Identification Card (Site)
Other Names: None recorded
Official Number: Unknown
Registry: United States
Vessel Type: Steel-hulled bulk freighter, propeller-driven (one of the “fast steel flyers”)
Builder: Globe Iron Works, Cleveland, Ohio
Year Built: 1891
Dimensions: Length ~296 ft (~90 m); Beam ~40 ft (~12 m)
Tonnage: ~2,348 GRT
Cargo on Final Voyage: Unladen (regularly carried iron ore)
Date of Loss: 15 June 1906
Location: Off Thunder Bay Island, Lake Huron
Coordinates: N 44° 58.099′ W 83° 11.991′
Depth: Upright in ~100 ft (~30 m) water. Bow/deck at ~75 ft; upper wreck up to ~110 ft
Home Port: Cleveland, Ohio (inferred)
Owners: Chapin Iron Mining Co. / U.S. Steel operations
Crew & Casualties: Crew evacuated safely; no casualties reported
Description
The Grecian exemplified a new era in Great Lakes shipbuilding: a streamlined, steel “fast steel flyer” built in 1891 by Globe Iron Works. Her robust triple-expansion engine, boilers, and deck gear remain well-preserved within the wreck, offering invaluable insights into late‑19th‑century industrial maritime technology.
History
Constructed for the Chapin Iron Mining Co. (U.S. Steel), the Grecian efficiently moved iron ore across the Great Lakes—logging 35 voyages and carrying 93,000 tons in 1896 alone.
On 7 June 1906, she struck a rock near De Tour Village in the St. Mary’s River. Refloated and taken in tow by Sir Henry Bessemer for repairs, she flooded and sank on 15 June 1906 off Thunder Bay Island. All crew escaped via lifeboats.
Final Disposition
The wreck remains abandoned and largely intact. In 1909, a failed salvage attempt utilized chained canalons; one still lies beside the stern. The site is protected within the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (added 8 February 2018).
Located By & Documentation
The Grecian is a well-known site within the National Marine Sanctuary. It’s been extensively surveyed, imaged, and mapped, with seasonal moorings installed for safe diver access.
Notmars & Advisories
Historical Notices to Mariners are unavailable, but the sanctuary advises divers to use installed mooring buoys—minimizing anchor damage to the wreck.
Dive Information
Access: Boat launch from Alpena; dive along a 300‑ft spanning bow‑to‑stern line using mooring buoys.
Conditions: Cold, fresh water preserves site in exceptional condition; visibility frequently excellent. Depth: ~75–110 ft (~23–34 m).
Emergency: U.S. Coast Guard (Alpena Sector); local dive operators available.
Permits: Not required for recreational dives; regulated as part of sanctuary guidelines.
Support: Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Visitor Center and local dive charters.
Crew & Casualty Memorials
Though no casualties occurred, crew names remain unrecorded in accessible sources. Research through Chronicling America, Newspapers.com, Lloyd’s lists, or registry archives is recommended.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“On June 7, 1906 the unladen Grecian struck a rock… she was refloated, and taken in tow… However, on June 15, it unexpectedly sank near Thunder Bay Island. The crew escaped in lifeboats.”
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Built for U.S. registry and operated by U.S. Steel, precise enrollment records and insurance documentation are not easily found online—further archival research is needed in Great Lakes registry archives.
Site Documentation & Imaging
The site has been mapped, photographed, and even modeled in 3D, with seasonal mooring buoys aiding diver exploration and preservation.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- NOAA Thunder Bay NMS – “Grecian” Wreck Profile
- Thunder Bay Wrecks – 3D Model & Dive Narration
- Marine Sanctuary Foundation – Interpretive History of the Grecian
- Wikipedia – SS Grecian Overview
- Wikipedia – Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Context
References
- NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary – shipwreck condition and description.
- Wikipedia – SS Grecian: specifications, loss history, wreck condition.
- Marine Sanctuary Foundation – interpretive history and vessel’s industrial context.
- Thunder Bay Wrecks – dive narrative, moorings, canalon, structural observations.
- NOAA site plan PDF – technical layout and dimensions.
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None
Official Number: Unknown
Coordinates: N 44° 58.099′ W 83° 11.991′
Depth: ~100 ft (~30 m)
Location Description: Off Thunder Bay Island, Lake Huron; upright, well-preserved wreck
Vessel Type: Steel bulk freighter
Material: Steel
Dimensions: ~296 ft × 40 ft (~90 m × 12 m); ~2,348 GRT
Condition: Bow & stern intact; midsection collapsed; machinery and canalon in place
Cause of Loss: Grounding → hull breach → flooding while under tow
Discovery Date: Documented within Thunder Bay NMS monitors (modern surveys)
Discovered By: NOAA / Sanctuary documentation teams
Method: Diving surveys, imaging, 3D mapping
Legal Notes: Listed on National Register; protected by sanctuary legislation
Hazards: Minimal; mooring buoys in place to prevent anchor damage
Permits Required: Permits required for scientific work; recreational diving permitted under sanctuary guidelines
Grecian by Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary on Sketchfab
grecian-1891 1906-06-15 10:50:00