John A. Styninger – Lake Huron Freighter Shipwreck (1915)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: John A. Styninger
• Type: Propeller-driven steel or iron freighter
• Year Built: 1913
• Builder: P. Trudo yard, Bay City, Michigan
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage:
• Location: Docked on Lake Huron (Huron region)
• Official Number: 211667
• Original Owners: Dell Madden of Harbor Beach, Michigan

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Type: Propeller-driven steel or iron freighter

Description

The John A. Styninger was a small steel freighter constructed in 1913 at the P. Trudo yard in Bay City, Michigan. Owned by Dell Madden, she primarily operated in the Lake Huron region.

History

During her service, the John A. Styninger was primarily engaged in freight transport within the Huron port region. Her operational history is marked by her sudden loss in 1915.

Significant Incidents

• On 12 November 1915, while moored at a dock on Lake Huron, the John A. Styninger was rammed by the brand-new passenger steamer City of Detroit III, resulting in catastrophic structural damage.
• The vessel sank rapidly alongside the dock and was declared a total loss.
• No loss of life was reported in the incident.
• The collision indicated possible navigational or clearance miscalculation.

Final Disposition

The John A. Styninger was declared a total loss after being rammed and sinking alongside the dock. There is no known modern rediscovery of the wreck.

Current Condition & Accessibility

As of now, the wreck of the John A. Styninger has not been rediscovered, and its current condition remains unknown.

Resources & Links

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The loss of the John A. Styninger serves as a reminder of the dangers of navigation on the Great Lakes. Despite her sinking, there were no casualties, and the vessel remains a part of maritime history.