Efforts are underway to have the site of a shipwreck in Southampton named a national historic site.
Marine archaeologist Ken Cassavoy lead efforts to identify the wreck of the HMS General Hunter, which was first uncovered by receding water levels in 2001.
Cassavoy says the General Hunter was a British ship commissioned for the War of 1812, which was captured by American forces before it ran ashore in 1816 in stormy weather off Southampton.
He says having the wreck declared a national historic site will help raise the profile of the General Hunter and for tourism in Saugeen Shores.
"I know there are people who go to national historic sites, just to see the site. And there is quite the story there and we do have a breakwater around it, we do have a plaque there and we do have an exhibit and some programming at the [Bruce County] Museum. So there's something to build on there, but it hasn't been exploited and maybe the designation would help enhance that," says Cassavoy.
Cassavoy says the wreck of the General Hunter was reburied under the sand in Southampton following the archaeological dig, pointing out the estimated cost of excavating and preserving the remains of the ship are in the millions of dollars.
In order to submit his application to the federal government, Cassavoy says he needs formal support from both Saugeen Shores council and the provincial government, adding he received verbal support from Saugeen First Nation Chief Vernon Roote last week.
He says it could take up to two years for a decision from the federal government.
It would be the second national historic site in Bruce County, with the Point Clark lighthouse currently the only designated site in the county.