This virtual talk will focus on historic shipwrecks that have occurred south and east of Massachusetts. The region has been called the Graveyard of the North Atlantic with over 3,000 wrecks here since European sailors first began exploring the shores of the western Atlantic. Because of the hazards experienced by early coastal and trans-Atlantic shipping while sailing these waters, Massachusetts was the 18th century birthplace of the modern United States Coast Guard. Advances in navigation, weather forecasting, response resources, and vessel technology over the past two centuries may have reduced the risks but have not eliminated them. The presentation will include an overview of shipwrecks, their causes, and the evolution of response resources and programs.

About the Presenter: Greg Ketchen is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Captain living in Osterville, MA.   He is a volunteer at the Coast Guard Heritage Museum located in Barnstable’s Old Customs House and has served as its president for the past six years.   Before moving to the Cape thirteen years ago, Greg’s career included providing support to Massachusetts’ commercial ports as a development consultant, heading operations at the New England Aquarium, and filling a wide variety of Coast Guard jobs. These included performing duties at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, completing assignments as chief oceanographer for the International Ice Patrol and on the faculty of the Coast Guard Academy, and serving as commander of Coast Guard Group Boston and a NATO station in Italy.   He has completed graduate studies in both Physical Oceanography and Business Administration.  He is a frequent lecturer on a variety of topics related to Coast Guard missions and history.

Registration is required via ZOOM. Please click here to sign up.

This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program.

This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library. This program is brought to you by Ashland Public Library in collaboration with a multitude of MA Libraries.