ProMare UK was set up in 2010 to promote maritime history and archaeology in the United Kingdom, concentrating on the waters around Plymouth in the south-west of England.

The flagship SHIPS Project (Shipwrecks and History in Plymouth Sound) was the first project to be started. The city of Plymouth has a long maritime history that dates back to the arrival of the first humans in the south-west of England. Since that time the waters of Plymouth Sound and the adjoining rivers have seen hundreds of maritime events, accidents and disasters; some witnessed and recorded but many more happened unseen and undocumented. Despite the passing of time the seabed and shoreline around Plymouth still contains evidence of these events, so the aim of the SHIPS Project is to record the maritime history of Plymouth by recording the remains of these events. The first phase of this work involves documentary research backed up by geophysical surveys and this is to be followed by target identification and site recording. The project is supported by a number of museums, academic organizations and avocational groups in the region.

Geophysical research forms another significant aspect of the work done by ProMare UK. Research into the use of marine magnetometers is being done in collaboration with CISMAS, the University of Plymouth and the University of Bradford. Other areas of research include buried shipwreck detection using sonar and developing optimum methods of processing and representing geophysical data.

ProMare UK supports the Nautical Archaeology Society training scheme and now co-ordinates NAS training in the region. This work includes providing introductory and basic courses in maritime archaeology to volunteers and divers as well as arranging advanced Part III courses in specialised subjects.

Other projects supported by ProMare UK include the search for HMS Whiting off Padstow in north Cornwall, consultancy for the Mary Rose Trust, survey work on the hulks at Purton in Gloucestershire, as well as providing advice to a number of licensees of the UK’s designated shipwrecks.

Visit SHIPS project for detailed information about our projects in the UK.