Gotham – Lake Michigan Tug Shipwreck (1943)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Gotham
• Type: Steel-hulled propeller fish tug
• Year Built: 1940
• Builder:
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage:
• Location: Approximately north of Saugatuck, Michigan, in Lake Michigan

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

A modern, steel-constructed fish tug—likely outfitted with trawl or gill net gear—powered by a single screw. Considered “unsinkable” by her operators due to steel construction, she nonetheless succumbed to extreme weather conditions.

Description

The Gotham was utilized for commercial fishing on Lake Michigan. On 11 December 1943, while returning to port amid a severe gale, the vessel lost stability and sank, resulting in the loss of all five crew members on board.

History

• Purpose: Used for commercial fishing on Lake Michigan
• 11 December 1943: While returning to port amid a severe gale, Gotham lost stability and sank. All five crew on board perished.

Significant Incidents

• All five crew members lost during the sinking.

Final Disposition

The vessel foundered and sank to the lakebed. There is no record of bodies or remains being recovered. The wreckage, if intact, lies in deep water off the Saugatuck coast.

Current Condition & Accessibility

• Neither location nor wreckage has been documented by diver logs or archaeological surveys.
• Depth and wartime conditions make exploration unlikely. No members of the public or research teams have reported discovery.

Resources & Links

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The Gotham’s loss in December 1943 underscores the vulnerability of even modern, steel-hulled fishing vessels to the ferocity of Lake Michigan winter storms. Despite her “unsinkable” build, she foundered swiftly under gale conditions, claiming the lives of her entire crew. Her final resting place remains undocumented, a somber reminder of the lake’s enduring hazards.