They went searching, according to the advice of Karl, their boat captain, a 63-year maritime mystery: the disappearance of the Ravenel in 1962.
Equipped with SEABER’s fleet of four AUVs, they scanned 4 km² in just 3 hours using 680 kHz side-scan sonar. The analysis of the first 2 km² revealed nothing but sand—something Karl, with his decades of experience, already suspected. So, they pushed further east.
Then, on the second transect of the final AUV, something emerged: a structure. Something that didn’t belong to the sand. They reported the discovery to Karl. The dimensions matched 30 to 35 meters long by 7 to 8 meters wide.
Still, Karl remained cautious, “It might not be the one…but it’s definitely something.”
The team immediately reprogrammed their AUVs for a second pass—with enhanced settings—to capture high-resolution imagery of the wreck.
More missions are planned to confirm it’s the Ravenel. Time (and data) will tell. But for now, thanks to teamwork, experience, and the precision of autonomous technology, the ocean delivered a clue.
SEABER has expressed their thoughts to the families of those lost on the Ravenel, as this discovery has stirred the entire archipelago. This discovery comes after extensive research conducted in 2021 and 2022, with significant state resources deployed.
