Conservators at the Ready
During the expeditions, it is vital that the conservation team be prepared to handle the needs of any artifact the submersibles may recover.  Stabilization is the priority; a process which begins immediately upon the artifacts' arrival on the deck of the support vessel. The goal is to lessen any further damage to the objects that might occur from their sudden exposure to oxygen and light.

Receipt and Documentation
The contents of the submersible’s recovery basket are transferred to tubs pre-lined with ethafoam to safely carry the artifacts to the onboard laboratory for the process to begin.

Once the artifacts are secure in the laboratory, each tray and container is photographed and referenced to a dive number. Next, objects that cannot be immersed immediately in water are removed and stabilized according to their needs. The remaining artifacts are then provisionally cleaned with a soft brush under a gentle stream of water to remove the majority of acidic silt. After cleaning, inventory numbers are assigned, measurements taken, photographs made, and the condition of each object is assessed and recorded on a condition report. The report format includes: object name, description, materials, inscriptions, conservation condition, measurements, dive number, and storage location.  Items with special needs and problems are flagged in red for immediate attention on land.

Identification
Before packing the objects for transport to the on land conservation laboratory, historians and consultants attempt  to identify each piece; assessing its function on the Ship or its place in the lifestyle of the early twentieth century.