Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Prins Willem V (1849) (The Willey)

Explore the wreck of the Prins Willem V, a Dutch cargo vessel that sank in Lake Michigan after a collision in 1954. A popular dive site with rich history.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Prins Willem V
  • Type: Steel motor cargo vessel
  • Year Built: 1949
  • Builder: N.V. Scheepswerf en Machinefabriek “De Merwede”, Hardinxveld, Netherlands
  • Dimensions: 258 ft × 42 ft; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: 1,567 GRT
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 24 m / 80 ft
  • Location: Approximately 1.7 mi east of Milwaukee breakwater
  • Coordinates: N 43°01.539′, W 87°48.528′
  • Official Number: Dutch registry
  • Original Owners: Oranje Line
  • Number of Masts: Not specified

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Steel motor cargo vessel, also referred to as a “package freighter”.

Description

The Prins Willem V was a Dutch-built cargo vessel that was originally laid down in 1940 but was scuttled during WWII. It was salvaged and completed in 1948-49. The vessel measured 258 feet in length and 42 feet in beam, with a registered tonnage of 1,567 gross tons.

History

The Prins Willem V had a brief service history before its loss. It was involved in a collision on October 14, 1954, while towing an oil barge. The vessel struck the tow line and subsequently collided with the barge, resulting in significant hull damage.

Significant Incidents

  • Collision Incident: On October 14, 1954, the Prins Willem V collided with a tow line and an oil barge, leading to a catastrophic breach in the hull.
  • Rescue: All 30 crew members were rescued safely by the USCG cutter Hollyhock, with no fatalities reported.

Final Disposition

The Prins Willem V was declared a total constructive loss after sinking in approximately 80 feet of water. It rests on its starboard side. Salvage attempts in 1958 and 1961 were unsuccessful, and the vessel was sold in 1965 but subsequently abandoned.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is located at a depth of about 80 feet (24 meters) and is a popular dive site. The deck lies approximately 60 feet deep and features an intact superstructure. The site contains various cargo remains, including televisions and machine tools. Divers should be cautious of entanglement and silt hazards.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”prins-willem-v-1849-the-willey” title=”References & Links”]

The Prins Willem V remains one of Lake Michigan’s most-visited dive sites, with a well-preserved wreck that attracts both recreational and technical divers. Despite numerous salvage attempts, the wreck is protected under the Abandoned Shipwreck Act.

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.

(steel motor cargo vessel, built 1949)

Identification & Vessel Details

  • Name: Prins Willem V (nicknamed “The Willey”)
  • Official Number: Dutch registry
  • Built: 1949 by N.V. Scheepswerf en Machinefabriek “De Merwede”, Hardinxveld, Netherlands; originally laid down in 1940, scuttled in WWII, salvaged and completed in 1948–49 (nmssanctuaries.blob.core.windows.net, home)
  • Type: Steel motor cargo vessel (“package freighter”), 258 ft × 42 ft, 1,567 GRT (Wikipedia)

Final Incident – October 14, 1954

  • Date & Location: October 14, 1954, approximately 1.7 mi east of Milwaukee breakwater in Lake Michigan (home)
  • Conditions: Overcast evening with moderate winds; SINCLAIR CHICAGO was towing SINCLAIR XII (oil barge) (nmssanctuaries.blob.core.windows.net)
  • Collision Details: Prins Willem V failed to recognize tow configuration due to lighting misplacement. At around 19:16, it accidentally struck the tow line and then collided with the barge, creating a 20×8 ft hole in the starboard midsection (nmssanctuaries.blob.core.windows.net)
  • Effect: The breach disabled communications and allowed uncontrolled flooding, resulting in sinking around 20:30 (Wikipedia)
  • Casualties: All 30 crew rescued safely by USCG cutter Hollyhock—no fatalities (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)

Disposition & Legal Aftermath

  • Declared: Total constructive loss; sank in ~80 ft of water, resting on starboard side
  • Salvage Attempts: Failed efforts in 1958 and 1961; sold in 1965 for potential salvage but abandoned (Library Asset Server, home)
  • Legal Action: Oranje Line sued Sinclair Refining for $2 million; U.S. Coast Guard inquiry found both vessel masters at fault (Wikipedia)

Wreck Condition & Dive Site

  • Current Site: Resting in ~80 ft (24 m) of water at N 43°01.539′, W 87°48.528′; deck lies ~60 ft deep with intact superstructure (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
  • Cargo Remains: Contains televisions, printing presses, tins, machine tools, etc. (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
  • Diver Access: Designated a premier dive site with mooring buoy; popular for recreational and technical diving, though risks exist from entanglement and silt hazards (diveaai.com)

Archival Documentation

Conclusion

On October 14, 1954, the Prins Willem V, a Dutch-built cargo vessel, collided with a tow cable and oil barge off Milwaukee under overcast skies. She sustained catastrophic hull damage, sank in ~80 ft of water, but all 30 aboard were rescued. The wreck has remained largely intact on its starboard side, becoming one of Lake Michigan’s most-visited dive sites. Both vessel masters were deemed at fault. Despite numerous salvage attempts, the ship remains protected under the Abandoned Shipwreck Act.

Would you like access to the full Coast Guard collision report, dive surveys, legal filings, or historical news articles on this wreck?