Report on Activities at SS CentralAmerica Shipwreck Site

May 14, 2014 -June 15, 2014Prepared by Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. for Recovery Limited Partnership, LLCReport # 14-02

OverviewRecovery operations at the SS Central America site continued after the mid-May port call. The Odyssey Explorerleft port in Charleston, SC, on May 17, 2014, arrivedback on the Central America site on May 18, 2014, andthen remained on station until the night of June 13,2014. During this time 22 Remotely Operated Vehicle(ROV) dives to the site were conducted (Divel7-Dive38). Recovery of gold and jewelry in the debris field continued and then archaeological excavation began at thestern of the shipwreck itself. In addition to the recoveryof gold and artifacts, the science program is progressing with the recovery of biological samples. The OdysseyExplorer returned to the port in Charleston on June 14,2014, and recovered items were offloaded to the cus

tody of the U.S. Marshals on June 15, 2014, for transitto the substitute custodian Numismatic ConservationServices (NCS). A small number of items that did nothave sufficient time to clear US Customs by the 15thremain in secure storage on the Odyssey Explorer until thenext port call.

Site Survey: ImagesAs noted in report #14-01, the site survey included

multibeam data collection and the production of a fullhigh-resolution photomosaic of the SS Central Americaand associated debris fields. The multibeam sonar surveysprovide information about the height of objects from thesurrounding sealloor and how the shipwreck is positionedon the natural topography.

I he photomosaic is a compilation of thousands ofprecisely captured images taken from a constant heightabove the shipwreck and then combined to form oneimage that provides a view of the entire shipwreck fromabove. More than 12,500 high-resolution images werecaptured to produce a pre-disturbance photomosaic ofthe Central America shipwreck site. The lull photomosaicprovides a map of the entire shipwreck site and isan important tool for the project and operations managers, archaeology, scientific and ROV teams to plan and executedives and determine priority areas. With the extremelyhigh resolution of the full photomosaic, it is also possibleto zoom inonsmaller sections when planning orworkingon a specific area of the site.

The multibeam images can also becombined with thephotomosaic images to provide three-dimensional viewsuseful lor planning dive operations.

Amultibeam sonar image ofthe SSCentral America (this view from the stern looking toward the bow).

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Report on Activities at SS Central America Shipwreck SiteMay 14, 2014-June 15, 2014Report #14-02

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Pre-disturbance photomosaic of SS Cenlral America.

View from theportside nearthebow usingmultibeam imagery combined with the photomosaic. The large objects in thedebris fieldon the rightside of the image are believed to be boilers which once helped power the SS Cenlral America.

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Report on Activities at SS Central America Shipwreck SiteMay 14, 2014 -June 15, 2014Report* 14-02

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Section of photomosaic with port paddlewheel.

Progress on the project can be trackedand overlaid (updated photomosaic sectionsand recordingof recovered items) on the original geo-spatially accurate photomosaic.

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Report on Activities at SS Central America Shipwreck SiteMay 14, 2014 -June 15, 2014Report 8 14-02

Operational DetailsOperations covered by this report were conducted in 22ROV dives (Dives 17-38) which were performed betweenMay 18 -June 13, 2014, and included recovery of cargoitems and a small number of other artifacts and scientific

samples. Post-excavation photomosiacs were also created.

Debris Field

The first two dives, Dives 17 and 18, focused on the debris held to the port side of the shipwreck. During the lastreporting period, gold and jewelry were recovered fromseveral easily accessible deposits of coins and artifacts inthis area. Investigation and recovery of high-value itemsfrom the remaining easily accessible deposits was conducted during these early dives.

Ihese areas were identified from review of photomosiacs and pre-disturbance images taken by the ROVand analysis of TSS (pulse induction technology) testing.Items recovered from these piles included gold coins indenominations of S20, S10, S5, S3, 52.50 and SI, golddust and nuggets, jewelry, a pair of eyeglasses and a pipe.I he archaeological team recorded the location of culturalheritage artifacts in these deposits thai were left at the site.

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Two of the deposits in the port side debris field.

One of the more interestingpieces of gold jewelryrecovered from the deposits in the debris field was agold puzzle ring with a fede motif (clasping hands).

A soft silicone limpet is used to recover thesewire-rimmedglasses duringDive 18 in the debrisfield on the port side of the main shipwreck area.

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Report on Activities at SS Cenlral America Shipwreck SiteMay 14, 2014-June 15,2014Report # 14-02

Ambrotypes: Faces ofthe California Gold RushMany of these deposits in the debris held contained ambrotypes, a short-lived type of photography on glass platesthat wasonly in popular production for about 10 years inthe mid-19th century. To date, it is believed there are atleast 60 of thesephotographs in several diflerentdeposits inihe debris field. Photographs ofany mid-19th centuryColdRush miners are rare, and these ambrotypes are the onlyexamples found on any 19th-centuryshipwreck worldwide.

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Oneof thedeposits with ambrotypes (top) and a close up of one of the ambrotypes showinga manand woman.

Odyssey's conservator, Frederick Van de Wallc. is currentlyinvestigating appropriate conservation techniques and specialized facilities, including the possibility of using atmospheric plasma technology to stabilize the ambrotypes. Thistechnique is being pioneered for daguerreotypes and glassphotographic plates at the University of Antwerp, Belgium,and the Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche, Padova, Italy.Recovery of the collection willonly be contemplated once arecovery, Stabilization and conservation plan is agreed.

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Report on Activities at SS Central America Shipwreck SiteMay 14, 2014 -June 15, 2014Report 0 14-02

Excavation of the stern area wascompleted during thereporting period except for three small areas: a gold nugget/dust area, the keel/rudder area, and an area near the stern

post. The stem section that was excavated encompassed upto a line formed by the pipe on the port side of the sternand extending directly across to the starboard side of thehull. This excavated area represents approximately 15% ofthe shipwreck. As seen on the updated stern section pho

tomosaic below, once the sediment and coal was removed

from the area, it is apparent that the starboard and portsides of the ship at the stern area collapsed outward eitherupon impact or as part of the wreck formation process overtime. Cabin portholes, toilets (still connected io plumbing)as well as the ribs, rudder and stem post of the ship are allvisible on the photomosaic. The measuring slicks visible inthe photomosaic arc divided into sections of 20 cm each.

Photomosaic of excavated stern area.

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Report on Activities at SS Central America Shipwreck SiteMay 14, 2014 -June 15, 2014Report* 14-02

Science ProgramDuring the reporting period, a program of biological sampling was successfully implemented according to protocolsoutlined by Dr.Timothy Shankof WoodsHole Oceano-graphic Instituiion. At the beginning of the 2014 CentralAmerica expedition, Dr. Shank provided materials andinstructions for obtaining samples useful for his researchinto deep-water coral genetics and genomics. I he objective is to obtain samples of different species for comparison of their genetic make-up with similar species alreadystudied from other locations from further north in the

Atlantic and further south in the Atlantic and Caribbean.

To date eight different samples of coral have beenrecovered from the seabed, frozen in seawater as directed

by Dr. Shank, and stored in a dedicated freezer aboard theOdyssey Explorer. There are several samples of other families of organisms similarly collected, frozen and stored,pending the determination of appropriate researchers orrepositories, possibly at Harvard University's Museum ofComparative Zoology, The Ohio State University's Museum of Biodiversity, or other institutions.

During the most recent ai-sea operations, the teamidentified and arranged to build new tools and lo acquirenewrecovery modules that shouldallow improved, efficientsampling of additional biological specimens.

Chrysogorgia (coral)grows on many of the ironand wooden surfaces on the shipwreck site.

Chrysogorgia (coral) in the laboratory,after sampling from the seabed.

Three samples of Chrysogorgia (coral) frozen in bagsof seawater, as requested by the scientific specialist.

Finalpackaging and labeling of the coral samples.

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Report on Activities at SS Central America Shipwreck SiteMay 14, 2014 -June 15, 2014Report #14-02

The following is a list through June 15, 2014, of biological samples recovered from the Central America shipwreck site:(All identifications are subject to review and revision by experts.)

SSCA-001 Bio— Corgonian Coral, Chrysogorgia —June 2, 2014—Large BagSSCA-002 Bio- Soft Coral, Anthomastus- June 2, 2014 - Whirl Pack in Small BagSSCA-003 Bio- Gastropod and Barnacle - June 3, 2014 -Whirl Pack in Small BagSSCA-004 Bio - Polychaetcs - June 3, 2014 - Whirl Pack in Small Bag

SSCA-005 Bio—Corgonian Coral, Chrysogorgia —June 9, 2014 —Large BagSSCA-006 Bio- Gorgonian Coral (Thouarella?) - June 9, 2014 - Large BagSSCA-007 Bio- Black Coral (Hexapathes?) - June 13,2014 - Large BagSSCA-008 Bio- Gorgonian (Thouarella?) -June 13,2014 - Large BagSSCA-009 Bio - Gorgonian (Thouarella?) -June 13,2014 -Whirl Pack in Small BagSSCA-010 Bio- Stony Coral -June 13, 2014 -Whirl Pack in Small BagSSCA-011 Bio-Sponge-June 13, 2014 -Whirl Pack in Small BagSSCA-012 Bio- Feather Star (Crinoid) -June 13, 2014 - Large Bag

Another aspect of the science program relates to experiments leftat the shipwreck site in 1991.These experimentsconsisted ofwooden boards and posts of untreated lumber,that were placed to capture and study the deep-ocean boring bivalves (similar to shallow-water "shipworms") thatwere the principal agents of the consumption of the ship'stimbers. Since these experiments weredirected and placedin cooperation with a professor from Harvard University'sMuseum ofComparative Zoology (MCZ) that institutionhasbeen contactedand they haveconfirmed interestin our

findings. Dr. Ruth Turner (nowdeceased) was the originalHarvard scientist with an interest in these mollusks. The

Director of MCZ, Dr. James Hanken, has been in touchwith our team to express his interest in any findings wemay have, and in other contributions we might make tothe MCZ collections and research. The woodexperimentswill be investigated, and whatever remains of the experiments will be recovered, in the hope that this will yieldsome useful biological data.

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Report on Activities at SS Central America Shipwreck SiteMay 14, 2014-June 15. 2014Report #14-02

Overview of Items RecoveredLogged Onboard:May 19-June 12, 2014

Quantity Item

2 $0.01 Copper Coin

24 Gold Ingot

18 CA Fractional Gold Coin

52 $1 Gold Coin

34 $2.50 Quarter Eagle Gold Coin

9 $3 Gold Coin

25 $5HalfEagleGoldCoin

13 $10 Eagle Gold Coin

888 $20 Double Eagle Gold Coin

1 Unattributed Gold Coin

14 Foreign Gold Coin

6 Gold Coin Cluster *

10 Deposits ofGold Dust/Nugget

20 Gold Jewelry

1 $0.05 Silver Coin

122 $0.10 Silver Coin

3 $0.25 Silver Coin

1,529 Foreign Silver Coin

1 Silver Coin Cluster *

7 Unattributed Silver Coin

60 Misc. Artifact

* Coin clusters contain multiple coins.Exact number will be available after conservation.

Summaries arc based on onboard observations and will be

adjusted through the conservation process as gold dust andnuggetsare weighedand coin clumps and other unattributedcoins are examined.

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Report on Activities at SS Cenlral America Shipwreck SiteMay 14, 2014 -June 15, 2014Reports 14-02

Excavation CommencesA methodical excavation began during Dive 19.The sternarea ol the shipwreck was excavated in electronically defined boxes down to the ship's planking where necessary,which included moving significant amounts oi coal. Theexcavation moved Irom the stern towards the engine room,but each dive also took into account environmental condi

tions on the seafloor at the time ol the dive. If currents,

visibility or other conditions made continued excavationin one area problematic, a dillcrent area or task was completed until sealloor conditions improved or a method wasdetermined lo address the specific issue.

ROVpilots using ZEUS' silicone limpet to delicately pick upcoins, one by one, to place in its coin recovery container.

Several gold bars with varying weightsdiscovered at the stern of the shipwreck.

A portion of the stern area had been explored andrecovery had been conducted during the 1988-1991 expeditions, however additional gold cargo was found andrecovered during this reporting period. In all, more than900 gold coins, 24 gold bars and multiple deposits of nuggets and dust were found and recovered between May 25and June 12, 201A in this area of the shipwreck. The locations ol cultural heritage items that were not recoveredwere recorded.

Of the 2/i gold bars recovered from the stern area,the largesi was stamped with a weight of 319.22 ouncesand the smallest had a stamped weight of 13.78 ounces.The largesi bar bore the My. I Icntsch assayer's mark. Thesmallest bar bore the Kellogg & I lumbert assayer's mark.I he location of each piece or deposit of gold recovered

was recorded.

The largest gold bar recovered during the reporting period.

The smallest gold bar recovered during the reporting period.

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