Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Arctic
- Type: Tug, Icebreaker, Steam Screw
- Year Built: 1881
- Builder: Rand & Burger Shipyard
- Dimensions: Length: 76.50 ft (23.32 m); Beam: 18.10 ft (5.52 m); Depth of hold: 9.10 ft (2.77 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 71 tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 4.5 m / 15 ft
- Location: Lake Michigan, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
- Coordinates: 44° 06.843' N, 87° 37.869' W
- Official Number: 106040
- Original Owners: Goodrich Transit Company
- Number of Masts: None
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Arctic was a robust, wooden-hulled icebreaking tug built for Goodrich Transit Company to keep Lake Michigan routes open in winter. Its hull was reinforced with iron sheathing and heavy frames to resist ice damage. Designed to assist stranded or grounded steamers and clear ice-bound harbors, the Arctic earned a reputation for power and reliability across nearly five decades of service.
Description
The Arctic was a robust, wooden-hulled icebreaking tug built for Goodrich Transit Company to keep Lake Michigan routes open in winter. Its hull was reinforced with iron sheathing and heavy frames to resist ice damage. Designed to assist stranded or grounded steamers and clear ice-bound harbors, the Arctic earned a reputation for power and reliability across nearly five decades of service.
History
- 1882: Entered service under Captain Perry H. Edwards, stationed at Manitowoc; immediately assisted multiple distressed vessels.
- 1895–1897: Active under Captains Munger, Louis Sinclair, and Chauncey R. Thayer. Assisted five schooners, five steamers, and a dredge in ice conditions.
- 1898–1899: Hull extended and overhauled at Burger & Burger Shipyard; gross tonnage increased to 71. Successfully freed the stranded steamer Rand in December 1899.
- 1914: Major drydock overhaul; Captain Edward Stoke assumed command.
- 1917: Capt. Stoke died; Captain William Clark became the final commanding officer.
- 1920: Participated in Lake Michigan-wide search for a missing Great Lakes Naval Station seaplane.
- 1923–1926: Served primarily as a railroad car ferry keeper.
Significant Incidents
- 1930: Determined to be beyond economical repair. Dismantled and beached north of Manitowoc harbor.
- January 17, 1930: Enrollment documents surrendered, officially abandoned.
- Legacy: Local newspapers hailed the Arctic for decades of lifesaving and icebreaking service, stating that “no man can recount them all.”
Final Disposition
The Arctic was determined to be beyond economical repair in 1930, leading to its dismantling and subsequent abandonment. Its legacy remains significant in local maritime history.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck lies in two major sections, partially buried in sand, approximately 1.5 miles NE of Manitowoc Breakwater Light in shallow water. The bow section has the stempost protruding 7 ft from the sand, while the stern/bilge section contains the rudder and boiler.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”artic-us-106040″ title=”References & Links”]
The Arctic is a rare example of a purpose-built Great Lakes icebreaking tug. Its service illustrates the seasonal challenges of winter navigation, including harbor rescue, ice management, and emergency response. As a shallow-water, partially intact wreck, it offers exceptional archaeological value for studying wooden icebreaker construction and operational wear.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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