The coordination of the group, which brings together entities from the areas of Defence and Culture, is ensured by the National Centre for Nautical and Underwater Archaeology (CNANS) and the Navy Museum, allowing an operational articulation between the Portuguese Navy, the National Maritime Authority and Cultural Heritage, I.P., the entity responsible for the protection of archaeological heritage.
The demonstration took place next to the place where the wreckage of the Thermopylae rests, a famous clipper of China’s tea race, from the late nineteenth century, considered one of the underwater archaeological sites ever inventoried in Portugal.
During the action, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) from the Hydrographic Institute was used, unique equipment in the country with the capacity to operate at depths greater than 100 meters and which can be launched from a semi-rigid vessel.
Since its creation, the working group has developed cooperation mechanisms between the various entities involved. Among the main initiatives are the specialized training in underwater cultural heritage for divers from the Navy and the National Maritime Authority, the reinforcement of collaboration in missions carried out along the Portuguese coast and the creation of protocols for access to information from the Hydrographic Institute relevant to archaeological research.
The operation involved underwater archaeologists and was an example of the model of multidisciplinary teams that the group intends to employ in future research missions and safeguarding submerged cultural heritage.