NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer discovers unexpected shipwreck in Gulf of Mexico

PHOTOS: Researchers aboard the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ship, Okeanos Explorer, discovered an unexpected shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico.

>>> See the wreckage in photos ... less PHOTOS: Researchers aboard the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ship, Okeanos Explorer, discovered an unexpected shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico.

>>> See the wreckage in photos ... more Photo: NOAA Office Of Ocean Exploration And Research Photo: NOAA Office Of Ocean Exploration And Research Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer discovers unexpected shipwreck in Gulf of Mexico 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

Researchers aboard the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ship, Okeanos Explorer, discovered an unexpected shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico.

In May, Okeanos Explorer set sail from Pascagoula, Mississippi, for a 13-day mission that concluded in Key West, Florida.

Its primary purpose, according to NOAA's website, was to test, calibrate, and integrate equipment as well as train personnel in order to ensure the collection of high-quality data throughout the remainder of 2019.

Four days into the expedition, while conducting an engineering dive, remotely operated vehicle sonar picked up the wreckage of what marine archaeologists suspect is a sailing vessel built sometime in the mid-19th century, possibly a schooner or brig, measuring roughly 124-feet-long.

"As most of our expeditions are to explore areas where little to no prior exploration has taken place previously, we find new things on almost every mission," communications manager at the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research Emily Crum told Chron.com.

While the evidence is still being assessed, it is possible that this sailing vessel caught fire before sinking, according to NOAA. A number of timbers appeared charred and some of the fasteners were bent, which may be an indication of burning.

A possible fire may provide an explanation for the lack of artifacts on the ship, from rigging to decks to personal possessions.

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Furthermore, no diagnostic artifacts reflecting the vessel's rig, trade, nationality, or crew were identified.

Everything above the waterline of the ship is missing; however, the hull remains are more or less intact up to the waterline, with its timber protected by the sheathing.

Although experts inferred the vessel's time period based on construction features, this information does not indicate the age of the vessel at the time it was lost, which could have been decades later.

See images of the shipwreck above.

Marcy de Luna is a digital reporter. You can follow her on Twitter @MarcydeLuna and Facebook @MarcydeLuna. Read her stories on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | Marcy.deLuna@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message