Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Nahant
- Type: Wooden propeller-driven freighter
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: F. Jones, Detroit, Michigan
- Dimensions: 213 ft × 35 ft × 16 ft (65 m × 11 m × 4.9 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 1,204 gross tons, 1,038 net tons
- Location: Loading at Chicago & North Western Ore Dock No. 4, Escanaba, Michigan—Little Bay de Noc
- Official Number: 18766
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A mid-1870s wooden propeller freighter designed for short-haul heavy bulk freight—particularly iron ore—on the Great Lakes, equipped for cargo efficiency at regional ore docks.
Description
The Nahant was 213 ft long with a beam of 35 ft and a depth of 16 ft, displacing just over 1,200 gross tons. As a wooden screw steamer built in Detroit in 1873, she exemplified a transitional freighter type—large enough for ore yet compact compared to later steel freighters.
History
Built specifically to serve Upper Peninsula iron ore docks, Nahant carried ore shipments across Lake Michigan from Escanaba and Marquette to steel-making ports. On 29 November 1897, while loading iron ore at Escanaba’s Ore Dock No. 4 on Little Bay de Noc, the vessel caught fire. Despite extreme cold and a concurrent dock fire, firefighting attempts proved futile. The ship burned to the waterline, sank with her stern at the dock’s edge, and took approximately two crew members with her.
Significant Incidents
- 29 November 1897: Caught fire while loading iron ore at Escanaba’s Ore Dock No. 4, resulting in the loss of the vessel and approximately two crew members.
Final Disposition
The Nahant was destroyed by fire and sank at the loading dock. Her stern remains reportedly visible near a shoreline drop-off. The dock itself was also completely destroyed, and operations ceased at that berth.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck has not been formally surveyed, but local reports and dive information indicate remains lie at the foot of the former ore dock—potential remnants visible in shallow water near the shoreline.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”nahant-us-18766″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Nahant was a substantial wooden freighter lost dramatically during loading operations when fire swept through the vessel and ore dock. The tragedy highlighted fire risks at ore-handling sites and added urgency to dock safety protocols. Though over a century old, her remains—visible to local divers—offer a poignant reminder of industrial-era hazards and the vulnerability of wooden steam vessels.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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