SHIPWRECK REPORT: SS NORTH WIND

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• • Name: SS North Wind
• • Type: Bulk Freighter
• • Location:
• • Latitude: 46° 03.549′ N
• • Longitude: 82° 12.659′ W
• • Area: North Channel, Lake Huron, near Clapperton Island, Georgian Bay
• • Depth:
• • Range: 80 to 130 feet (24 to 41 meters)
• • Note: 12 feet of the wreck is below the bottom sediment.
• • Dimensions:
• • Length: 299.5 feet (91.3 meters)
• • Beam: 40.8 feet (12.4 meters)
• • Depth: 21.6 feet (6.6 meters)
• • Visibility: Generally good, dependent on seasonal and local conditions.
• VESSEL DESCRIPTION
• • Built: 1888 by Globe Iron Works, Cleveland, Ohio
• • Material: Steel Hull
• • Engine: Triple expansion steam engine
• • Manufacturer: Globe Iron Works
• • horsepower: 1,150 HP at 78 RPM
• • Boilers: Two scotch boilers, 14’ x 12’6”, capable of 160 PSI
• • Tonnage:
• • Gross: 2,476.35 tons
• • Net: 1,885.14 tons
• • Carrying Capacity: 3,000 tons
• • Special Features:
• • Double-bottom ballast tanks
• • Two watertight bulkheads

HISTORY

Construction and Early Service:

• The North Wind was one of six sister ships built for the Northern Steamship Co. of Duluth, Minnesota.

• Served as a package freighter, transporting goods across the Great Lakes.

Incidents and Ownership Changes:

1. 1888: Grounded near Sault Ste. Marie, sustaining damage shortly after its launch.

2. 1889: Collided with the Tug International and the Schooner Theodore Voges near Amherstburg, Ontario.

3. 1891: Involved in a collision with the Steamer Lackawanna in Buffalo, New York.

4. 1916: Acquired by Great Lakes Transit Co., Buffalo.

5. World War I: Operated in the Atlantic Ocean under the Intercoast Steamship Co. of Boston, Massachusetts. Tonnage updated to 2,599 gross and 1,526 net tons after reconstruction.

6. 1923: Purchased by Buckeye Steamship Co., Cleveland, and converted to a bulk freighter.

FINAL VOYAGE & WRECK

• Date of Sinking: July 1, 1926

• Circumstances:

• While navigating Lake Huron’s North Channel on a reported clear day, the North Wind struck Robertson Rock, northeast of Clapperton Island.

• The crew Abandoned the ship, and it sank soon afterward.

• Wreck Condition:

• The ship lies nearly intact at a depth of 80–130 feet.

• The Hull is upright, and portions of the wreck extend into the sediment below.

CURRENT CONDITION

• Dive Site Description:

• The wreck is remarkably intact, offering divers a unique opportunity to explore a near-complete Great Lakes freighter.

• Moderate depths make it accessible for recreational divers with appropriate training and equipment.

• Marine Life: The wreck serves as an Artificial Reef, attracting various fish and aquatic species.

• Hazards:

• Strong currents near Robertson Rock.

• Variable Visibility depending on seasonal conditions.

SIGNIFICANCE

The North Wind is a historical artifact, embodying the engineering and operational challenges of Great Lakes shipping during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its role in maritime trade, both on the Great Lakes and the Atlantic, highlights the evolution of shipping and commerce during this era.

REFERENCES

• NOAA Great Lakes Shipwreck Files

• Great Lakes Historical Society Archives

• David Swayze Shipwreck Database

CONCLUSION

The SS North Wind is a significant piece of Great Lakes maritime history. Resting in the North Channel of Lake Huron, it is both a navigational cautionary tale and an intriguing underwater museum for divers and historians alike.

KEYWORDS

#Shipwreck #LakeHuron #NorthWind #MaritimeHistory #Diving #GreatLakes