Great Lakes Shipwreck Report: John V. Moran

Vessel Identification & Site Information

• Name: John V. Moran
• Former Names: None
• Registration Number: US 76748
• Year Built & Launched: August 16, 1888
• Builder: F.W. Wheeler & Company, West Bay City, MI
• • Hull Material: Wood (Iron-reinforced for ice navigation)
• • Vessel Type: Package Freighter
• • Number of Decks: 2
• • Original Owner: E.B. Ward’s Crescent Transportation Co., Detroit, MI
• Power & Propulsion
  • Masts: 1
  • Engine Type: Fore-and-aft compound steam engine
  • Engine Manufacturer: S.F. Hodge & Co., Detroit (1888)
  • Engine Specs: 26 + 48 x 40”, 500 HP @ 82 RPM
  • Boiler: 12’ x 12.5’ Scotch marine boiler, 110# steam pressure
  • Boiler Manufacturer: Lake Erie Boiler Works, Buffalo, NY
• Propeller: Single, 11’ x 14’3”
• Hull Dimensions Length: 214 ft (65.2 m) Beam: 37 ft (11.3 m) Depth: 22.16 ft (6.75 m)
• Tonnage: 1,350.38 Gross Tonnage / 1,035.26 Net Tonnage

Service History

Launched in 1888, the John V. Moran was built for Ward’s Crescent Transportation Company and operated as part of the Detroit & Lake Superior Line. Designed to haul both bulk and package freight, she was fitted with double hoists for more efficient loading by 1891.

By 1893, she ran a route between Buffalo, New York, and Duluth, Minnesota. Ownership changed in 1895 when she was sold to the Union Transit Company of Buffalo. In November 1898, she was acquired by the Crosby Transportation Company of Milwaukee and assigned to routes between Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Muskegon, and Grand Haven.

Notable Incidents

May 7, 1896: Ran aground at Sailors’ Encampment in the St. Marys River. While attempting to free herself, the downbound bulk freighter Maurice B. Grover misinterpreted her signals and collided amidships. A legal case ensued, ruling John V. Moran at fault for failing to issue danger signals. She was repaired in Superior, Wisconsin.

Final Voyage & Sinking

• Date of Loss: February 12, 1899
• Final Location: 12-20 miles off Muskegon, MI, Lake Michigan
• Cause: Holed by ice, Foundered
• Final Cargo: Barreled flour and package freight
• Casualties: None (All crew rescued)

On February 9, 1899, the John V. Moran departed Milwaukee for Muskegon carrying a cargo of barreled flour and various package goods. Around midnight, while navigating through an ice field, she sustained Hull damage from an ice impact, causing uncontrollable flooding.

The crew signaled the Steamer Naomi using the ship’s whistle. Three crew members walked across the ice to Naomi, while the rest were later rescued. The Naomi attempted to tow the John V. Moran toward Muskegon, but due to the worsening leak, the effort was Abandoned.

By February 11, the crew walked back over the ice to retrieve their belongings before reaching Grand Haven. The next day, the Ferry Muskegon spotted the still-floating John V. Moran. She ultimately sank later that day.

Wreck Discovery & Condition

• Date Discovered: July 8, 2015
• Discovered By: Michigan Shipwreck Research Association (MSRA)
• Depth: 365 ft (111.3 m)
• Wreck Condition: Exceptionally well-preserved

The John V. Moran rests upright in deep water with her Hull intact. Her pilothouse, mast with rigging, railings, anchors, and even window glass remain in place. The only major missing component is her smokestack.

MSRA researchers described her as “the most intact Steamship wreck on the bottom of Lake Michigan, if not all of the Great Lakes.”

Coordinates & Dive Considerations

• • Exact Coordinates: Not publicly disclosed
• • Depth: 365 ft (111.3 m) – technical dive required
• • Advisories: Extreme depth requires specialized training and equipment. Given her pristine state, she is considered a significant historical site and should be treated with care.

Resources & Further Reading

• Great Lakes Ships
• Michigan Shipwreck Research Association: John V. Moran Discovery
• Great Lakes Maritime History: Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Bowling Green State University Archives: Great Lakes Vessels Database
• Wikipedia S.S. John V. Moran
• David Swayze Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The John V. Moran is one of the best-preserved shipwrecks in the Great Lakes. Her discovery and documentation provide an exceptional look into 19th-century Steamship design, Great Lakes shipping, and the hazards of winter navigation.

Keywords & Categories

Keywords: John V. Moran, Great Lakes shipwreck, Lake Michigan, package freighter, ice damage, Crosby Transportation Co., Michigan Shipwreck Research Association, shipwreck preservation, underwater archaeology

Categories: Maritime History, Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Nautical Archaeology

Glossary Terms

• Package Freighter: A ship designed to transport packaged goods rather than bulk commodities.
• Fore-and-aft compound steam engine: A two-cylinder engine where steam expands in stages for improved efficiency.
• Scotch Marine Boiler: A cylindrical fire-tube boiler used in ships, containing a furnace and combustion chambers.
• Fixed-Pitch Propeller: A propeller with blades at a constant angle, providing propulsion without adjustable pitch.

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