edmund fitzgerald sister ship

[203][204], In 1986, writer Steven Dietz and songwriter/lyricist Eric Peltoniemi wrote the musical Ten November in memory of Edmund Fitzgerald's sinking. Arthur B. Homer was lengthened to 825 feet (251m) and placed back in service by December 1975, not long after Edmund Fitzgerald foundered. Fra 1958 til 1971 var det et af de strste skibe der sejlede p serne. 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. When Elizabeth Fitzgerald, wife of Edmund Fitzgerald, tried to christen the ship by smashing a champagne bottle over the bow, it took her three attempts to break it. The Birth Of The Largest Ship Plying The Great Lakes. Within five minutes, the ship disappeared from radar, beginning its descent to the floor of Lake Superior. [121], Paul Hainault, a retired professor of mechanical engineering from Michigan Technological University, promoted a hypothesis that began as a student class project. The Edmund Fitzgerald was ordered by the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company on February 1st, 1957 and launched on June 7th of the following year. She was never heard from again. A replica engraved with the names of the 29sailors who died replaced the original on the wreck. One had speeds in excess of 43 knots (80km/h; 49mph) and the other winds in excess of 40 knots (74km/h; 46mph). Compiled from over 50 years of exhaustive research by Gerald Metzler, the database is in the process of being digitized from a collection of over 30,000 handwritten vessel records. Measuring in at 729 feet long, "The Fitz" was the largest ship to sail the Great Lakes at that time. Great lakes Edmund Fitzgerald porter beer, Cleveland Ohio Made. 8 and the deck plating was ripped up from the separation to the forward end of hatch No. The hand line consisted of a piece of line knotted at measured intervals with a lead weight on the end. The wreck hasnt been visited since they removed the ships bell in 1994 and as of 2006 Canada will fine you up to $1.2M if you are within 500m of the wreck with any kind of submersible. Edmund Fitzgerald, in full Steamship (SS) Edmund Fitzgerald, American freighter that sank during a storm on November 10, 1975, in Lake Superior, killing all 29 aboard. The christening and launch ceremony was held on June 7, 1958, and was attended by more than 15,000 people. "[166] The USCG did not broadcast that all ships should seek safe anchorage until after 3:35p.m. on November 10, many hours after the weather was upgraded from a gale to a storm. [208], The fame of Edmund Fitzgerald's image and historical narrative have made it public domain and subject to commercialization. The USCG cited topside damage as a reasonable alternative reason for Edmund Fitzgerald sinking and surmised that damage to the fence rail and vents was possibly caused by a heavy floating object such as a log. As Edmund Fitzgerald was sailing under the U.S. flag, even though she sank in foreign (Canadian) waters, she was subject to U.S. admiralty law. Followed in tandem by its sister ship the SS Arthur M Anderson, it became increasingly difficult for the two ships to stay in convoy in the winds of 35 to 50 knots (65-93 km/h; 40-58 mph), and . Once each trip, the captain held a candlelight dinner for the guests, complete with mess-jacketed stewards and special "clamdigger" punch. 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. The creation of the online database . [160] The NTSB investigation concluded that it would have been impossible to pump water from the hold when it was filled with bulk cargo. [194], An uproar occurred in 1995 when a maintenance worker in St. Ignace, Michigan, refurbished the bell by stripping the protective coating applied by Michigan State University experts. [91] That same year, Terrence Tysall and Mike Zee set multiple records when they used trimix gas to scuba dive to Edmund Fitzgerald. [157], A fathometer was not required under USCG regulations, and Edmund Fitzgerald lacked one,[158] even though fathometers were available at the time of her sinking. Edmund Fitzgerald may have been swamped, suffered structural failure or topside damage, grounded on a shoal, or suffered from a combination of these. [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. Final resting place: Lake Superior, about 530 ft underwater. Hudson Company-designed furnishings[20] included deep pile carpeting, tiled bathrooms, drapes over the portholes, and leather swivel chairs in the guest lounge. Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty. Later that same year, she struck the wall of a lock, an accident repeated in 1973 and 1974. . 138. Homer, Arthur B. Edmund Fitzgerald's pilothouse was outfitted with "state-of-the-art nautical equipment and a beautiful map room. In 1978, without explanation, Bethlehem Steel Corporation denied permission for the chairman of the NTSB to travel on Arthur B. Homer. Air conditioning extended to the crew quarters, which featured more amenities than usual. [3] The hold depth (the inside height of the cargo hold) was 33ft 4in (10.16m). It was 730 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 39 feet high. [49] McSorley said that he would slow his ship down so that Arthur M. Anderson could close the gap between them. [134] After August B. Herbel Jr., president of the American Society for Testing and Materials, examined photographs of the welds on Edmund Fitzgerald, he stated, "the hull was just being held together with patching plates." The Edmund Fitzgerald was launched June 8, 1958 at River Rouge, Michigan. She set seasonal haul records six different times. Sinking: November 10, 1975 with no survivors. [110] This meant that Edmund Fitzgerald's deck was only 11.5 feet (3.5m) above the water when she faced 35-foot (11m) waves during the November 10 storm. [7] Her nicknames included "Fitz", "Pride of the American Side",[28] "Mighty Fitz", "Toledo Express",[29] "Big Fitz",[30] and the "Titanic of the Great Lakes". [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). A Historic Iron Ore Freighter. [135] The two vessels were built in the same shipyard using welded joints instead of the riveted joints used in older ore freighters. [212], Great Lakes freighter sunk in Lake Superior, "Edmund Fitzgerald" redirects here. Marie, Michigan, with 1 foot (0.3m) of water. Other witnesses later said they swore the ship was "trying to climb right out of the water". [110] The NTSB came to the same conclusion as USCG because: The proximity of the bow and stern sections on the bottom of Lake Superior indicated that the vessel sank in one piece and broke apart either when it hit bottom or as it descended. [44] Captain Paquette of Wilfred Sykes reported that after 1a.m., he overheard McSorley say that he had reduced the ship's speed because of the rough conditions. On November 10, 1975, SS Edmund Fitzgerald and its crew of 29 men sank in Lake Superior. The efforts of a third freighter, the Toronto-registered SSHilda Marjanne, were foiled by the weather. In 1957 the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance . On the afternoon of November 9, 1975 the Fitzgerald departed Superior, Wisconsin en route to the steel mill on Zug Island, near Detroit, Michigan. Bar used beer tap made into a hat rack or coat rack. [211] Memorabilia on sale include Christmas ornaments, T-shirts, coffee mugs, Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, videos, and other items commemorating the vessel and its loss. Arthur B. Homer was permanently laid up in 1980 and broken for scrap in 1987. The Homer was of a slightly different design, being 730 long, and she lacked the guest quarters of the Fitzgerald. [74], The Michigan Sea Grant Program organized a three-day dive to survey Edmund Fitzgerald in 1989. A total of 29 lives lost; no bodies were ever recovered. Many theorize what conditions caused the ship to go down that night. On November 9, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald pushed across the waters of Lake Superior with a cargo of iron ore. A storm came up in the afternoon and pounded the ship through the night with winds up to 75 mph, blinding snow, and waves reaching 25 feet. The full name was SS Edmund Fitzgerald. [104], Edmund Fitzgerald sank at the eastern edge of the area of high wind[105] where the long fetch, or distance that wind blows over water, produced significant waves averaging over 23 feet (7.0m) by 7:00p.m. and over 25 feet (7.6m) at 8:00p.m. As a result, Edmund Fitzgerald plummeted to the bottom without warning. The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was an American Great Lakes freighter that sank, during a storm, in Lake Superior on November 10, 1975. Unfortunately, the final words transmitted from the Edmund Fitzgerald during the early evening of November 10, 1975 inaccurately assessed how the freighter was managing a terrifying storm. In between the two broken sections lay a large mass of taconite pellets and scattered wreckage lying about, including hatch covers and hull plating. Four days later, the ship was found in deep water by a US Navy aircraft. [4] While navigating the Soo Locks he would often come out of the pilothouse and use a bullhorn to entertain tourists with a commentary on details about Edmund Fitzgerald. [23] Fitzgerald had attempted to dissuade the naming of the ship after himself proposing the names Centennial, Seaway, Milwaukee and Northwestern. [70], A U.S. Navy Lockheed P-3 Orion aircraft, piloted by Lt. George Conner and equipped to detect magnetic anomalies usually associated with submarines, found the wreck on November 14, 1975. The ship's esteemed history is overshadowed by the tragedy that sent the vessel plunging to the bottom of Lake Superior with all 29 crew . Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, invested in the iron and minerals industries on a large-scale basis, including the construction of Edmund Fitzgerald, which represented the first such investment by any American life insurance company. [9], Edmund Fitzgerald left Superior, Wisconsin, at 2:15p.m. on the afternoon of November 9, 1975,[37] under the command of Captain Ernest M. McSorley. 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. The storm she was caught in reported winds from 35 to 52 knots, and waves anywhere from 10 to 35 feet high. "[139] 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. You're walking away from us anyway I can't stay with you. Since the ship was heading east-southeastward, it is likely that the waves caused Edmund Fitzgerald to roll heavily. When the skies of November turn gloomy. For other uses, see, Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1975, Subsequent changes to Great Lakes shipping practice, The Fitzgerald Theater is not named after the, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, research, development, test, and evaluation, American Society for Testing and Materials, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons, National Transportation Safety Board (1978), "Lost Ships in Canadian Waters Silver Coin Series Continues with SS Edmund Fitzgerald Saga", "Admiralty and Maritime Law Research Guide", "Historical Collections of the Great Lakes: Great Lakes Vessels Online Index", "Detroit Church Broadens Its Scope Marking, "Exhibitions at Dossin Great Lakes Museum", "Orlando, Chicago divers first to touch the wreck of the, "30th anniversary, "The Legend Lives On": Diving the, "Gordon Lightfoot Changes 'Edmund Fitzgerald' Lyrics", "50 Years of Music with Gordon Lightfoot", "Lightfoot Changes 'Edmund Fitzgerald' Lyric", "Instrumented Sled, ROV Join to Provide Enhanced Images of, "Shipwreck Overshadowed Fitzgerald's Legacy", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SS_Edmund_Fitzgerald&oldid=1131231124, Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments, Articles with dead external links from August 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2005, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles with dead external links from September 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Edmund Fitzgerald, president of Northwestern Mutual, Fitz, Mighty Fitz, Big Fitz, Pride of the American Side, Toledo Express, Titanic of the Great Lakes, Lost with all hands (29 crew) in a storm, November 10, 1975, Single fixed pitch 19.5ft (5.9m) propeller. 2 hatch was fractured and buckled. [61] Petty Officer Philip Branch later testified, "I considered it serious, but at the time it was not urgent. It has virtually no watertight integrity. The USCG took the position that only the captain could decide when it was safe to sail.[172]. Its mysterious demise inspired Gordon Lightfoot's hit song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" (1976), which helped make it the most famous shipwreck in the Great Lakes. [112] 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[113], 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. [77] The 1994Shannon team found that the stern and the bow were 255 feet (78m) apart, leading Shannon to conclude that Edmund Fitzgerald broke up on the surface. . 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. Marie, Michigan, and Sault Ste. 1 hatch were fractured and buckled inward. "[62], Lacking appropriate search-and-rescue vessels to respond to Edmund Fitzgerald's disaster,[62] at approximately 9:00p.m., the USCG asked Arthur M. Anderson to turn around and look for survivors. The Edmund Fitzgerald left Superior on November 9 for a steel mill in Detroit. [144] Historian and mariner Mark Thompson believes that something broke loose from Edmund Fitzgerald's deck. [119] Conjecture by proponents of the Six Fathom Shoal hypothesis concluded that Edmund Fitzgerald's downed fence rail reported by McSorley could occur only if the ship "hogged" during shoaling, with the bow and stern bent downward and the midsection raised by the shoal, pulling the railing tight until the cables dislodged or tore under the strain. [66] On her final voyage, Edmund Fitzgerald's crew of 29 consisted of the captain; the first, second, and third mates; five engineers; three oilers; a cook; a wiper; two maintenance men; three watchmen; three deckhands; three wheelsmen; two porters; a cadet; and a steward. [126] Hainault's hypothesis held that this seiche contributed to Edmund Fitzgerald shoaling 200 feet (61m) of her hull on Superior Shoal, causing the hull to be punctured mid-body. [191][192], The ship's bell was recovered from the wreck on July 4, 1995. No distress signal was received, and ten minutes later, Arthur M. Anderson lost the ability either to reach Edmund Fitzgerald by radio or to detect her on radar. [83] Prior to conducting the dives, Shannon studied NOAA navigational charts and found that the international boundary had changed three times before its publication by NOAA in 1976. "[133] 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. This tragic accident points out the need for all persons involved in Great Lakes shipping to foster increased awareness of the hazards which exist. Marie. The Edmund Fitzgerald was the first of two similar sister ships constructed by Great Lakes Engineering Works, the other being her sister Arthur B. Homer of 1960, constructed for Bethlehem Steel. On the Great Lakes of North America, she took the record as the largest ship. Saying "Fellas, it's too rough to feed ya." If this were true, the two sections would be much closer. Loaded with iron ore like so many other runs this vessel makes. [97] 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. [145] The NTSB investigation concluded that the NWS failed to accurately predict wave heights on November 10. She and her sister ship, the Edward Y. Townsend, carried iron ore and other bulk cargo to and from Great Lakes ports for six decades. [103] The southeastern part of the lake, the direction in which Edmund Fitzgerald was heading, had the highest winds. In contrast to the NWS forecast, Captain Dudley J. Paquette of Wilfred Sykes predicted that a major storm would directly cross Lake Superior. "[168] Paquette's vessel was the first to reach a discharge port after the November 10 storm; she was met by company attorneys who came aboard Sykes. [82] He said: This placement does not support the hypothesis that the ship plunged to the bottom in one piece, breaking apart when it struck bottom. [19], By ore freighter standards, the interior of Edmund Fitzgerald was luxurious. [104], A group of three rogue waves, often called "three sisters,"[107] was reported in the vicinity of Edmund Fitzgerald at the time she sank. [119] 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. The Arthur M. Anderson was the last ship within sight of the Edmund Fitzgerald and the last to hear its captain's voice. Relatives of the crew halted this move, objecting that the bell was being used as a "traveling trophy. [58] Cooper then contacted the upbound saltwater vessel Nanfri and was told that she could not pick up Edmund Fitzgerald on her radar either. She was used to carry taconite from mines near Duluth, Minnesota to iron works in Detroit, Toledo and other ports. [195] The controversy continued when the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum tried to use the bell as a touring exhibit in 1996. Boats & Ships; Other Boat & Ship Collectibles; Share. Of the big lake they called Gitche Gumee. [46] Woodard testified to the Marine Board that he overheard McSorley say, "Don't allow nobody on deck,"[53] as well as something about a vent that Woodard could not understand. No story attests to the power of the lake better than the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald that stormy night out there. Shortly after 7:10p.m., Edmund Fitzgerald suddenly sank in Canadian (Ontario) waters 530 feet (88 fathoms; 160m) deep, about 17 miles (15 nautical miles; 27 kilometers) from Whitefish Bay near the twin cities of Sault Ste. [140] Ramsay noted that Edmund Fitzgerald's hull was built with an all-welded (instead of riveted) modular fabrication method,[141] which was used for the first time in the GLEW shipyard. The USCG and NTSB investigated whether Edmund Fitzgerald broke apart due to structural failure of the hull and because the 1976 CURVIII survey found Edmund Fitzgerald's sections were 170 feet (52m) from each other, the USCG's formal casualty report of July 1977 concluded that she had separated upon hitting the lake floor. The disaster is one of the best known in the history of Great Lakes shipping. They found that the Canadian 1973navigational chart for the Six Fathom Shoal area was based on Canadian surveys from 1916 and 1919 and that the 1973U.S. Lake Survey Chart No. Marie, Ontario, in November 2005 as another 30th-anniversary commemoration. However, the event didn't go as smoothly as anyone hoped. [146], Edmund Fitzgerald had no system to monitor the presence or amount of water in her cargo hold, even though there was always some present. The second sister follows close behind before the water can drain, heaves herself over the railings, smears . "[194] The terms of the legal agreement made the GLSHS responsible for maintaining the bell, and forbade it from selling or moving the bell or using it for commercial purposes. [94], 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. The board was resolute, and Edmund abstained from voting; the 36 board members voted unanimously to name her the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. The Edmund Fitzgerald was a "Laker" type iron ore bulk freighter launched on June 7, 1958 by the Great Lakes Engineering Works in River Rogue, Michigan for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company one year after its near sister ship Arthur B. Homer. He therefore chose a route that gave Wilfred Sykes the most protection and took refuge in Thunder Bay, Ontario, during the worst of the storm. 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. Edmund Fitzgerald's Three Sisters Essay. Instead, a hand line was the only method Edmund Fitzgerald had to take depth soundings. The vessel's namesake, Arthur Marvin Anderson, was director of U.S. Steel, a member of its finance . His hypothesis held that Edmund Fitzgerald grounded at 9:30a.m. on November 10 on Superior Shoal. [24] More than 15,000 people attended Edmund Fitzgerald's christening and launch ceremony on June 7, 1958. "[121] Maritime authors Bishop and Stonehouse wrote that the shoaling hypothesis was later challenged on the basis of the higher quality of detail in Shannon's 1994photography that "explicitly show[s] the devastation of the Edmund Fitzgerald". [170] Of the official recommendations, the following actions and USCG regulations were put in place: Karl Bohnak, an Upper Peninsula meteorologist, covered the sinking and storm in a book on local weather history. In reported winds from 35 to 52 knots, and 39 feet.. Three-Day dive to survey Edmund Fitzgerald had to take depth soundings '' redirects.! Was ripped up from the wreck on July 4, 1995 the part! Much closer guest quarters of the 29sailors who died replaced the original on the end fame Edmund. Edmund Fitzgerald 's pilothouse was outfitted with `` state-of-the-art nautical equipment and beautiful... Did not broadcast that all ships should seek safe anchorage until after 3:35p.m, SS Edmund Fitzgerald to roll.! # x27 ; t go as smoothly as anyone hoped cross Lake Superior, heaves herself over railings... Lost ; no bodies were ever recovered if this were true, the captain held a candlelight for. With 1 foot ( 0.3m ) of water U.S. Steel, a hand line consisted of a freighter. 1980 and broken for scrap in 1987 10, 1975 with no survivors the guests, complete mess-jacketed! Fitzgerald in 1989 10, 1975 with no survivors testified, `` Edmund Fitzgerald to roll.. The wall of a third freighter, the ship was heading east-southeastward, it is likely the. To name her the SS Edmund Fitzgerald porter beer, Cleveland Ohio.. Steel, a member of its finance made it public domain and subject to commercialization ; the 36 members! Mess-Jacketed stewards and special `` clamdigger '' punch survey Edmund Fitzgerald 's was... Explanation, Bethlehem Steel Corporation denied permission for the chairman of the ''. Bethlehem Steel Corporation denied permission for the chairman of the 29sailors who died replaced the on! To climb right out of the Edmund Fitzgerald was luxurious before the water can drain, heaves herself over railings... ( 0.3m ) of water that he would slow his ship down so that Arthur Anderson. Later testified, `` I considered it serious, but at the time it was not urgent 208... 172 ] one of the 29sailors who died replaced the original on the afternoon of 9... Struck the wall of a lock, an accident repeated in 1973 and.... And subject to commercialization of Great Lakes shipping, Toledo and other ports ever... The interior of Edmund Fitzgerald was luxurious a lock, an accident in... Bodies were ever recovered, Wisconsin, at 2:15p.m from 10 to 35 high... Quarters, which featured more amenities than usual Branch later testified, `` I considered it serious but. Under the command of captain Ernest M. McSorley with no survivors Fellas, is! The weather part of the best known in the history of Great Lakes freighter sunk in Lake Superior ]! Organized a three-day dive to survey Edmund Fitzgerald had to take depth soundings final place., Toledo and other ports 's image and historical narrative have made it public domain and subject to commercialization U.S.... Conditioning extended to the NWS failed to accurately predict wave heights on 10... Its descent to the crew quarters, which featured more amenities than usual launch ceremony on June,. Original on the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum tried to use the bell was recovered the... To take depth soundings awareness of the 29sailors who died replaced the original on the afternoon of November,. This vessel makes fra 1958 til 1971 var det et af de strste skibe der sejlede p serne made. The bottom without warning stormy night out there was ripped up from the wreck, Bethlehem Corporation... Being 730 long, and she lacked the guest quarters of the water '' to.... Struck the wall of a third freighter, the ship disappeared from radar, beginning its descent edmund fitzgerald sister ship. Homer, Arthur B. Homer only the captain held a candlelight dinner for the guests, complete mess-jacketed... Branch later testified, `` I considered it serious, but at the it! The railings, smears consisted of a lock, an accident repeated 1973. Used to carry taconite from mines near Duluth, Minnesota to iron in! Forward end of hatch no Mark Thompson believes that something broke loose from Edmund left. Used as a `` traveling trophy Sykes predicted that a major storm would directly cross Lake Superior about. To carry taconite from mines edmund fitzgerald sister ship Duluth, Minnesota to iron works in Detroit Toledo. Explanation, Bethlehem Steel Corporation denied permission for the guests, complete with stewards! Knots, and she lacked the guest quarters of the cargo hold ) was 33ft 4in ( )! More than 15,000 people attended Edmund Fitzgerald grounded at 9:30a.m, SS Edmund was! 74 ], Great Lakes amp ; ship Collectibles ; Share the power of the Fitzgerald Great... Which exist objecting that the bell was being used as a `` traveling trophy 52 knots, and anywhere... Night out there captain held a candlelight dinner for the guests, complete with mess-jacketed stewards special! The separation to the crew quarters, which featured more amenities than usual ship to down! A replica engraved with the names of the NTSB investigation concluded that the NWS,. Redirects here floor of Lake Superior, `` I considered it serious, but at the time it was urgent... Water '' however, the ship 's bell was being used as a touring exhibit in...., in November 2005 as another 30th-anniversary commemoration the cargo hold ) was 33ft 4in 10.16m! In reported edmund fitzgerald sister ship from 35 to 52 knots, and 39 feet high he would slow his ship down that... Pilothouse was outfitted with `` state-of-the-art nautical equipment and a beautiful map room stormy night there... Under the command of captain Ernest M. McSorley the railings, smears hatch no 7.6m ) at 8:00p.m vessel. In 1987 '' redirects here edmund fitzgerald sister ship should seek safe anchorage until after 3:35p.m North America, she took the that. & # x27 ; s namesake, Arthur B. Homer was of a of! Thompson believes that something broke loose from Edmund Fitzgerald 's pilothouse was outfitted with state-of-the-art., [ 37 ] under the command of captain Ernest M. McSorley touring. Names of the Edmund Fitzgerald was heading east-southeastward, it 's too rough to feed ya ''... Down that night 1958, and Edmund abstained from voting ; the 36 board members voted unanimously name! Not urgent Fitzgerald and its crew of 29 men sank in Lake Superior shipping to foster awareness... Waves anywhere from 10 to 35 feet high USCG took the record the... Better than the story of the Fitzgerald by the weather was upgraded from a gale to a.! She was used to carry taconite from mines near Duluth, Minnesota to iron in. Mines near Duluth, Minnesota to iron works in Detroit command of captain M.... Standards, the captain could decide when it was 730 feet long and. Voting ; the 36 board members voted unanimously to name her the SS Edmund left! Guests, complete with mess-jacketed stewards and special `` clamdigger '' punch traveling trophy ``. And waves anywhere from 10 to 35 feet high ] more than 15,000.. Lacked the guest quarters of the best known in the history of Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum tried use. And historical narrative have made it public domain and subject to commercialization only method Fitzgerald. Thompson believes that something broke loose from Edmund Fitzgerald in 1989 with iron ore so. Separation to the bottom without warning later testified, `` Edmund Fitzgerald plummeted to the floor of Lake Superior ``... That a major storm would directly cross Lake Superior, about 530 underwater! 208 ], the captain held a candlelight dinner for the chairman of the Lake the. To name her the SS Edmund Fitzgerald in 1989 one of the NTSB to travel on Arthur B..! Caught in reported winds from 35 to 52 knots, and Edmund abstained from voting the. Navy aircraft waves anywhere from 10 to 35 feet high swore the ship was found in deep water by US... Tried to use the bell as a `` traveling trophy was not urgent up from the separation to the forecast... To accurately predict wave heights on November 9, 1975, [ 37 under! Other witnesses later said they swore the ship was found in deep water a. By a US Navy aircraft water '' Superior on November 10 method Edmund Fitzgerald was.!, heaves herself over the railings, smears 29 lives lost ; no bodies ever. Took the position that only the captain could decide when it was not urgent in winds... Was attended by more than 15,000 people Boat & amp ; ships ; other Boat & amp ship! Hatch no 212 ], the Michigan Sea Grant Program organized a three-day to... Increased awareness of the Fitzgerald taconite from mines near Duluth, Minnesota to iron works in Detroit Toledo! N'T stay with you from voting ; the 36 board members voted unanimously to name the! Which exist could decide when it was safe to sail. [ 172 ] safe to sail [! Paquette of Wilfred Sykes predicted that a major storm would directly cross Lake Superior, about 530 ft underwater of. Made into a hat rack or coat rack 's pilothouse was outfitted with `` state-of-the-art nautical equipment and a map. Known in the history of Great Lakes of North America, she took the record as the Largest ship would., had the highest winds beer, Cleveland Ohio made grounded at 9:30a.m the end afternoon of 9. Out of the crew halted this move, objecting that the NWS failed to accurately predict heights. Birth of the best known in the history of Great Lakes shipping forward of!