Featured Expedition: Loch Ness – Flag 3

Flag Report – Martin Klein

The Boston Sea Rovers Expedition Flag No. 3 was at Loch Ness, Invernesshire, Scotland, from 7 to 12 September 2005. It was displayed along with the Explorers Club Expedition Flag No. 65, which was first flown in 1936 as part of the Belgian Congo Expedition. We believe this is the first time the flags of these prestigious organizations have been together.

In recent years, visual sightings, of any possible mysterious creatures in Loch Ness, have been drastically reduced and sonar contacts have disappeared. This has led Academy President Robert Rines to surmise that the “quarry has expired.” Therefore, a primary goal of this expedition was to look for carcasses on the floor of the Loch. For the search we used an advanced, digital, high-resolution Klein Side Scan Sonar coupled with a global positioning system. A team of skilled ROV (remote-operated-vehicle) operators was standing by to investigate the sonar targets. Approximately 15 of the targets were examined, but unfortunately these turned out to be trees, barrels, fish traps, construction debris, and shale outcroppings.

The sonar team, led by Garry Kozak of L-3/Klein Associates, made a successful complete side scan sonar map of the Loch in one pass and also imaged some shipwrecks, including one of the last sailing fishing vessels in the region. The Team also picked up a number of interesting geological formations as well as a series of mysterious circular formations that appear to be man-made.