ARC-WH participates in the “Red Sea Wrecks at Risk” Project in the context of strengthening synergies between the World Heritage 1972 Convention and the Underwater Culture Heritage Convention of 2001
ARC-WH was invited by the UNESCO Chair for Underwater Cultural Heritage at the Alexandria University, Egypt to participate in the Red Sea Wrecks at Risk project, funded by the UK-based Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). The project is directed by Dr Jon Henderson, of the University of Edinburgh, UK and Professor Emad Khalil, of the Alexandria University.
Selma Kassem, programme specialist at the ARCH-WH joined other colleagues and experts in visiting and documenting three other shipwrecks: the British cargo SS Dunraven sunken in 1876, the British SS Carnatic sunken in 1869, as well as the Japanese/Greek merchant vessel Ghiannis D sunken in 1983.
The aim of the project is to conduct an accurate archaeological survey as a first step toward creating an effective management strategy for sustainable tourism use and diving activities. The project focuses on raising awareness of the importance of underwater cultural heritage by creating 3D and virtual reality models to bring the submerged objects to the attention of the public, especially those who are unable to dive.
This mission was conducted by an international multidisciplinary team of experts from the School of History, Classics and Archaeology – University of Edinburgh – UK, the Centre for Maritime Archaeology & Underwater Cultural Heritage – University of Alexandria – Egypt, the specialised companies: Deep 3D and AccuPixel Ltd – Photogrammetry – UK, PicSea Ltd – Robotics Engineering, UWIS Underwater GPS Tracking, as well as the local authorities represented by the Central Department of Underwater Archaeology – Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and the Chamber of Diving and Water Sports – Egypt.
