1. Why don't you just go and dig it up?

Any shipwreck found buried in the seabed is a unique, valuable, historical and archaeological resource. Anything we inherit from the past should be responsibly passed on to those that come after us. Evidence of our common heritage is finite and you only get one opportunity to recover the itemyou investigate. Even the most painstaking archaeological excavation dismantles the site forever and needs to be properly planned and resourced so that the maximun amount of evidence, in the form of finds, and information can be saved and recorded for future use. Any disturbance and exposure immediately starts the process of deterioration. That is why it is important to carry out the work in a staged process worked through carefully to the highest standard we can achieve. Part of that information gathering process is the pre-disturbance survey which the Trust has just successfully completed.

2. How did you get involved?
I live in Burntisland and work as a Cartographic Manager in Edinburgh. When I first heard the story from Alex Kilgour, a Kirkcaldy businessman, I was fascinated and it really captured my imagination. After all it isn't everyday you hear of a baggage ferry laden with a King's precious household items sinking offshore and close to where you live. This was in 1992. I instigated a local support group, which later became Burntisland Heritage. In 1997 following two years of inactivity I realised that our future depended on what happened out on the water, so I formed a small team and resurrected the search.

3. When did you first locate the site?
It's a long story, much of which has already been reported. We first identified an interesting target using side scan in November 1997. It was very small but worthy of further investigation.

8. How was the site designated?
I presented a portfolio of evidence to Dr Noel Fojut at Historic Scotland. This went out to various bodies for consultation in confidence. The Order was laid before Parliament in January. After the news conference held at the Pettycur Bay Holiday Park Centre on the 29th January the site was immediately designated by the Secretary of State. It is important to note and worth mentioning that there are very few Historic Wreck sites in Scotland and this is the very first in the Firth of Forth. Even if it is not the King Charles baggage ferry it is still a major find.

9. When will you know what it is you have found?
Part of our remit in carrying out the pre-disturbance survey is to try and obtain dating evidence from the ship's timbers. This is not as easy as it may sound. We have to obtain the right sample first and that is assuming that the timbers are still visible. I suspect that the seabed is constantly changing in this vicinity.

10. How is the site protected?
The order means that anyone diving on or near the wreck site without a licence is a criminal offence, which could carry an unlimited fine.

11. What will the survey involve?
The site needs to be surveyed, prior to any significant seabed disturbance by the best available physical and geophysical techniques to establish a clear picture of its nature, state of preservation and disposition. Precision mapping of the seabed will involve a combination of remote sensing and ongoing diving activities. All of the data we collect will be recorded and utilised in a Geographical Information System. The Archaeology Diving Unit from St Andrews University will be assisting me with this from May. The Royal Navy has pledged support at the beginning of July and I hope to be a position to submit a preliminary report to Historic Scotland by the end of that month. The Trust has a core of named divers who will continue with ongoing monitoring of the site. The first nautical archaeology diving course has just been completed. The Trust hosted the course, which was run by Phil Robertson from the Loch Aline Dive Centre. Divers from Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh British Sub Aqua Clubs took part.