Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: FERN
- Type: Steam screw tug
- Year Built: 1882
- Builder: Algonac, Michigan
- Dimensions: Approx. 65 ft (19.8 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 48 tons (gross); 35 tons (net)
- Depth at Wreck Site: 10.7 m / 35 ft
- Location: Eagle River Reef, Lake Superior
- Coordinates: Not specifically recorded
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The FERN was a small yet powerful steam screw tug—built in Algonac, Michigan, in 1882—designed for towing and salvage operations on the Great Lakes. At 48 gross and 35 net tons, she typified late-19th century utility tugs: sturdy, compact, and built for work rather than comfort.
Description
The FERN was a small yet powerful steam screw tug—built in Algonac, Michigan, in 1882—designed for towing and salvage operations on the Great Lakes. At 48 gross and 35 net tons, she typified late-19th century utility tugs: sturdy, compact, and built for work rather than comfort.
History
On June 29, 1901, while engaged in salvage operations at Eagle River Reef, FERN tragically foundered. She sank during efforts to assist other wrecks in an area notoriously treacherous for navigation.
Significant Incidents
- On June 29, 1901, the FERN sank while salvaging wreck material amid hazardous reef conditions.
- All five crew members, including Captain Hemenger of Algonac, were lost in the incident.
Final Disposition
Cause of Loss: Foundered and sank while salvaging wreck material amid hazardous reef and possible poor conditions.
Wreck Condition: Remains have not been positively identified; thought to lie near remnants of the Colorado wreck, in a scattered and degraded state.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The FERN is documented in historical shipping records and shipwreck listings. No exact modern discovery date or survey exists; divers report potential visual proximity to the Colorado wreck, yet no confirmed identification has been made.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”fern-1882″ title=”References & Links”]
No specific navigational markers are recorded. Eagle River Reef remains a known hazard, historically responsible for multiple losses, including FERN and earlier vessels such as the Colorado.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Type: Steam screw tug
Gross Tonnage: 48 tons
Net Tonnage: 35 tons
Year Built: 1882
Builder: Algonac, Michigan
Home Port: Port Huron, Michigan
Date of Incident: June 29, 1901
Location of Loss: Eagle River Reef, Lake Superior
Coordinates: Not specifically recorded
Depth: Approximately 35 ft (10.7 m)
Visible Remains: Scattered; remains unconfirmed by divers, likely near Colorado wreckage field
Description
The FERN was a small yet powerful steam screw tug—built in Algonac, Michigan, in 1882—designed for towing and salvage operations on the Great Lakes. At 48 gross and 35 net tons, she typified late‑19th century utility tugs: sturdy, compact, and built for work rather than comfort.
History
On June 29, 1901, while engaged in salvage operations at Eagle River Reef, FERN tragically foundered. She sank during efforts to assist other wrecks in an area notoriously treacherous for navigation.
Final Dispositions
Cause of Loss: Foundered and sank while salvaging wreck material amid hazardous reef and possible poor conditions.
Wreck Condition: Remains have not been positively identified; thought to lie near remnants of the Colorado wreck, in a scattered and degraded state.
Located By & Date Found
The FERN is documented in historical shipping records and shipwreck listings. No exact modern discovery date or survey exists; divers report potential visual proximity to the Colorado wreck, yet no confirmed identification has been made.
Notmars & Advisories
No specific navigational markers are recorded. Eagle River Reef remains a known hazard, historically responsible for multiple losses, including FERN and earlier vessels such as the Colorado.
Dive Information
Access Type: Boat
Entry Point: Near Eagle River, Keweenaw Peninsula
Conditions: Low visibility possible; debris from multiple wrecks may obscure features
Depth Range: Approx. 35 ft (10.7 m)
Emergency Contacts: U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Sainte Marie; local dive operators in Eagle Harbor
Permits & Rules: Site is within Keweenaw Underwater Preserve—disturbance prohibited
Local Dive Support: Keweenaw Underwater Preserve and Eagle Harbor operators
Crew & Casualty Memorials
The FERN sank with the loss of all five crew members, including Captain Hemenger of Algonac. No survivor names or memorial records are currently documented or located.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The wrecking steamer sank while salvaging iron from wrecks on Eagle River Reef in Lake Superior. Lost with all five crew.” — Shipwrecks listing for June 1901
“Divers occasionally claim to have seen the remains of the 65 ft tug Fern which sank with five crew while salvaging…the remains have not been identified by any divers…” — Baillod.com
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
No official commercial numbers or registry records have been located in consulted sources. Further research into Port Huron or Algonac registry archives may yield additional enrollment data.
Site Documentation & Imaging
No modern surveys, NOAA VR, or 3D imaging have been documented. Available information stems from historical listings and diver reports.
Image Gallery
No identifiable imagery exists for the FERN wreck.
Resources & Links
- Wikipedia list of shipwrecks (June 1901)—FERN
- OurMidland.com Michigan Shipwrecks Guide—FERN
- Baillod.com Keweenaw wreck database—FERN overview
References
- “Fern—wrecking steamer sank while salvaging… Lost with all five crew” (June 1901 list)
- OurMidland.com entry for FERN—wrecking tug foundered near Sawtooth Reef
- Baillod.com—notes on divers seldom seeing remains, proximity to Colorado site
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Wreck Name: FERN
Other Names: None
Coordinates: Not precisely recorded
Depth: ~35 ft (10.7 m)
Location Description: Foundered off Eagle River Reef during salvage operations
Vessel Type: Steam screw tug
Material: Wood
Dimensions: Not fully documented (approx. 65 ft length mentioned by divers)
Condition: Unconfirmed wreckage, likely scattered near Colorado wreck
Cause of Loss: Sinking during salvage amid hazardous reef
Discovery Date: Not recorded
Discovered By: Historical records and diving reports
Method: Archival documentation; no confirmed survey
Legal Notes: Site within Keweenaw Underwater Preserve
Hazards: Reef, mixed wreckage field, currents, visibility
Permits Required: Subject to preserve regulations—no removal or disturbance