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February 19, 2012
Take the Journey
A Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) uses a high-definition camera to capture images of tea cups from the galley of the steamship Portland.
The Confirmation

During the summer of 2002, the final resting place of New England's most sought after wreck was confirmed in a joint research mission mounted by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Undersea Research Center at the University of Connecticut. The team mapped and shot high-quality video of the wreck, located in Massachusetts Bay's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, with remote deep-sea, side-scan sonar.

Although artifacts bearing the ship's name have yet to be found, the video footage revealed distinctive features such as a steam release vent, a rudder assembly, a paddle guard and a paddle wheel hub. Since no other steamers of this type were ever reported lost in Massachusetts Bay, a team of independent marine archeologists positively identified this wreck as that of the Portland.

Although much of her superstructure has been destroyed, the Portland's hull remains largely intact. The discovery and verification of the wreck, sitting upright on the seafloor, is a huge step toward solving some of the mysteries surrounding the tragedy.

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Pictures: DCI | NOAA/Associated Press | Library of Congress | Olivia Nisbet/Associated Press | NOAA/Associated Press | Library of Congress | Julia Malakie/Associated Press | NOAA/Associated Press (2) | Olivia Nisbet/Associated Press |

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