Shotline Diving

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EMBA in 3D: A Lake Michigan Schooner-Barge Brought Back to Life

3DShipwrecks.org has released a full photogrammetry model of the schooner-barge E.M.B.A. (A.C. Tuxbury), US 106706, and it’s the kind of model you can easily lose an evening explorin

Lake Michigan just gained a spectacular new way to meet one of its most interesting wrecks.

3DShipwrecks.org has released a full photogrammetry model of the schooner-barge E.M.B.A. (A.C. Tuxbury), US 106706, and it’s the kind of model you can easily lose an evening exploring. For wreck divers, historians, and armchair explorers alike, this is one of the best looks yet at a classic Great Lakes self-unloading barge resting on the bottom of Lake Michigan. (3DShipwrecks.org)

👉 View the model here: 3D Shipwrecks – EMBA
https://3dshipwrecks.org/shipwreck-emba/

And for the full wreck profile, history, and dive notes, visit our Shotline page:
https://shotlinediving.comshipwrecks/e-m-b-a-a-c-tuxbury-us-106706/

Where She Lies

  • Waterbody: Lake Michigan
  • State: Wisconsin
  • Position: ~5 miles east of Milwaukee’s North Point (Shotline Diving)
  • Coordinates: 43° 03.907′ N, 087° 44.950′ W (3DShipwrecks.org)
  • Depth: 170 ft / 52 m

This is very much a technical dive: cold, dark water, real depth, and limited bottom time. The beauty of the model is that anyone can “dive” EMBA from the surface, scroll wheel instead of scooter, coffee instead of deco gas.

From A.C. Tuxbury to EMBA

Launched in 1890 at West Bay City, Michigan, as the A.C. Tuxbury, this wooden schooner-barge spent decades hauling bulk cargo around the Great Lakes, towed by steamers and working the heavy trade between ports like Milwaukee, Chicago, and Buffalo. (3DShipwrecks.org)

In 1923, the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company bought her, renamed her E.M.B.A. (for Employees’ Mutual Benefit Association), and had her converted into a self-unloading coal barge—a very early example of the self-unloading technology that would eventually dominate Great Lakes bulk carriers. (Shotline Diving)

By the early 1930s, trucks and modern infrastructure were changing how coal moved through Milwaukee. In 1933, stripped of gear and no longer needed, EMBA was towed out into Lake Michigan and deliberately scuttled, ending more than 40 years of service in Great Lakes cargo work. (Shotline Diving)

Exploring the 3D Model

The new 3DShipwrecks model is based on over 2,000 still images captured in July 2025 by photographer Andrew Goodman, then processed by modeler Ken Merryman using Agisoft Metashape. (3DShipwrecks.org)

Once you load the model, take a moment to let it settle, then start your tour:

1. The Bow and Collapsed Forecastle

Approach from the bow and you’ll see where the ship clearly hit nose-first. The forward sides of the hull are broken and the forecastle deck has collapsed down into the hull, giving you a dramatic view into the interior. (3DShipwrecks.org)

Look for:

  • The dislodged windlass, now tipped on end down in the port-side bilge.
  • The shattered plating and framing that show the force of the impact.

It’s a textbook example of how even a controlled scuttling can still end in a violent meeting with the bottom.

2. An Open Cargo Hold Full of Stone

Move aft and you’ll notice almost all of EMBA’s wooden decking is gone. The model lets you look straight down into the cargo area, where you’ll see large rocks stacked in the hold—ballast that was added to make sure the old barge went down and stayed down. (3DShipwrecks.org)

For anyone who’s dived scuttled ships before, this is a familiar but still striking scene: stripped fittings, missing hatches, and a hull turned into a giant stone-filled sinker.

3. The Self-Unloading Gantry – EMBA’s Star Attraction

The real star of the model is the self-unloading gantry. Unlike much of the deck gear, the gantry structure is still standing and remarkably intact. (3DShipwrecks.org)

As you orbit around it, watch for:

  • The tall gantry frame rising above the deck line.
  • Winch machinery tucked under and around the structure—cables, drums, and supports that hint at how the unloading system worked.
  • The ladder still leading up the gantry, frozen in place.
  • A spoked wheel mounted near the base, a nice little detail that really pops in 3D. (3DShipwrecks.org)

For educators, this is gold: you can walk students virtually through an early Great Lakes self-unloader and literally show how the structure sat on the hull.

4. Aft End, Steering Gear, and Auger

Swing aft and you’ll see that EMBA’s wheel and aft cabins are gone, but the rudder and steering gear are still in place, so you get a clear view of how the barge was steered while under tow. (3DShipwrecks.org)

Look closer and you’ll also find:

  • A section of the unloading auger lying beneath the remaining deck near the stern.
  • A full set of bitts along the rail—except for one starboard aft bitt, which has snapped off and now lies near the larger starboard towing bitt on the stern. (3DShipwrecks.org)

These little details are the sort of thing you might only glimpse for seconds on a real dive. In the model, you can study them at your own pace.

Why EMBA Matters

EMBA isn’t just another wooden hull on the bottom. She represents a whole chapter in Great Lakes industrial history:

  • The transition from sail-assisted schooner-barges to mechanized self-unloading systems.
  • The role of coal barge traffic in keeping cities like Milwaukee powered.
  • The shift from river-based cargo operations (and endless bridge openings) to trucks and modern logistics, which ultimately sent EMBA to the bottom instead of the scrapyard. (Shotline Diving)

For divers, she’s also a high-quality deep training site: upright, relatively intact, full of recognizable machinery, and close to other notable wrecks in the Milwaukee area.

For Divers: From Virtual Tour to Real-World Plan

If you’re planning to dive EMBA:

  • Use the model to pre-plan your route—bow to gantry to stern, or focus on a specific feature.
  • Practice navigation landmarks: collapsed forecastle, gantry base, steering gear, etc.
  • Pair the model with our full Shotline Wreck Profile for history, depth in metric and imperial, and links to primary references and archives. (Shotline Diving)

Being able to run the dive virtually first is a huge safety and educational advantage, especially at 170 ft where every minute counts.

How to Explore the EMBA Model

On the 3DShipwrecks page:

  1. Click inside the model window.
  2. Left-click and drag to rotate.
  3. Right-click and drag to pan.
  4. Use the scroll wheel to zoom in on details like the windlass, gantry ladder, auger section, or rudder. (3DShipwrecks.org)

Try dimming the room lights, going full-screen, and taking your time. You’ll keep noticing new details on each pass.

Credits & Links

This EMBA model is part of an ongoing collaboration to document Great Lakes wrecks in high-resolution 3D:

  • Photographer: Andrew Goodman (3DShipwrecks.org)
  • Modeler: Ken Merryman / 3DShipwrecks.org (3DShipwrecks.org)
  • Wreck History & Profile: Shotline Diving – E.M.B.A. (A.C. Tuxbury) US 106706
  • Model & Technical Data: 3DShipwrecks.org – Shipwreck EMBA

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