section_path: Shipwrecks
section_name: Shipwrecks
paragraph_text: Shipwrecks
  
  A ship now called the Mardi Gras sank around the early 19th century about 56 km (35 mi) off the coast of Louisiana in 1,200 m (3,900 feet) of water. The ship, whose real identity remains a mystery, is believed to have been a privateer or trader. The shipwreck lay forgotten at the bottom of the sea until it was discovered in 2002 by an oilfield inspection crew working for the Okeanos Gas Gathering Company (OGGC). In 2007, an expedition led by Texas A&M University and funded by OGGC under an agreement with the Minerals Management Service (now BOEM) was launched to undertake the deepest scientific archaeological excavation to that date to study the site on the seafloor and recover artifacts for public display in the Louisiana State Museum. Videos and a documentary about the project, Mystery Mardi Gras Shipwreck, was made by Nautilus Productions with help from BOEM, Texas A&M University, the Florida Public Archaeology Network and Veolia Environmental. about the project, short videos and video updates during the expedition. Video footage from the ROV was used in the documentary.
  
  On July 30, 1942, the SS Robert E. Lee, captained by William C. Heath, was torpedoed by the German submarine U-166. The steamship was en route to New Orleans, sailing southeast of the entrance to the Mississippi River; she was being escorted by USS PC-566, captained by Lieutenant Commander Herbert G. Claudius. The explosion destroyed the #3 hold; vented through the B and C decks; and damaged the engines, the radio compartment, and the steering gear. PC-566 dropped depth charges on a sonar contact, sinking U-166. The badly damaged Robert E. Lee first listed to port, then to starboard, and finally sank within about 15 minutes of the attack. One officer, nine crew members, and 15 passengers were lost. The passengers aboard Robert E. Lee were primarily survivors of previous torpedo attacks by German U-boats. In 2001, the wrecks of U-166 and Robert E. Lee were found during the C & C Marine survey. The submarine was found in 5,000 feet (1,500 m) of water, about three km (1.9 miles) from where it had attacked the liner.
  
  A ship now called the Mardi Gras sank around the early 19th century about 56 km (35 mi) off the coast of Louisiana in 1,200 m (3,900 feet) of water. The ship, whose real identity remains a mystery, is believed to have been a privateer or trader. The shipwreck lay forgotten at the bottom of the sea until it was discovered in 2002 by an oilfield inspection crew working for the Okeanos Gas Gathering Company (OGGC). In 2007, an expedition led by Texas A&M University and funded by OGGC under an agreement with the Minerals Management Service (now BOEM) was launched to undertake the deepest scientific archaeological excavation to that date to study the site on the seafloor and recover artifacts for public display in the Louisiana State Museum. Videos and a documentary about the project, Mystery Mardi Gras Shipwreck, was made by Nautilus Productions with help from BOEM, Texas A&M University, the Florida Public Archaeology Network and Veolia Environmental. about the project, short videos and video updates during the expedition. Video footage from the ROV was used in the documentary.
  
  On July 30, 1942, the SS Robert E. Lee, captained by William C. Heath, was torpedoed by the German submarine U-166. The steamship was en route to New Orleans, sailing southeast of the entrance to the Mississippi River; she was being escorted by USS PC-566, captained by Lieutenant Commander Herbert G. Claudius. The explosion destroyed the #3 hold; vented through the B and C decks; and damaged the engines, the radio compartment, and the steering gear. PC-566 dropped depth charges on a sonar contact, sinking U-166. The badly damaged Robert E. Lee first listed to port, then to starboard, and finally sank within about 15 minutes of the attack. One officer, nine crew members, and 15 passengers were lost. The passengers aboard Robert E. Lee were primarily survivors of previous torpedo attacks by German U-boats. In 2001, the wrecks of U-166 and Robert E. Lee were found during the C & C Marine survey. The submarine was found in 5,000 feet (1,500 m) of water, about three km (1.9 miles) from where it had attacked the liner.