Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Novadoc

Explore the wreck of the SS Novadoc, a steel-hulled freighter lost during the Armistice Day Storm of 1940, with most of her crew rescued by local fishermen.

GPS: 43.699972, -86.518889

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: SS Novadoc
  • Type: Freighter
  • Year Built: 1928
  • Builder: Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Ltd.
  • Dimensions: Length 253 ft (77.1 m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage:
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 4.6 m / 15 ft
  • Location: Off Juniper Beach near Pentwater, Michigan
  • Coordinates: N 43° 41.801′, W 086° 30.954′
  • Original Owners: Paterson Steamships, Ltd.

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

SS Novadoc was a steel-hulled Great Lakes freighter.

Description

Built in 1928 at Wallsend-on-Tyne, Great Britain, by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Ltd., the SS Novadoc was a 253-foot (77.1-meter) steel freighter designed for navigation through the canals and locks of the lower Great Lakes. At the time of her loss, she was owned by Paterson Steamships, Ltd. of Fort William, Ontario, Canada.

History

On November 11, 1940, during the infamous Armistice Day Storm, the SS Novadoc was en route from Chicago when she encountered severe weather conditions on Lake Michigan. Initially, high winds from the southeast prompted the captain to navigate close to the lake’s eastern shore for protection. However, as the winds shifted to the southwest, the vessel became fully exposed to the storm’s fury, with winds reaching 75 mph (120.7 km/h) and waves towering at 20 feet (6.1 meters). The Novadoc was driven onto sandbars approximately two miles (3.2 kilometers) north of Little Sable Point and five miles (8 kilometers) south of Pentwater, Michigan. The relentless waves caused the ship to break in two and lose electrical power, leaving the crew stranded amid the tempest.

Significant Incidents

  • On November 11, 1940, the SS Novadoc sank during the Armistice Day Storm.
  • Most of the 19 crew members survived, rescued by local fishermen after 36 hours.
  • The fish tug Three Brothers II established a breeches buoy to rescue the crew near Silver Lake sand dunes.

Final Disposition

Unlike the crews of the William B. Davock and Anna C. Minch, which also sank during the storm with complete loss of life, most of the Novadoc’s 19 crew members survived, thanks to the bravery of local fishermen. After 36 hours, the fish tug Three Brothers II managed to reach the stranded vessel and establish a breeches buoy to the shore near the Silver Lake sand dunes, successfully rescuing all but two crew members who had been washed overboard earlier in the storm.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the SS Novadoc lies off Juniper Beach near Pentwater, Michigan, in 12 to 15 feet (3.7 to 4.6 meters) of water at coordinates N 43° 41.801′, W 086° 30.954′. No specific obstructions or advisories are noted for the site.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”novadoc” title=”References & Links”]

The SS Novadoc serves as a poignant reminder of the perils faced by Great Lakes mariners, particularly during the devastating Armistice Day Storm of 1940. Today, the wreck site near Juniper Beach offers both historical insight and a tangible connection to the region’s maritime heritage.

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.

Identification & Site Information:

  • Name: SS Novadoc
  • Former Names: None
  • Registration Number(s): Not specified
  • Date Built and Launched: 1928
  • Measurements: Length 253 feet (77.1 meters)
  • Date Lost: November 11, 1940

Vessel Type

SS Novadoc was a steel-hulled Great Lakes freighter.

Description

Built in 1928 at Wallsend-on-Tyne, Great Britain, by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Ltd., the SS Novadoc was a 253-foot (77.1-meter) steel freighter designed for navigation through the canals and locks of the lower Great Lakes. At the time of her loss, she was owned by Paterson Steamships, Ltd. of Fort William, Ontario, Canada.

History

On November 11, 1940, during the infamous Armistice Day Storm, the SS Novadoc was en route from Chicago when she encountered severe weather conditions on Lake Michigan. Initially, high winds from the southeast prompted the captain to navigate close to the lake’s eastern shore for protection. However, as the winds shifted to the southwest, the vessel became fully exposed to the storm’s fury, with winds reaching 75 mph (120.7 km/h) and waves towering at 20 feet (6.1 meters). The Novadoc was driven onto sandbars approximately two miles (3.2 kilometers) north of Little Sable Point and five miles (8 kilometers) south of Pentwater, Michigan. The relentless waves caused the ship to break in two and lose electrical power, leaving the crew stranded amid the tempest.

Final Disposition

Unlike the crews of the William B. Davock and Anna C. Minch, which also sank during the storm with complete loss of life, most of the Novadoc’s 19 crew members survived, thanks to the bravery of local fishermen. After 36 hours, the fish tug Three Brothers II managed to reach the stranded vessel and establish a breeches buoy to the shore near the Silver Lake sand dunes, successfully rescuing all but two crew members who had been washed overboard earlier in the storm.

Located By & Date Found

The wreck of the SS Novadoc lies off Juniper Beach near Pentwater, Michigan, in 12 to 15 feet (3.7 to 4.6 meters) of water at coordinates N 43° 41.801′, W 086° 30.954′.

Notmars & Advisories

No specific obstructions or advisories are noted for the site.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The SS Novadoc serves as a poignant reminder of the perils faced by Great Lakes mariners, particularly during the devastating Armistice Day Storm of 1940. Today, the wreck site near Juniper Beach offers both historical insight and a tangible connection to the region’s maritime heritage.

Suggested Keywords and Categories

  • Great Lakes Shipwrecks
  • SS Novadoc
  • Armistice Day Storm 1940
  • Lake Michigan Maritime History
  • Little Sable Point
  • Pentwater, Michigan Shipwrecks
  • Great Lakes Freighters
  • Maritime Disasters
  • Shipwreck Diving Sites

Glossary Terms

  • Breeches Buoy: A rescue device consisting of a canvas seat suspended from a pulley that is used to transfer people from a ship to shore or another vessel.
  • Armistice Day Storm: A severe storm that occurred on November 11, 1940, on the Great Lakes, resulting in significant loss of life and vessels.
  • Freighter: A large vessel designed to transport bulk cargo.
novadoc 1940-11-11 21:38:00