Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Cormorant
- Type: Wooden screw-propelled bulk freighter
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: Ira LaFrinier & Co.
- Dimensions: 218.4 ft (66.6 m); Beam 34.6 ft; Depth of hold 14.1 ft
- Registered Tonnage: ~872 GRT, capacity ~1,300 tons or 45,000 bushels
- Location: Red Cliff Bay, Bayfield County, WI or near Duluth, MN
- Official Number: US 125334
- Number of Masts: Three masts
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type
Wooden screw-propelled bulk freighter equipped with three masts.
Description
Description
The Cormorant was a wooden bulk freighter built in 1873, primarily designed for transporting grain and iron ore. It featured a single 30″ × 30″ steeple compound steam engine and two tubular boilers.
History
History
Launched in August 1873, the Cormorant was primarily used for grain and iron ore transport. Throughout her career, she faced multiple incidents, including grounding and machinery failures. She underwent several rebuilds, including a significant conversion to a lumber carrier in 1897.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- Grounded at Neebish Rapids (1874)
- Rebuilt/redecked in 1878, increasing tonnage to ~1,200 GRT
- Lost mast (1883), disabled machinery (1884), grounded in fog (1886), and other incidents
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
On October 30, 1907, the Cormorant caught fire off Basswood Island while loading logs. The captain beached her to save the crew, but the blaze consumed her to the waterline. She was towed into Bayfield on November 17, 1907, and her machinery was salvaged. The hull’s fate remains uncertain, with rumors suggesting it may lie near Duluth or Red Cliff Bay.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility
The probable wreck site lies in Red Cliff Bay or near Duluth, but no documented dive or sonar surveys have confirmed her exact position. The engine and boilers have been removed, and the current condition of the hull is unknown.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”cormorant-us-125334″ title=”References & Links”]
Summary
The Cormorant, once a robust grain and lumber carrier, succumbed to fire in Lake Superior on October 30, 1907. Her machinery was salvaged in Bayfield, and her hull was likely scuttled or abandoned near Duluth or Red Cliff Bay. Today, her remains await rediscovery, offering both historical and archaeological promise as a vestige of late-era wooden bulk freighters on the Great Lakes.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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