The Cerisoles was a propeller “Naravin”-class minesweeper that went missing on its delivery voyage across Lake Superior to the French Navy in 1918. It was built at Canada Car & Foundry in Fort William, Ontario. The ship was made of wood, although there is uncertainty about whether it had a steel frame. It had a length of 143 feet and a displacement of 630 tons.
The exact cause of the loss is unknown, but it is believed that the ship encountered a severe storm with high winds and waves while crossing Lake Superior. The storm was so intense that the ship, along with two other minesweepers of the same type named Inkerman and Sebastopol, lost sight of each other.
The Cerisoles and Inkerman were never found, and no wreckage or remains were discovered. It is speculated that the ships may have struck Superior Shoal, an uncharted pinnacle in the center of the lake, but other scenarios are also possible.
The loss of Cerisoles resulted in the largest loss of life of any Lake Superior shipwreck, with all 38 crew members perishing. Numerous search efforts have been conducted over the years to locate the wreck, including a recent extensive search organized by the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in 2017. However, as of now, the exact whereabouts and fate of the Cerisoles remain unknown.
