Thank you to everyone who has reached out about the status of the Bramble. The film production is independent and not affiliated with the owner of the ship. The film crew shares your passion for the ship and remain hopeful that the voyage will live on. We are hard at work putting the final touches on the third episode of the Bramble Docuseries and look forward to sharing any updates as they become available.
We have acquired an amazing ROV (remotely operated vehicle) for Bramble Reborn’s underwater sequences. This compact unit is called “Deep Trekker DTX2.“. It works like an underwater drone. We chose this model because of the short boot-up time, compact size, and because it’s self powered and can operate for 6-8 hours on one charge. We named it “Brambot”.
We’ll be using Brambot to explore the wreck of USCGC Spar, the Bramble’s sister ship, which was sunk off the coast of North Carolina as an artificial reef. We’ll also be using it to inspect the ship’s hull as we proceed through the Northwest Passage.
This video sequence shows us testing the unit out in an Olympic sized pool. It performed flawlessly. We can’t wait to test it out in open water in Lake Erie next week!
USCGC Bramble was assigned to “Operation Crossroads” in 1947. This was a series of atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific. Bramble was responsible for laying out the buoys that marked the test area.
Our documentary will recreate this historic event with computer generated special effects. Here are some test shots from the sequence that show the B29 bomber “Dave’s Dream” approaching the target zone.
Master Chief James Hiller recalls how he volunteered (with help from his father) to serve in the United States Coast Guard.
Tom Clarke, the new owner of the Bramble, discusses why he bought the ship and its new mission.
The Bramble is owned by Orinoco Natural Resources, LLC., which is owned by Tom & Ana Clarke.
This is Chief Ginter. He is a veteran of USCGC Bramble including the trip through the Northwest Passage in 1957. We’re going to interview him tomorrow, Thursday, June 20th. It should be very interesting!
Here is a photo of the mount being installed for our new satellite dome. This will enable us to have internet 24/7 using a direct satellite link. Even at the North Pole! This is particularly exciting for the crew of the documentary, meaning that we’ll be able to provide updates about the film and the journey throughout the adventure.
Please check the website often for updates of the journey’s progress. And don’t forget to join our mailing list: click here.
Finally, as part of the major overhaul underway on Bramble in Mobile, Alabama, work is being done on the Cranes & Mooring Gear:
When all of the work is complete, we expect to leave for the Caribbean in early June. Once we feel the vessel is expedition ready, we’ll be heading for the tropical paradises of Belize, Roatan, and Utilla, then onwards to the Panama Canal. Stay tuned for updates!
Work on the exterior of the ship is extensive: