Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Donna Marie
- Type: Fishing tug
- Year Built: 1938
- Builder: Bodin & Mulke, Houghton Point, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: Approx. 38 ft (11.6 m); 13 tons
- Registered Tonnage: 13 tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 61 m / 200 ft
- Location: Approximately 15 miles off Duluth, MN
- Official Number: 237994
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A compact wooden fishing tug, designed for herring operations, equipped for setting and retrieving nets on Lake Superior. Powered by a gasoline engine.
Description
Small and sturdy, the Donna Marie was outfitted with deck gear for net hauling. Exact structural details are sparse, but as a purpose-built fishing craft, she featured a simple yet effective layout for lake operations.
History
Commissioned in 1938, she entered service under the command of Capt. A. Bodin. On her final voyage, the crew was actively pulling nets when another fish tug, the Sea Bird, approached—likely on a routine companion visit to “compare catches,” a common practice. Unfortunately, glare of ice-coated windows on Sea Bird obscured the Donna Marie. Her crew quickly realized the hazard, sounded the whistle, but the warning went unheard over engine noise. Sea Bird struck the Donna Marie broadside at about 6 knots, nearly bisecting her.
Significant Incidents
- The Sea Bird crew rescued the Donna Marie crew immediately after the collision; Capt. Bodin sustained cuts and bruises from shattered windows.
- They attempted to tow the damaged vessel, but her condition rapidly worsened, and she sank within twenty minutes in roughly 200 ft (61 m) of water.
Final Disposition
The wreck remains unpublished. With her depth and steel hull damage, she may still rest at the impact site, approximately 15 miles off Duluth, awaiting discovery.
Current Condition & Accessibility
None noted. The Donna Marie sank quickly and no floating debris or hazard marking was reported.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”donna-marie-us-237994″ title=”References & Links”]
The Donna Marie was a newly built wooden fishing tug that met a tragic fate within months of her launch—colliding fatally with the Sea Bird during a fogged, north-shore November operation on Lake Superior. Though no one was lost, the vessel sank swiftly after the impact. She remains undocumented on the lake bed, a stark reminder of the ever-present danger of poor visibility and proximity operations amid colder seasons.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
Join Shotline to read more →