Researchers used a new automated underwater vehicle
A robot submarine from the University of Limerick (UL) has investigated several shipwrecks off the west coast.
The team of researchers was led by chief scientist Dr Gerard Dooly aboard the research vessel, Celtic Explorer.
Engineers from Centre for Robotics and Intelligent Systems (CRIS) at UL and Marine and Renewable Energy Ireland (MaREI) were involved - using a new automated underwater vehicle, ROV Étáin.
It's after a recently unveiled Irish National Monuments Service Wreck Viewer listed the locations of more than 4,000 shipwrecks in Irish waters.
Two wrecks examined in detail are thought to be that of a liner and a large cargo vessel, and one smaller wreck which was found to be an operational World War I-era U-boat.
A high definition camera survey of one of the wrecks revealed that parts of the ship were taken over by various sea creatures.
While multibeam mapping of the wreck, thought to be that of the Ocean Liner S.S. Canadian, showed a large debris field that was not visible on the original map of the wreck - suggesting " violent impact" with the seabed.
