Tomas Termote

Maritime Archaeologist and Historian

Tomas Termote is one of the world’s foremost experts on the German U-boat fleet of WW1. His book War Beneath the Waves, the benchmark for historical information pertaining to U-boats of that era, is a culmination of years of research and exploration that led to the discovery and identification of vessels including UB-29 in 2017, UB-32 in 2019 and UB-27 in 2022.

Termote’s knowledge of and passion for maritime archaeology have led him all over the world. He has published several acclaimed books, curated many exhibitions and served as a consultant and advisor for numerous television documentaries. He is currently working on various new projects and discoveries to further advance the field of maritime archeology.

Bredene, Belgium
Tel: 0032 (0)478266582
E-mail: [email protected]
Date of Birth: 05/04/1975

Education

1998-1999

University of Bristol: Master of Arts in Maritime Archaeology and History, Great Distinction.

1993-1997

Leuven Catholic University: Masters of Arts of Archaeology, Great Distinction.

1988-1993

Secundary school: Onze-Lieve-Vrouwecollege Oostende, Latin-Modern Languages

Exhibition Brugge with Princess Anne

Work background

2008-2023

Creation of own company for carrying out freelance work for maritime projects and the creation of a business trading in Asian antiques.

2008-2014

Freelance diver and crewman for Ostend Marine Services, Ostend, Belgium. Worked as professional diver, crewmen on several projects in Belgium and Holland. Mainly for the windfarms, crewchange and miscellaneous projects above and underwater.

Autumn 2004

Survey and excavation of the late 17th century wreck of Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion y los Animas at Portobelo, Panama. Formed part of the excavation and exploration team which was lead by the GRASP (Groupe de Recherche Archeologique Sous-Marine Post-Médiévale under Robert Sténuit).

Winter 2003

Survey of the bay of Île à Vache, southern Haïti for pinpointing a mid-17th century wreck. Formed part of the excavation- and exploration team which was lead by the GRASP (Groupe de Recherche Archeologique Sous-Marine Post-Médiévale under Robert Sténuit).

Summer 2003

Short survey on the Kentish Knock, Thames estuary for locating the steam sailing ship Deutschland for ZDF. Formed part of the expedition as Maritime Archaeologist.

1st quarter 2002

Maritime archaeological work carried out on the wreck of a 16th century Portuguese merchant vessel for Arqueonautas Worldwide, S.A. and formed part of the excavation- and exploration team for Mensun Bound of MARE, Oxford University.

Winter 2000

Survey of the beach of Landskrona, Sweden, for Global Marine Services and Aquascan International. Pinpointing and investigation of metal obstructions.

Autumn 2000

Environmental investigation of the sea-area in front of Castle-Martin Gunnery Range, Milford Haven, Wales, for Aquascan International. Manning of underwater camera, magnetometer and side-scan sonar.

Summer 2000

Survey in front of the Yorkshire coast for Aquascan International. Manning and use of side-scan sonar and magnetometer.

Spring 2000

Survey of the beaches of Fanö, Denmark, for Global Marine Services and Aquascan International. Pinpointing and investigation of metal obstructions.

4th quarter 1999

Survey of the beaches of Mariakerke, Bredene and Zeebrugge for Global Marine Services and Aquascan International. Pinpointing and investigation of metal obstructions.

Projects Gallery

Dissertations, publications, projects and expositions

Dissertations

Termote, T.

Onderzoek van 15 Duitse onderzeeboten vergaan in de zuidelijke Noordzee Gedurende de Eerste Wereldoorlog, published MA dissertation, Leuven, 1997.

Termote, T.

German A-class Torpedo Boats sunk on the Flemish Banks between 1915 and 1918: An Archaeological Study, unpublished MA dissertation, Bristol, 1999.

Publications

Termote, T.

The newly discovered U-boat, UB-29, in the Belgian Territorial Sea, in Underwater Cultural Heritage Forum 2018, Band 95, Berlin, 2022.

Termote, T.

War beneath the Waves. U-boat Flottilla Flandern 1915-1918, Unicorn Publishing, 2017.

Termote, T.

Krieg Unter Wasser. Unterseebootsflottille Flandern 1915-1918, Mittler, 2015.

Decaluwé C & Termote T.

The Raid on Zeebrugge. 23rd of April 1918, as seen through the eyes of Captain Alfred Carpenter, VC, Pen & Sword, 2015.

Decaluwé C & Termote T.

De Raid op Zeebrugge. 23 April 1918, door de ogen van kapitein Alfred Carpenter, Roularta Books, 2015.

Termote, T.

Oorlog onder Water. Unterseeboots Flottille Flandern 1915-1918, Davidsfonds, 2014.

Termote, T.

The Great War and the Sea. German U-boat development during World War I, in De Grote Rede, nov. 2013, pp. 14-20.

Termote, T. en N. Mouchart,

Het wrak van de Belgica, in Monumenten en Landschappen, maart-april 2011, pp. 25-39.

Termote, T.

Erfgoed onder water. Maritieme archeologie vóór de Belgische kust, in Monumenten en Landschappen, jan-febr 2010, pp. 4-22.

Termote, T. & D. Termote

Schatten en Scheepswrakken. Boeiende onderwaterarcheologie in de Noordzee, Davidsfonds, 2009.

Termote, T.

SMS Prangenhof. De Vopostenflottille Flandern 1914-1918 aan de hand van professionele berging en maritiem archeologisch onderzoek, ABAF, 2003.

Termote, T.

De Bevrijding aan de kust. Een studie van de laatste maanden van de Tweede Wereldoorlog aan de hand van scheepswrakken, (België in oorlog, 35), Uitgeverij De Krijger, Erpe-Mere, 2001.

Termote, T.

Duinkerke en Dynamo. De evacuatie aan de hand van scheepswrakken voor de Belgische kust, (België in oorlog, 16), Uitgeverij De Krijger, Erpe-Mere, 2000.

Termote, T.

Verdwenen in de Noordzee. De geschiedenis van de Duitse U-boten aan de Belgische kust in de Eerste Wereldoorlog, (België in oorlog speciaal, 2), Uitgeverij De Krijger, Erpe-Mere, 1999

Termote, T.

De vergeten vloot. De Kriegsmarine aan de Belgische kust. Een studie aan de hand van oorlogswrakken, (België in oorlog, 17), Uitgeverij De Krijger, Erpe-Mere, 1998.

Termote, T.

Duiken naar 60 wrakken vóór de Belgische kust, Bredene, 1997.

Projects

Summer 2022

Discovery, survey and identification of the wreck of UB-27 off the North Hinder.

Summer 2019

Discovery, survey and identification of the wreck of UB-32 off the Belgian coast.

2017-2018

Discovery and identification of the wreck of UB-29 off the Belgian coast. Analysis, photography and compilation of report of the wreck for the Flemish government. Official recovery of the deck gun for display at the War Heritage Institute, Brussels.

Summer 2013

Crossing of the Northwest Passage by yacht from Gjoa Haven, Canada to Barrow, Alaska, as part of team Mouchart.

Summer 2012

Passage from Longyaerbin, Spitzbergen to Akureyri, Iceland, stopping on the island of Jan Mayen in the Norwegian sea, by yacht as part of team Mouchart.

Summer 2008

Analysis and condition report of the wreck, further research on the wreck of the polar research vessel Belgica.

Winter 2012

Research and wood sampling on the wreck of the 1899 polar research vessel Belgica.

Summer 2006

Maritime Archaeologist for the Belgica Association. Dive survey of the wreck of the polar research vessel Belgica sunk off Harstad, northern Norway.

Autumn 2005

Research and diving of the Second World shipwrecks, aircraft and fortifications of the Palau Islands, Micronesia.

Summer 2004

Maritime Archaeologist for North Sea Archaeological Team Aquarius (NATA vzw). Coordination of research and excavation work on the wreck of an 18th century merchant vessel sunk on the Flemish banks.

Fourth quarter 2001

Historical and Archaeological adviser to the Tijdelijke Vereniging van Bergingswerken (Temporary Department of Salvage). Study of 7 shipwrecks which had to be removed from the shipping lanes off the coast of Oostende-Zeebrugge.

Fourth Quarter of 2000

Research work carried out concerning the remains of the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee at Montevideo, Uruguay and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Winter 2000

Study of the military fortifications of Singapore.

Summer 1999

Maritime research for pinpointing and identifying wrecks of different types of German Torpedo boats sunk on the Flemish Banks during World War I.

Spring 1999

Archaeological survey of three wooden shipwrecks on the beaches to the East of Dunkirk for Bristol University. Taking measurements and photos of the wrecks and producing a detailed scientific report concerning identification, conservation and preservation.

Summer 1998

Second phase of the wreck research carried out on submarine UC-71. Photographic and video recording.

Summer 1997

First phase of the wreck research carried out on submarine UC-71, Helgoland for the German Hydrographic Department and U-boot Archiv, Cuxhaven. Report concerning the identity of the wreck and assessment of possible danger due to ordnance.

Expositions

2018-2020

Co-curator for an exhibition commemorating Operation Infatuate, the 1944 Walcheren landings. Responsible for the exhibits and information concerning the ships sunk during the operation. The exhibition was held in coordination with the War Heritage Institute, Brussels and Seafront Maritime Park, Zeebrugge.

2014-2018

Curator and project manager for an exhibition at the Provincial Court, Bruges: The Battle for the North Sea 1914-18. The exhibition concerned the U-boat war, the St. George’s day Raid 1918 and the 11 Victoria Crosses which were awarded for the Raid.

Spring 2014

Acted as aid and adviser for an exhibition held at Zeebrugge concerning the St. George’s Day Raid.

Spring 2003

Project manager for an exhibition concerning the excavation and study of the wreck of the German warship Prangenhof, sunk off Zeebrugge in 1917.

Winter 2002

Organisation of an exhibition for the maritime salvage works concerning the companies Waterwegen, kust and Tijdelijke Vereniging voor Bergingswerken, at Oostende, Belgium.

Winter 2002

Cooperation with the set-up of an exhibition concerning Geluveld 14-18, for the Association of Battlefield Archaeology in Flanders (ABAF), at Geluveld, Belgium.

Summer 2000

Adviser for the setup of an exhibition concerning the War at Sea during World War I, at the Royal Army Museum, Brussels (now War Heritage Institute).

Winter 1996

Project manager for an exhibition concerning the wrecks off the Belgian coast. This was held at the maritime theme park Oceanis, Zeebrugge, Belgium.

Spring 1996

Adviser to an exhibition concerning the Marinekorps Flandern (German naval corps) during the First World War at Jabbeke, Belgium.

Publications Gallery

Lectures and organisations

Lectures

A number of lectures have been given to government institutes, veteran organisations, scientific study groups, dive clubs, historical and archaeological groups. These mainly concerned scientific work which was realised on the shipwrecks in front of the Belgian coast and elsewhere in the world on a number of dates between 1996-2006. Between 2009 and 2016 lectures were given concerning World War I wrecks, mainly about U-boats.

Organisations

Member of :

- Freundeskreis Traditionsarchiv U-boote, Cuxhaven, as active researcher.

- Nederlandstalige liga voor onderwatersport.

- North Sea Archaeological Team Aquarius, as maritime archaeologist.

- Belgica cooperation, as technical and maritime archaeology specialist.

- Nitrox diver Nelos.

- Werkgroep Kriegsmarine