have been documented as having some positive affects on receiving ecosystems. For example, filtration of water by mussels as they extract food removes particulate matter. This filtration has improved water clarity, and reduced the eutrophication of polluted lakes.”

Sports

USC WR Lemon exits vs. Michigan after hard hit

Published

2 hours ago

September 22, 2024

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USC WR Lemon exits vs. Michigan after hard hit

Paolo Uggetti, ESPNSep 21, 2024, 05:50 PM ET

USC wide receiver Makai Lemon exited Saturday’s 27-24 loss to Michigan with an apparent injury after he was hit hard during a punt return in the first half.

Lemon did not return to the game, and according to the CBS broadcast, he was taken away in an ambulance. USC did not provide an official update on Lemon’s status before the end of the game.

The sophomore wideout spent an extended amount of time lying down on the field after the injury while surrounded by several members of USC’s training and coaching staff before walking off under his own power. He entered the injury tent and then was taken into the locker room.

Tight end Lake McRee also exited the game in the second half with an apparent left leg injury. The broadcast showed McRee visibly emotional on the bench before he walked into the tunnel to the locker room.

McRee has been a mainstay of USC’s offense early on, accounting for 137 yards on nine receptions so far this season.

Lemon has caught four passes for 45 yards and a touchdown for USC this season. Last year, Lemon played both wide receiver and cornerback. As a receiver, Lemon had six catches for 88 yards.

UK

Anthony Joshua defeated by Daniel Dubois in IBF world heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium

Published

2 hours ago

September 22, 2024

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Anthony Joshua defeated by Daniel Dubois in IBF world heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium

Anthony Joshua missed out on the chance to become a three-time heavyweight world champion after he was stopped by British rival Daniel Dubois in the fifth round.

Dubois, 27, knocked down Joshua towards the end of the opening round with an overhand right to the 34-year-old’s chin.

The IBF heavyweight champion then dropped Joshua at the end of round three and twice in the fourth.

A right hook ended the fight with a knockout for Dubois’ first defence of the title.

The fighters went toe to toe at London’s Wembley Stadium in front of a record 96,000 fans.

‘We came up short’

Minutes after retaining the IBF championship, Dubois shouted to the crowd “are you not entertained?” before saying: “I’m a gladiator, you know?

“I’m just a warrior to the bitter end. I’m just ready to go. I want to go to the top level of this game and reach my potential. God bless you all.”

Joshua said the loss would not stop him from rebuilding despite admitting “we came up short”.

“You know I’m ready to kick off in the ring, but I’m going to keep my cool, keep very professional, and give respect to my opponent,” he said.

“I’m always saying to myself I’m a fighter for life… We keep rolling the dice. I had a sharp opponent, a fast opponent and a lot of mistakes from my end, but that’s the game.”

Dubois’ victory has sent a message to the whole heavyweight division

Jacquie Beltrao

Sports presenter

Daniel Dubois will feel like he has fulfilled his destiny here at Wembley. His father has trained him to be a champion boxer since he was tiny.

He held the IBF belt, but he has gone in there tonight and defended it in spectacular fashion – he is now in every conversation going forward.

What now for AJ? Can he face rebuilding? And will he even want to?

The Wembley ring walk is notoriously long, and Dubois looked nervous – but so did Joshua, who has done this many times before in front of a full house.

Perhaps he was thinking of what was at stake – the chance to be a three-time heavyweight champion of the world.

But 27-year-old Dubois holds the belt and was keen to prove he was a worthy champion quickly.

Many wondered if Dubois would freeze on the biggest stage: Question asked and answered emphatically.

It was a crushing defeat for Joshua – most were not expecting such a one-sided victory.

Dubois will now most likely take on the winner of Fury v Usyk 2 for all the belts. But the manner of his victory has sent a message to the whole heavyweight division.

Hearn: AJ will want rematch

Promoter Eddie Hearn then said “it was the first round” where Joshua lost, “after that he was fighting on heart and desire”.

Hearn added: “When you are in there with a massive puncher this is what can happen. He never stopped trying to get up, even when he couldn’t get up.

“Daniel deserves credit, he’s a real world champion. Congratulations to him… I’m sure [Joshua will] exercise that rematch clause, it’s a given, it’s a dangerous fight because he’s growing in confidence all the time but he’ll believe he can beat him.”

British champion Dubois, who before tonight had never fought at Wembley, was elevated to the IBF title holder after Oleksandr Usyk relinquished the belt.

Joshua outweighed Dubois by four pounds, despite a career-heaviest weight for his rival, ahead of the fight.

Among those watching was Tyson Fury, the former WBC heavyweight champion, who took a ringside seat.

Liam plays Oasis hits

Fury is set to fight Usyk for the other three titles in a rematch on 21 December.

Ahead of the fight, Liam Gallagher played some of Oasis’ biggest hits to the sold-out crowd.

The 52-year-old frontman walked on to a massive cheer and said “yes Wembley vibes in the air,” before launching into Rock ‘N’ Roll Star, Supersonic and Cigarettes & Alcohol.

He and Noel Gallagher will play Wembley for their first of seven reunion shows at the stadium on 25 July – 307 days away.

Other famous faces ringside were Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor, former boxer Ricky Hatton, Spice Girl Emma Bunton and Love Island presenter Maya Jama.

US

Second boat boarded by FBI after Baltimore bridge collapse

Published

5 hours ago

September 21, 2024

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Second boat boarded by FBI after Baltimore bridge collapse

FBI agents have boarded a boat managed by the same company whose cargo ship crashed into a Baltimore bridge and caused it to collapse.

The two companies in charge of the ship “recklessly cut corners” and ignored electrical problems on the vessel before the crash in March, alleged the US Justice Department on Wednesday.

Three days later, FBI agents boarded the Maersk Saltoro, a second ship managed by the same company, although authorities did not offer further details on the operation.

Six construction workers were killed when the Dali ship had a power outage and crashed into a support column on the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The Justice Department alleged that mechanical and electrical systems on the massive ship had been improvised and improperly maintained which led to the power outage.

Authorities are seeking to recover more than $100 million the government spent to clear the underwater debris and reopen the city’s port, which was only fully reopened in June.

It could become the most expensive marine casualty case in history and the two Singapore-based companies, Synergy Marine Group and Grace Ocean, are trying to limit their legal liability.

The Justice Department said it will vigorously contest that limitation, arguing that vessel owners and operators need to be “deterred from engaging in such reckless and exceedingly harmful behaviour”.

Darrell Wilson, a Grace Ocean spokesperson, confirmed that the FBI and Coast Guard boarded the Maersk Saltoro in the Port of Baltimore on Saturday morning.

Mr Wilson has previously said the owner and manager “look forward to our day in court to set the record straight” about the Justice Department’s lawsuit.

The Dali, which was stuck amid the wreckage of the collapse for months before it could be extricated, departed Virginia on Thursday afternoon en route to China on its first international voyage since the March 26 disaster.