|
Shipwrecks of Thunder
Bay, |
|
|
Shipwrecks of Thunder
Bay, |
|
Major Shipwrecks of the Thunder Bay Underwater Preserve
| O.T. Flint | Nordmeer | Montana | Grecian | Monohansett | E.B. Allen | North Point Shoal
| NEW - NEW - NEW Loss of the schooner barney |
This was the first Preserve created in Michigan to help protect underwater resources. It extends due east from South Point and from Middle Island to the 150 foot contour, and follows that depth roughly north and south between the extension points. Only the Pewabic, Viator, Monrovia and Scott above are outside the Preserve boundaries. All ship traffic between the lower lakes and the lakes Michigan and Superior had to pass Thunder Bay. It was a very busy place, often fog bound and subject to large storms and unpredictable squalls. Upbound and downbound traffic are only separated by a few miles, and even that was impossible in the days of sail. The coast is very unforgiving with numerous shoals and islands of nearly solid rock.
|
 |
|
The overall result of over 150 years of shipping has left a vast collection of ships resting on the bottom, which today has become a mecca for divers, maritime historians and educators. Charter diving and air service is available in Alpena at the harbor. Many of the divable wrecks have mooring buoys attached.
Michigan Law makes it illegal to remove any object, from any of the ships or bottomlands of the Great Lakes Preserves, and only by permit elsewhere in the Lakes.
Full List of Thunder Bay and Vicinity Shipwrecks Most of the shipwrecks of the Thunder Bay region have not been found. This list gives the latest information on all the wrecks. It includes ships in, and outside the preserve. The two shown below have never been located. |
|
 The Clifton above was lost in 1924 with the entire crew of 27 during a severe storm. It is an unusual whaleback design. It could be nearly anywhere in Lake Huron, but is suspected to be in deep water between Alpena and Oscoda. |
 The W. C. Franz was lost in 1934 after colliding with the Edward E Loomis in pitch dark with calm seas. All the crew was saved, which took some time. The boat however has never been found. Various reports put it eight or 35 miles southeast of Thunder Bay Island when sunk. |
* New Web Page, the Schooner F. T. Barney, fully intact, excellent photos *
Credits, Notes and Links
|
|
|||
|
