Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: John Plankinton
- Type: Wooden propeller-driven bulk freighter
- Year Built: 1889
- Builder: F. Wheeler, West Bay City, Michigan
- Dimensions: 267 ft × 41 ft × 21 ft; 1,822 GRT / 1,461 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 1,822 GRT / 1,461 NRT
- Depth at Wreck Site: 12.19 m / 40 ft
- Location: Detroit River, off 5th Street, Detroit
- Official Number: 76798
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The John Plankinton was a wooden propeller-driven bulk freighter, primarily used for transporting coal.
Description
Built in 1889, the John Plankinton measured 267 feet in length, 41 feet in beam, and had a depth of 21 feet. It had a registered tonnage of 1,822 gross tons and 1,461 net tons.
History
The John Plankinton was involved in routine transit when it collided with the Grand Trunk Railway river car ferry Detroit on May 9, 1917. The collision occurred amidships, leading to a rapid sinking in approximately 40 feet of water.
Significant Incidents
- Date & Location: May 9, 1917 — collided with the Grand Trunk Railway river car ferry Detroit in the Detroit River, off 5th Street, Detroit.
- Circumstances: The collision occurred amidst routine transit; John Plankinton was struck amidships by the ferry Detroit. Sank rapidly in approximately 40 feet of water.
- Casualties: No crew fatalities; one crew member was unaccounted for and later presumed drowned.
- Crew Rescue: 19 crew members were rescued by the U.S. mail boat C. F. Bielman, Jr. and other nearby vessels.
Final Disposition
After the collision, salvaged machinery was removed from the wreck. The hull was demolished and leveled to eliminate navigation hazards. The vessel was subsequently withdrawn from service and officially struck from registries.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the John Plankinton is no longer intact, as the hull was demolished to prevent navigation hazards. The site may still be of interest for historical and archaeological research.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”john-plankinton-us-76798″ title=”References & Links”]
Further research into maritime casualty files, Coast Guard logs, salvage documentation, and liability filings would provide a fuller account of the John Plankinton‘s final hours and their aftermath.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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