Shipwreck Kyle Spangler

[alpenadiver]

Dokie: It is quite a shame though that as the numbers come out, the items will go missing....

As of lately (this year) in the Alpena / Presque Isle area there has been an increase of law enforcement presence around the area with fly overs and marine patrols conducting "courtesy inspections", also now that the wreck has been documented as too what is on her, it should be even more difficult to remove artifacts. Then once the proposed expansion of the Sanctuary becomes reality, removing artifacts will be out of the hands of the State / Local Courts, and in the hands of Federal prosecutors. Will it keep people from removing artifacts? I hope so; but there is always a bad apple or two, and the ones who do get caught I hope the penalties / fines are stiff, zero tolerance comparable to the poaching / drug laws, get caught and lose your possessions. How bad would it hurt for someone to have their boat and dive gear confiscated then auctioned off. I also use the adage: locks only keep honest people honest.

 

[ComputerJoe]

The rest of the wrecks in that area run from 165 to just over 200'. From the video Stan presented at Seahorses I would guess that she is closer to the shallower end of that range.

 

[dab]

The deeper wrecks out there are all loaded with artifacts. There is no reason to expect the Spangler won't remain that way as well. However, if the oversight of those wrecks has been stepped up, then that would be good for everyone as well.

 

[ComputerJoe]

The NorthWestern (Preserverance) was robbed blind a little over a year ago. They seem to do it in real early Spring or late Fall when other boaters are not around to notice.

The Governors Smiths bell went missing for good this year. It was found in "cold storage" off of the wreck last year and returned, but burried inside the hull...it was found and taken. Who would buy an item like that without it's history? What benefit would it be to own stolen goods where you can not let anyone know where it came from?

The one thing I know for sure is that if caught in the Marine Sanctuary, the Federal Prosecutors will not have to deal with Federal Salvage Laws, and they will nail some hides to the wall for all to see.

 

[StanS]

Stan, in one of the video's it says the site is in approx. 200ffw......at what depth is the site??

The Spangler is 185ft to the mud.