Fitz Simons & Connell Dredge No. 6 (dredge No. 6, “906 – Lake Michigan Barge Shipwreck (1956)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Fitz Simons & Connell Dredge No. 6 (commonly called Dredge No. 6, sometimes misread as “906”
• Type: Crane dredge barge; non-self-propelled
• Year Built: 1912 (or possibly 1913)
• Builder: Herman A. Greling (Manitowoc Marine Group)
• Dimensions: 110 ft length × 39.6 ft beam × 11.4 ft depth; gross tonnage ~686 tons
• Registered Tonnage: ~686 tons
• Depth at Wreck Site: 22.86 m / 75 ft
• Location: Lake Michigan, about 6–6.5 miles southeast of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Coordinates: N 42° 58.106', W 087° 47.209'
• Original Owners: Fitz Simons & Connell Dredge & Dock Co.

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Fitz Simons & Connell Dredge No. 6 is classified as a crane dredge barge, specifically designed for use in sheltered waters and not intended for open-lake towing operations.

Description

This vessel was constructed in 1912 (or possibly 1913) in the Green Bay/Manitowoc area by Herman A. Greling of the Manitowoc Marine Group. It features a steel hull with a wooden superstructure and measures 110 feet in length, 39.6 feet in beam, and 11.4 feet in depth.

History

Owned by Fitz Simons & Connell Dredge & Dock Co., based in New York, the dredge was utilized primarily as a floating crane to maintain harbors and power plant intake channels. It was equipped with a Bucyrus dipper-crane boom, which was suitable for its intended operations.

Significant Incidents

• Date: May 23, 1956
• Commanding Officer: Captain Martin Walsh
• While being towed by the tug E. James Fucik from Oak Creek toward Milwaukee Harbor, the dredge encountered 55 mph winds.
• The vessel began taking on water and listing; a guy wire supporting the dipper boom parted, leading to capsizing and sinking.
• Of the 19 crew members aboard, nine died, many by drowning; the tug crew rescued 13 survivors, three of whom later succumbed.
• A U.S. Coast Guard investigation found Captain Walsh at fault for not transferring crew ashore earlier and for towing the dredge in unsafe weather conditions.

Final Disposition

The Dredge No. 6 now lies upside-down at approximately 75 feet deep, with the hull at around 35 feet. The wreck is marked by a Wisconsin Historical Society shipwreck mooring buoy and is commonly accessed as a mid-depth dive site for advanced recreational divers.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is in an upside-down position, with massive crane, boiler, and dredging machinery visible. The site offers underwater penetration opportunities under the overturned structure, but overhead hazards necessitate advanced training for divers.

Resources & Links

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The Fitz Simons & Connell Dredge No. 6 serves as a significant maritime hazard, highlighting the dangers of towing non-seaworthy vessels in severe weather. It holds historical and archaeological value, providing insight into early 20th-century dredging technology and remains a popular dive site among recreational divers.