This is based on the "regular" huge waves of the storm and does not necessarily involve rogue waves.[130]. SS Edmund Fitzgerald was an American Great Lakes freighter that sank in Lake Superior during a storm on November 10, 1975, with the loss of the entire crew of 29 men. Air conditioning extended to the crew quarters, which featured more amenities than usual. At 7:10 p.m., when asked how they were making out, Capt. We dropped the hook because they found out the big ones could sink. In the years between 1816, when Invincible was lost, and 1975, when Edmund Fitzgerald sank, the Whitefish Point area had claimed at least 240ships. An anchor from Edmund Fitzgerald lost on an earlier trip was recovered from the Detroit River and is on display at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit, Michigan. [121] This hypothesis was supported by a 1976Canadian hydrographic survey, which disclosed that an unknown shoal ran a mile farther east of Six Fathom Shoal than shown on the Canadian charts. 2 hatch was fractured and buckled. "[141] Edmund Fitzgerald's long-ship design was developed without the benefit of research, development, test, and evaluation principles while computerized analytical technology was not available at the time she was built. [95], An April 2005 amendment to the Ontario Heritage Act allows the Ontario government to impose a license requirement on dives, the operation of submersibles, side scan sonars or underwater cameras within a designated radius around protected sites. Around 10:30p.m., the USCG asked all commercial vessels anchored in or near Whitefish Bay to assist in the search. Caused Edmund Fitzgerald----Follow. @2020 - northernwilds.com. [196] A legal document signed by 46relatives of the deceased, officials of the Mariners' Church of Detroit and the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historic Society (GLSHS) "donated the custodian and conservatorship" of the bell to the GLSHS "to be incorporated in a permanent memorial at Whitefish Point, Michigan, to honor the memory of the 29men of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. [176] Thompson said that ongoing budget cuts had limited the USCG's ability to perform its historical functions. [81] The same year, longtime sport diver Fred Shannon formed Deepquest Ltd., and organized a privately funded dive to the wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald, using Delta Oceanographic's submersible, Delta. [9] In 1957, they contracted Great Lakes Engineering Works (GLEW), of River Rouge, Michigan, to design and construct the ship "within a foot of the maximum length allowed for passage through the soon-to-be completed Saint Lawrence Seaway. [171], The NTSB investigation noted that Great Lakes cargo vessels could normally avoid severe storms and called for the establishment of a limiting sea state applicable to Great Lakes bulk cargo vessels. On Nov. 10, 1975, the gales of November came early to Lake Superior and took with them the SS Edmund Fitzgerald and the lives of 29 crew. [162] The NTSB investigation concluded that it would have been impossible to pump water from the hold when it was filled with bulk cargo. Once each trip, the captain held a candlelight dinner for the guests, complete with mess-jacketed stewards and special "clamdigger" punch. The simulation also showed one in 100waves reaching 36 feet (11m) and one out of every1,000 reaching 46 feet (14m). The USCG investigation of Edmund Fitzgerald's sinking resulted in 15recommendations regarding load lines, weathertight integrity, search and rescue capability, lifesaving equipment, crew training, loading manuals, and providing information to masters of Great Lakes vessels. So, what happened? [155], After Edmund Fitzgerald foundered, Great Lakes shipping companies were accused of valuing cargo payloads more than human life,[156] since the vessel's cargo hold of 860,950 cubic feet (24,379m3) had been divided by two non-watertight traverse "screen" bulkheads. [48] In a broadcast shortly afterward, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) warned all shipping that the Soo Locks had been closed and they should seek safe anchorage. It was less than 20 statute miles (32 km) from shelter at Whitefish Bay, which was shared by Ontario, Canada, and Michigan, U.S. After trying to contact the freighter for more than an hour, the Anderson notified the Coast Guard, which at approximately 9:00 pm requested that it return to the area to search for the missing vessel. August 7 The keel of hull number 301 (the Edmund Fitzgerald) is laid in River Rouge, Michigan 1958 Despite repeated attempts to raise the USCG, Cooper was not successful until 7:54p.m. when the officer on duty asked him to keep watch for a 16-foot (4.9m) boat lost in the area. Copyright 2019 The Lasco Press. The U.S. Navy also contracted Seaward, Inc., to conduct a second survey between November 22 and 25. Some believed that the freighter had struck bottom near Caribou Island, damaging its hull. Accept Read More. "[152] Frederick Stonehouse also held that the lack of watertight bulkheads caused Edmund Fitzgerald to sink. Over the following week, sonar detected two large objects in the area where the Fitzgerald was lost. [195], The ship's bell was recovered from the wreck on July 4, 1995. One had speeds in excess of 43 knots (80km/h; 49mph) and the other winds in excess of 40 knots (74km/h; 46mph). Hatch cover No. Theoretically, a one-inch puncture in the cargo hold will sink it.[153]. By 7 p.m. the next day (Nov. 10), the battered ship had a bad list, had lost both radars and was taking heavy seas. Other witnesses later said they swore the ship was "trying to climb right out of the water". He concluded that the topside damage Edmund Fitzgerald experienced at 3:30p.m. on November 10, compounded by the heavy seas, was the most obvious explanation for why she sank. Edmund Fitzgerald was the first laker built to the maximum St. Lawrence Seaway size,[12] which was 730 feet (222.5m) long, 75 feet (22.9m) wide, and with a 25 foot (7.6m) draft. Michael Schumacher, author of Mighty Fitz: The Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, talks about the ship's history and its disappearance 30 years ago. Ontario singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot wrote, composed, and recorded the song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" for his 1976 album Summertime Dream. What really happened to the Edmund Fitzgerald? - Cottage Life Despite having reached Whitefish Bay, the Anderson agreed, heading back into the storm. [107] The analysis further showed that the maximum sustained winds reached near hurricane force of about 70mph (61kn; 110km/h) with gusts to 86 miles per hour (75kn; 138km/h) at the time and location where Edmund Fitzgerald sank. 3 and 4 were covered with mud; one corner of hatch cover No. Although Captain Peter Pulcer was in command of Edmund Fitzgerald on trips when cargo records were set, "he is best remembered for piping music day or night over the ship's intercom system" while passing through the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers. [164], The USCG increased Edmund Fitzgerald's load line in 1969, 1971, and 1973 to allow 3feet 3.25inches (997mm) less minimum freeboard than Edmund Fitzgerald's original design allowed in 1958. With a length of 729 feet, she was barely able to pass through the Saint Lawrence Seaway. At around 4:10 pm, the freighter told the Anderson that both its radars were down and requested assistance with its route. [109][110] The "three sisters" phenomenon is said to occur on Lake Superior and refers to a sequence of three rogue waves forming that are one-third larger than normal waves. [114] Paul Trimble, a retired USCG vice admiral and president of the Lake Carriers Association (LCA), wrote a letter to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on September 16, 1977, that included the following statements of objection to the USCG findings: The present hatch covers are an advanced design and are considered by the entire lake shipping industry to be the most significant improvement over the telescoping leaf covers previously used for many years The one-piece hatch covers have proven completely satisfactory in all weather conditions without a single vessel loss in almost 40years of use and no water accumulation in cargo holds[115], It was common practice for ore freighters, even in foul weather, to embark with not all cargo clamps locked in place on the hatch covers. McSorley also asked the Anderson to stay near the Fitzgerald, which was reducing speed. Paquette said he was stunned to later hear McSorley, who was not known for turning aside or slowing down, state that "we're going to try for some lee from Isle Royale. [131][132][133] After maritime historian Frederick Stonehouse moderated the panel reviewing the video footage from the 1989ROV survey of Edmund Fitzgerald, he concluded that the extent of taconite coverage over the wreck site showed that the stern had floated on the surface for a short time and spilled taconite into the forward section; thus the two sections of the wreck did not sink at the same time. As a result, ineffective hatch closure caused Edmund Fitzgerald to flood and founder.[113]. It sank 17 miles from Whitefish Point on Michigan's Upper Peninsula, an area that has claimed at least 240 ships. [45] Until then, Edmund Fitzgerald had followed Arthur M. Anderson, which was travelling at a constant 14.6 miles per hour (12.7kn; 23.5km/h),[40] but the faster Edmund Fitzgerald pulled ahead at about 3:00a.m.[46] As the storm center passed over the ships, they experienced shifting winds, with wind speeds temporarily dropping as wind direction changed from northeast to south and then northwest. [27] In Edmund Fitzgerald's case, they signed a 25-year contract with Oglebay Norton Corporation to operate the vessel. [129], Another published hypothesis contends that an already weakened structure, and modification of Edmund Fitzgerald's winter load line (which allows heavier loading and travel lower in the water), made it possible for large waves to cause a stress fracture in the hull. She became known as the "Pride of the American Side". [44] After 1:50p.m., when Arthur M. Anderson logged winds of 50 knots (93km/h; 58mph), wind speeds again picked up rapidly, and it began to snow at 2:45p.m., reducing visibility; Arthur M. Anderson lost sight of Edmund Fitzgerald, which was about 16 miles (26km) ahead at the time. The USCG, NTSB, and proponents of alternative theories have all named multiple possible contributing factors to the foundering of Edmund Fitzgerald. U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), On the Nipigon River, giant brook trout capture a bass man, Edmund Fitzgerald Wreck: Great Lakes Legend Keeps Growing. [69], Edmund Fitzgerald is among the largest and best-known vessels lost on the Great Lakes,[70] but she is not alone on the Lake Superior seabed in that area. A large galley and fully stocked pantry supplied meals for two dining rooms. [137] The two vessels were built in the same shipyard using welded joints instead of the riveted joints used in older ore freighters. Mariners' Memorial, 1988 Great Lakes captains, family members, and friends pay their respects at a memorial service for the Edmund Fitzgerald crew at Detroit's Mariners' Church. For 17 years, Edmund Fitzgerald carried taconite (a variety of iron ore) from mines near Duluth, Minnesota, to iron works in Detroit, Michigan; Toledo, Ohio; and other Great Lakes ports. [51], For a time, Arthur M. Anderson directed Edmund Fitzgerald toward the relative safety of Whitefish Bay; then, at 4:39p.m., McSorley contacted the USCG station in Grand Marais, Michigan, to inquire whether the Whitefish Point light and navigation beacon were operational. [66], Although the search recovered debris, including lifeboats and rafts, none of the crew were found. [41], SS Wilfred Sykes loaded opposite Edmund Fitzgerald at the Burlington Northern Dock#1 and departed at 4:15p.m., about two hours after Edmund Fitzgerald. The flooding of the cargo hold took place through ineffective hatch . Link as the support vessel, and their manned submersible, Celia. " And all that remains is the faces and the names of the wives and the sons and the daughters." "The ship was the pride of the American side coming back from some mill in Wisconsin. Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, invested in the iron and minerals industries on a large scale, including the construction of Edmund Fitzgerald, which represented the first such investment by any American life insurance company. The USCG Marine Board found that flooding of the hold could not have been assessed until the water reached the top of the taconite cargo. [208], In 1986, writer Steven Dietz and songwriter/lyricist Eric Peltoniemi wrote the musical Ten November in memory of Edmund Fitzgerald's sinking. She was located in deep water on November 14, 1975, by a U.S. Navy aircraft detecting magnetic anomalies, and found soon afterwards to be in two large pieces. Other authors have concluded that Edmund Fitzgerald most likely broke in two on the surface before sinking due to the intense waves, like the ore carriers SSCarl D. Bradley and SSDaniel J. Waves lifted both ends of the ship (bow and stern), but the center . The Fitzgerald, an ore carrier, sank Nov. 10, 1975. [198] The controversy continued when the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum tried to use the bell as a touring exhibit in 1996. The hatch covers were missing from hatches Nos. [123], Paul Hainault, a retired professor of mechanical engineering from Michigan Technological University, promoted a hypothesis that began as a student class project. Over an hour later, the Fitzgerald reported to the Avafors that it was listing badly. [167], On the fateful evening of November 10, 1975, McSorley reported he had never seen bigger seas in his life. In between the two broken sections lay a large mass of taconite pellets and scattered wreckage lying about, including hatch covers and hull plating. The Real Edmund Fitzgerald Wreck That Inspired Gordon Lightfoot - Biography [73], In 1980, during a Lake Superior research dive expedition, marine explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau, the son of Jacques Cousteau, sent two divers from RVCalypso in the first manned submersible dive to Edmund Fitzgerald. When the Edmund Fitzgerald sank to the bottom of Lake Superior amid a fierce storm on Nov. 10, 1975, the most gut-wrenching loss was its entire crew - all 29 men aboard who went down with the . [138], Retired GLEW naval architect Raymond Ramsay, one of the members of the design team that worked on the hull of Edmund Fitzgerald,[139] reviewed her increased load lines, maintenance history, along with the history of long ship hull failure and concluded that Edmund Fitzgerald was not seaworthy on November 10, 1975. And all that remains is the faces and the names of the wives and the sons and the daughters.. The ship was carrying a cargo of iron ore pellets weighing about 26,100 tons, and it left from Superior, Wisconsin, heading to the steel mill on Zug Island . What Happened to the Edmund Fitzgerald? - Bright Hub Engineering The William Clay Ford also joined the search, which came to include other vessels as well as helicopters and airplanes. This water is unable to fully drain away before the second wave strikes, adding to the surplus. Multi-Millionaire John Jacob Astor & Captain Kidd. Edmund Fitzgerald Sinking: Weather? Crash? Failure? "[55], By late in the afternoon of November 10, sustained winds of over 50 knots (93km/h; 58mph) were recorded by ships and observation points across eastern Lake Superior. [82] Deepquest Ltd. conducted seven dives and took more than 42 hours of underwater video[83] while Shannon set the record for the longest submersible dive to Edmund Fitzgerald at 211 minutes. [29] By November 1975, Edmund Fitzgerald had logged an estimated 748round trips on the Great Lakes and covered more than a million miles, "a distance roughly equivalent to 44trips around the world."[33]. This detailed animation shows how Edmund Fitzgerald sank on Lake Superior during a storm on the 10th of November 1975. Since there were no survivors to provide eyewitness accounts, the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald remains a mystery to many. Coopers observations seem to support the rogue wave theory of the Fletchers. [38], MacInnis led another series of dives in 1995 to salvage the bell from Edmund Fitzgerald. Based on the NWS forecast, Arthur M. Anderson and Edmund Fitzgerald instead started their trip across Lake Superior following the regular Lake Carriers Association route, which placed them in the path of the storm. Four days later, the ship was found in deep water by a US Navy aircraft. Stonehouse called on ship designers and builders to design lake carriers more like ships rather than "motorized super-barges"[154] making the following comparison: Contrast this [the Edmund Fitzgerald] with the story of the SS Maumee, an oceangoing tanker that struck an iceberg near the South Pole recently. SS Edmund Fitzgerald was an American Great Lakes freighter that sank in Lake Superior during a storm on November 10, 1975, with the loss of the entire crew of 29 men. [24] More than 15,000 people attended Edmund Fitzgerald's christening and launch ceremony on June 7, 1958. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. He said, "Fellas, it's been good to know ya. 77 Followers. It took six minutes to reach the wreck, six minutes to survey it, and three hours to resurface to avoid decompression sickness, also known as "the bends". [137] Reports indicate that repairs to Edmund Fitzgerald's hull were delayed in 1975 due to plans to lengthen the ship during the upcoming winter layup. [19], By ore freighter standards, the interior of Edmund Fitzgerald was luxurious. "She took on water all the time and her tunnels flooded out on her," Woodward said. In May 1976 the wreck was definitively discovered when a submersible robot both videotaped and photographed the bow and stern, which bore the freighters name. [159], A fathometer was not required under USCG regulations, and Edmund Fitzgerald lacked one,[160] even though fathometers were available at the time of her sinking. En route to a steel mill near Detroit, Edmund Fitzgerald joined a second taconite freighter, SSArthur M. Anderson. [56] Arthur M. Anderson logged sustained winds as high as 58 knots (107km/h; 67mph) at 4:52p.m.,[50] while waves increased to as high as 25 feet (7.6m) by 6:00p.m.[57] Arthur M. Anderson was also struck by 70-to-75-knot (130 to 139km/h; 81 to 86mph) gusts[56] and rogue waves as high as 35 feet (11m). By the next day, the two ships were caught in a severe storm on Lake Superior, with near-hurricane-force winds and waves up to 35 feet (11m) high. Since the ship was heading east-southeastward, it is likely that the waves caused Edmund Fitzgerald to roll heavily. The first wave introduces an abnormally large amount of water onto the deck. [109], Captain Cooper of Arthur M. Anderson reported that his ship was "hit by two 30 to 35 foot seas about 6:30p.m., one burying the aft cabins and damaging a lifeboat by pushing it right down onto the saddle. [87][88] The life jacket had deteriorated canvas and "what is thought to be six rectangular cork blocks clearly visible. [74] The dive was brief, and although the dive team drew no final conclusions, they speculated that Edmund Fitzgerald had broken up on the surface. The Horrific Sinking Of The Edmund Fitzgerald Remains An Unsolved - MSN [4] The vessel's record load for a single trip was 27,402 long tons (30,690 short tons; 27,842t) in 1969. "[135] George H. "Red" Burgner, Edmund Fitzgerald's steward for ten seasons and winter ship-keeper for seven years, testified in a deposition that a "loose keel" contributed to the vessel's loss. The bow section would have had to right itself and the stern portion would have had to capsize before coming to rest on the bottom. With a loss of buoyancy, its bow dipped and was unable to recover, diving to the lake bottom. [108], The "Edmund Fitzgerald" episode of the 2010 television series Dive Detectives features the wave-generating tank of the National Research Council's Institute for Naval Technology in St. John's, and the tank's simulation of the effect of a 17-meter (56ft) rogue wave upon a scale model of Edmund Fitzgerald. Written by Alexander Fleiss. Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, photos of the Great Lakes' most - mlive [83], The stress fracture hypothesis was supported by the testimony of former crewmen. A replica engraved with the names of the 29sailors who died replaced the original on the wreck. This tragic accident points out the need for all persons involved in Great Lakes shipping to foster increased awareness of the hazards which exist. [173] At the time of Edmund Fitzgerald's foundering, there was no evidence that any governmental regulatory agency tried to control vessel movement in foul weather despite the historical record that hundreds of Great Lakes vessels had been wrecked in storms. The two large sections of the hull give no firm indication of how the vessel came apart. She lays in Canadian waters at a depth of 530 feet. "[149], After reviewing testimony that Edmund Fitzgerald had passed near shoals north of Caribou Island, the USCG Marine Board examined the relevant navigational charts. The Edmund Fitzgerald was christened on June 7, 1958, at the time the largest of any vessel on the Great Lakes. Steve is the Sports Editor for the Lasco Press and highlights our coverage of the NASCAR Cup Series. Measuring in at 729 feet long, "The Fitz" was the largest ship to sail the Great Lakes at that time. Edmund Fitzgerald: The Shipwreck that Never Gave Up Its Dead In a similar vein, Paul Hainault, a retired Michigan Tech University professor, postulated a seiche caused the ship to scrape the bottom of Superior Shoal early that morning and the weakened hull eventually gave out. The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald - Wikipedia The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Anderson. Fighting the water, the crew got the ships bow back up, but then, Cooper recalled, Another wave just like the first one or bigger hit us again. The massive waves slammed the Anderson, and then raced toward the wounded Fitzgerald, travelling a mile a minute. [94] In March 2005, the Whitefish Point Preservation Society accused the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS) of conducting an unauthorized dive to Edmund Fitzgerald. [32] The vessel's usual route was between Superior, Wisconsin, and Toledo, Ohio, although her port of destination could vary. The slow flooding supposedly went unnoticed by the captain and crew until it caused an imperceptible but fatal buoyancy loss and eventually sent the Fitzgerald plunging to the bottom. Jesse B. Cooper told an audience in Wisconsin the Anderson was struck from astern that evening by a pair of huge waves, which rolled over his ship and continued on toward the Fitzgerald. Email him at gellison@mlive.com or follow on Twitter & Instagram. Follow Steve at thelascopress.com with weekly NASCAR updates and featured articles. [98] On the basis of the amended law, to protect wreck sites considered "watery graves", the Ontario government issued updated regulations in January 2006, including an area with a 500-meter (1,640ft) radius around Edmund Fitzgerald and other specifically designated marine archeological sites. Most people can only name one of those vessels, the USS Edmund Fitzgerald. 5 hatch coaming. Edmund Fitzgerald was later discovered to be broken into two large pieces. It was on November 10, 1975, that the freighter sank in Lake Superior. She was never heard from again. 3 could be seen in place. [14], With a deadweight capacity of 26,000 long tons (29,120 short tons; 26,417t),[4] and a 729-foot (222m) hull, Edmund Fitzgerald was the longest ship on the Great Lakes, earning her the title Queen of the Lakes[12] until September 17, 1959, when the 730-foot (222.5m) SS Murray Bay was launched. "[21], Northwestern Mutual wanted to name the ship after its president and chairman of the board, Edmund Fitzgerald. [165] Captain Paquette of Wilfred Sykes noted that this change allowed loading to 4,000 tons more than what Edmund Fitzgerald was designed to carry. How the Edmund Fitzgerald sank - YouTube The Edmund Fitzgerald sank on the evening of November 10, 1975, next year will be the 45th anniversary of the tragedy. [91] Canadian engineer Phil Nuytten's atmospheric diving suit, known as the "Newtsuit," was used to retrieve the bell from the ship, replace it with a replica, and put a beer can in Edmund Fitzgerald's pilothouse.

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