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.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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