Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record

This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.

(fish tug, built 1937 – lost December 11, 1998; Lake Michigan, off Port Washington, WI)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Linda E (Official No. 236906)
• Build: 1937, constructed by Burger Boat Company, Manitowoc, WI
• Type: Steel-hulled commercial fish tug, powered by 150 hp diesel engine, ~42 ft long, ~29 gross tons (United States Coast Guard)
• Home Port: Port Washington, Wisconsin
• Loss Date: December 11, 1998
• Loss Location: Approximately 9 miles southeast of Port Washington, WI (~260 ft deep) (United States Coast Guard, Wisconsin Shipwrecks)

Vessel Role and Description

A winter-season gill-net fishing towboat employed in chub fishing. Able to sell up to ~1,000 lbs of chubs daily, operating from mid-November through early spring—typically under calm but cold Lake Michigan conditions (Milwaukee Magazine). The hull contained no watertight subdivision, and standard practices included cleaning fish and net work in a lightly enclosed superstructure with limited visibility (United States Coast Guard).

Final Voyage & Incident Summary

Departed Port Washington at ~05:15 AM on December 11, 1998, en route to nets ~9 miles offshore. Last known contact was a call at ~09:46 AM reporting nets were hauled and approximately 1,000 lbs of catch onboard; vessel expected back by afternoon. No distress signals or further contact occurred; crew never surfaced (United States Coast Guard).

Weather conditions were benign: calm seas, good visibility (roughly seven miles), slight southwest breeze, water temp around 47 °F. These conditions make sudden weather-related sinking unlikely (United States Coast Guard).

Coast Guard records identify an Integrated Tug and Barge (M/V Michigan and Barge Great Lakes) traversing the area between ~11:30–12:05. Paint smudges (white) were found on the barge’s starboard bow above waterline—consistent in position, but chemical analysis failed to confirm material match to Linda E. Investigators concluded a collision was plausible but not proven conclusively (United States Coast Guard).

The Coast Guard conducted an expansive 3,000 mi² search which was suspended on December 13; no debris, pollution, or survivors were found (United States Coast Guard).

Discovery of the Wreck

On June 18, 2000, USS Defender (U.S. Navy minesweeper) located the Linda E lying on the lake bottom, approximately 260 ft deep and about 7 miles offshore from Port Washington. The vessel rested upright and appeared embedded in sediment. Notable damage was observed along her starboard quarter: a wedge-shaped deformation, crushed upper-deck inset, and torn deck aft, consistent with a side impact that may have occurred during loss (Wisconsin Shipwrecks).

Crew & Casualties

• Crew Members Lost:
  • Leif E. Weborg (owner/captain, age 61)
  • Warren G. Olson Jr. (crew, age 44)
  • Scott T. Matta (crew, age 33)
• Outcome: All three are presumed dead; no survivors or remains were recovered (United States Coast Guard).

Probable Cause & Investigation

The Coast Guard’s investigation considered vessel stability issues, hull-failure scenarios, and possibility of collision. Given calm seas, excellent visibility, and stable vessel alerts, neither weather nor overloading appeared causal. The likely—but unproven—cause is collision with the Michigan/Great Lakes integrated tug-barge, which passed through the same area at a time consistent with the sinking, carrying marks on its hull matching the Linda E‘s superstructure profile. However, paint sample analysis failed to confirm a physical match, leaving the conclusion inconclusive (United States Coast Guard).

Without any distress call and findings that even minor hull flooding could lead to loss within seconds given the vessel design, investigators concluded rapid sinking likely occurred before crew could respond (United States Coast Guard).

Wreck Site Condition

• Location: ~260 ft below surface, ~7 miles offshore from Port Washington, WI
• Condition: Upright, embedded; starboard side structural damage visible; otherwise largely intact (United States Coast Guard)

Notices to Mariners & Official Findings

No Notices to Mariners were issued post-loss. The Coast Guard’s final Marine Safety Office report (Nov 1999) concluded cause could not be definitively determined, recommended review of exemption policies (e.g. absence of EPIRB), and noted the lack of distress calls indicated fast sinking. The U.S. NTSB did not investigate due to vessel size and death toll thresholds (United States Coast Guard).

Resources & Links

• Wisconsin Shipwrecks / Vessel Details: comprehensive profile including discovery details and damage summary (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
• Milwaukee Magazine feature: narrative account with crew histories and search timeline (Milwaukee Magazine)
• Coast Guard Investigation Report (Marine Safety Office, Milwaukee, Nov 22 1999): authoritative source for technical and investigative findings (United States Coast Guard)

Summary

Linda E, a 1937-built steel fish tug, vanished without trace on December 11, 1998, approximately 9 miles offshore of Port Washington, Wisconsin, during calm weather and light seas. All three crew members were lost. The only plausible explanation, supported by structural damage and paint residue, is a collision with a passing tug-barge, though evidence remains circumstantial. Discovered in June 2000, the wreck lies intact at ~260 ft depth. The Coast Guard ultimately ruled the cause indeterminate and stopped active search.

linda-e-us-236906 1998-12-11 18:06:00