News (AP) - Deal struck to determine Great Lakes shipwreck ID

By Ed White Associated Press Writer DETROIT (AP) -- The state of Michigan, France and private divers have reached an agreement to finally determine whether a Lake Michigan shipwreck is the Griffin, which sank while loaded with furs in 1679. There will be no immediate effort to remove anything from the ship. But Steve Libert of Purcellville, Va., the diver who discovered it in 2001, said it's possible the wreck eventually could be raised and publicly displayed if it is confirmed to be the Griffin. "We want it studied and available to the public, and not just at one museum but many museums," Libert said last Friday. "There's already some interest from cities. ... It's just hard to believe after all these years." He said the next step is for scientists to take underwater images to see, for example, if King Louis XIV's insignia is on a cannon. That would be a critical piece of evidence because La Salle, the explorer who built the ship, was sailing for the king in 1679. The precise site has not been publicly disclosed but is believed to be between Escanaba and the St. Martin Islands, near Wisconsin. Michigan had been skeptical and sought to have any wreckage declared state property during years of litigation with Libert's group, Great Lakes Exploration Group. But that position changed after France entered the case and claimed ownership in 2009. A federal judge in Grand Rapids put the lawsuit on hold last week after all sides submitted a 10-page agreement to settle the identity. No public money will be spent on the investigation. "If this turns out to be the Griffin it would be very exciting. Then we'll figure out what happens next," said Sandra Clark, director of the Michigan Historical Center, a state agency. Michigan won't stand in the way of France taking ownership if it is the Griffin (also known by the French equivalent Griffon). France wants it "studied and preserved for the public benefit, including ... recovery, conservation and display in the United States," the agreement says. The first report with any findings is due by Dec. 15. If the wreck is the Griffin, Great Lakes Exploration Group would have exclusive, five-year rights to use project data for commercial purposes, including books, videos, films and audio recordings. The investigation will be handled by the Center for Maritime and Underwater Resource Management, based in Laingsburg, Mich., which has worked on shipwreck projects. A message seeking comment was left for chairman Ken Vrana. Published: Tue, Aug 17, 2010

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