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First International Marine Forensics Symposium - Guidelines for Marine Forensic Investigations

Published Feb 22, 2012 11:44 AM by The Maritime Executive

The First International Marine Forensics Symposium
April 3 – 5, 2012, at the Gaylord National Hotel near Washington, DC

Join this event for the largest gathering of world renowned scientists, archaeologists, oceanographers, engineers and authors, led by ‘Titanic’ Director and Deep Sea Underwater Explorer and Inventor of Autonomous Underwater 3-D Cameras, James Cameron.  Discover how underwater exploration, technology and marine forensics have changed history, impacted ship building and affected the way shipwrecks and aviation disasters are discovered and handled.

There will be a special dinner speech by the Honorable Dr. Donald C. Winter, 74th secretary of the Navy and symposium panel discussions, led by leading scientific experts, including Paul Henri Nargeolet, Rear Admiral Eccles, Norman Polmar, and David Jourdan.  We will mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic with groundbreaking news relating to the disaster.

A new manual, “Guidelines for Marine Forensics Investigations,” outlining guidelines for investigating marine accidents, like the recent Costa Concordia shipwreck in Italy, will be introduced.  Also, Pierette Simpson, author and survivor of the 1956 SS Andrea Doria shipwreck, will launch a new book, I Was Shipwrecked on the Andrea Doria!  The Titanic of the 1950’s during the “Student Program,” for grades 7 through college.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION http://www.sname.org/forensics2012/home/

  • Fees for one day of the symposium are $175 or $475 for the entire 3-day symposium if you register by February 29.
  • Registration fees after March 1 are $275 for one day of the symposium or $575 for the entire 3-day program.
  • Student members may register for $50 for one day or for $150 for the full symposium.
  • A special registration fee of $15 for the Student Program will be available to students, teachers and chaperones who register prior to February 29.   Registration fee after March 1 is $25. 

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Guidelines for Marine Forensic Investigations Manual
Will be Introduced at Symposium

Provides Introduction to Burgeoning Field of Marine Forensic Investigations 

A new manual, “Guidelines for Marine Forensics Investigations,” outlining guidelines for investigating maritime accidents, like the recent Costa Concordia shipwreck in Italy, will be introduced by the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) at the First International Marine Forensics Symposium at the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center, National Harbor, MD, from April 3-5, 2012. 

The “Guidelines for Marine Forensics Investigations,” developed by a variety of maritime experts including engineers, architects, historians, anthropologists, filmmakers, and hydrodynamicists, is intended to be used by professional and amateur investigators in the field of marine forensics investigations.  The detailed manual showcases information gleaned from diving and marine forensic analysis conducted on historic shipwrecks including specific examples from the Titanic, Britannic, Edmund Fitzgerald, Lusitania, Andrea Doria, and Bismarck and many others.

Written by leading experts in the burgeoning field of marine forensics investigations, authors include “Guidelines for Marine Forensics Investigations” editor Sean Kery, Senior Hydrodyamicist and Vice Chairman of the Marine Forensics Committee, and world-renowned naval architect William Garzke, Chairman of the Marine Forensics Committee of SNAME and Symposium Chairman.  Expert in passenger ship design, Philip Sims, Naval Marine Engineer Principal Leader, CSC and “Titanic” director and deep sea underwater explorer and inventor of autonomous underwater 3-D cameras, James Cameron also contributed to the development of the guidelines as well as Paul Henri Nargeolet, who has been the chief investigator of the Titanic wreck and developer of techniques in deep ocean exploration.

The “Guidelines for Marine Forensics Investigations” manual is written in lay person’s language with stand-alone chapters that are grouped into six main sections for easy cross reference.  The user friendly layout allows investigators the opportunity to customize their learning on how to set-up new marine forensics investigations or how to proceed with historical investigation without destroying evidence. 

The manual provides an overview of the most common types of marine casualties and their corresponding signature type of damage.  Investigation techniques for fires, explosions, human remains, human factors, corrosion, electrical systems, and forensic analysis of cordage and moorings are all addressed.

Special consideration is given to underwater tool and search inspection systems for performing marine investigations.  There are several chapters devoted to safe diving techniques on underwater explorations of wrecks. Especially, a 101 level introduction to diving and the utilization of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV’s), Manned Submersibles, Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV’s), and Launch And Recovery Systems (LARS). 

The comprehensive manual covers the hydrodynamics of ships, and uses examples to show search tools and how to use them to properly set up forensic analysis investigations.  Detailed guidelines on how to plan field expeditions including the analysis of debris fields, salvage operations, techniques, and the different phases of a typical marine forensics investigation are provided.  Artifact preservation is introduced and expedition dive series planning is discussed as well as how to use charts, maps and data perishability. 

There is a chapter devoted to the marine environment including hazards, currents, waves, and winds. The range of conditions to be expected and where to find the right data to support expedition planning and analysis projects are also covered. 

Each chapter of the “Guidelines to Marine Forensics Investigations” manual contains a list of references that the user can utilize to further explore a specific topic.  In addition to being available for purchase at the symposium, the manual can also be ordered online at www.sname.org.