First Blog Post of 2014
This year has started fantastically well. I recently attended the International Shipwreck Conference 2014 at Plymouth University. It was a well organised event and a great networking opportunity. I set up a promotional stand for ‘Being Silent They Speak’ and I am glad to say the book was very well received. I also took great delight in being asked to sign several copies.
Owing to the nature of the conference there were several guest speakers talking about their chosen maritime subjects of interest. One speaker, whose work in the field of WW1 and WWII U-boats I am very aware off, was Dr Innes McCartney. It was great to meet Innes and get time to talk to him. Some people may recognise Innes from the Discovery Channel / Military History programmes he has appeared in over the years.
Most recently Innes contributed to the interesting Channel 4 programme 'How the Bismarck Sank HMS Hood'. Innes is a nautical archaeologist, historian, author, and TV contributor and also an accomplished wreck diver. Innes can be followed on Twitter or Facebook and often posts some great wreck diving galleries.
Most recently Innes contributed to the interesting Channel 4 programme 'How the Bismarck Sank HMS Hood'. Innes is a nautical archaeologist, historian, author, and TV contributor and also an accomplished wreck diver. Innes can be followed on Twitter or Facebook and often posts some great wreck diving galleries.
I also met another well known nautical archaeologist and TV Personality, Neil Cunningham Dobson. Some of you may have watched ‘Treasure Quest’ on the Discovery Channel. This is a great TV series which documents the work of Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. This company is engaged in deep-ocean exploration and regularly locates shipwrecks and artefacts once thought lost forever.
I also had the privilege to talk with Odyssey Marine’s 'Director of International Relations', Aladar Nesser, who was attending the conference with Neil. I hope to converse, via email, with Neil in the future regarding a possible wreck location for HMS/M Unbeaten.
I also had the privilege to talk with Odyssey Marine’s 'Director of International Relations', Aladar Nesser, who was attending the conference with Neil. I hope to converse, via email, with Neil in the future regarding a possible wreck location for HMS/M Unbeaten.
Finally my thanks must go to Pete Holt for inviting me to the conference. Pete is the Project Manager for ProMare UK and is a visiting research fellow at the University of Plymouth School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences. Pete also manages the fantastic 'SHIPS Project' which aims to record, document and publish the remains of shipwrecks, aircraft, hulks, lost anchors and any other objects on the seabed around the Plymouth areas.
Yours Aye
David J.B. Smith
Yours Aye
David J.B. Smith