SWIFT – Shipwreck Information

• Other Names: Built as Steamer WOTAN, renamed in 1930 to SWIFT
• Official No.: 81432
• Type at Loss: Propeller, wood, bulk freight
• Build Info: 1893, A. Anderson, Marine City, Michigan
• Specifications: Length: 192 feet (58.53 m) Beam: 37 feet (11.28 m). Depth: 14 feet (4.27 m)
• Tonnage: Gross Tonnage (886g), Net Tonnage (712n)
• Date of Loss: December 5, 1935
• Place of Loss: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
• Lake: Michigan
• • Type of Loss: Fire
• Owner at Time of Loss: Unspecified, but she was at Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding at the time of the fire.
• Vessel Type Propeller, wood, bulk freight

Description

The Swift was a wooden Propeller Steamer originally built as the Wotan in 1893 at A. Anderson Shipyard, Marine City, Michigan. She was renamed to Swift in 1930.

On December 5, 1935, while the vessel was laid up at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, in preparation for the winter, a fire broke out aboard the Swift. The ship was docked at the Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding yard when the fire started, and it ultimately led to the vessel being burned to a Total Loss. Fortunately, no lives were lost in the incident, and there were no reports of crew or passengers on board at the time.

The fire was likely exacerbated by the fact that the ship was being laid up for the winter and probably had fuel or flammable materials stored in the Hull. The total destruction of the Swift at her dock marked the end of her service, and she was effectively Abandoned after the fire.

Final Dispositions

The Swift was completely destroyed by the fire in 1935, and her remains were Abandoned at Sturgeon Bay. She was laid up for the winter, and no recovery or salvage efforts were mentioned following the fire.

Located By & Date Found

The Swift was not recovered after the fire; it burned to a Total Loss at her dock at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

Notable Marks & Advisories

The Swift’s wrecking is an example of the dangers faced by ships while being laid up for the winter. In particular, the fire aboard the Swift highlights the vulnerability of inactive vessels, especially if flammable materials were stored onboard.

Resources & Links

• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Great Lakes Shipwrecks
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes

Conclusion

The Swift, formerly known as the Wotan, was a wooden Propeller Steamer built in 1893. After being renamed in 1930, the vessel was tragically destroyed by a fire on December 5, 1935, while docked at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin for the winter. Although the fire caused a Total Loss of the ship, no lives were lost, and no cargo was being carried at the time. The fire ultimately marked the end of the ship’s career, and the wreck was not salvaged, remaining Abandoned in the aftermath.