Razal Brothers – Lake Michigan Tug Shipwreck (1986)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Razal Brothers (aka Razel Bros.)
• Type: Steel-hulled propeller tug
• Year Built: 1949
• Builder: Burger Boat Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
• Dimensions: 39 ft × 11 ft × 5 ft; tonnage 20 GRT / 17 NRT
• Registered Tonnage: 20 GRT / 17 NRT
• Location: Northern Lake Michigan, just west of Whiskey Island near Charlevoix, Michigan
• Official Number: 259751
• Original Owners: Ed Perkins and Russell King

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

A compact steel-hulled tug built for fisheries work—likely towing nets or tending fish gear—equipped with a small pilot house, powerful diesel engine, and robust construction typical of mid-20th-century workboats (20 GRT, 17 NRT).

Description

The Razal Brothers was designed for fishing and towing operations, featuring a sturdy steel hull and a small pilot house, making it suitable for the challenging conditions of Lake Michigan.

History

• 1949–1986: Served fishermen and small-boat operators on Lake Michigan, operating from Naubinway, Michigan, under owners Ed Perkins and Russell King.
• Maintained a consistent presence in northern Lake Michigan fisheries, performing towing and crew operations in organized or commercial capacities.

Significant Incidents

• 20 August 1986, ~11:21 EDT: In northern Lake Michigan, the Yugoslavian freighter Jablanica collided with or swamped the Razal Brothers. Investigations determined that the tug was overwhelmed by a large wave generated by the freighter’s wake, later run down and swamped. All three crew members aboard Razal Brothers—owner-operators—drowned.
• The Jablanica remained unaware of the impact until given notice; legal findings held both vessels partly at fault in the fatal accident.

Final Disposition

• The wreck remains near the site of the incident, just west of Whiskey Island.
• No formal salvage or dive surveys have been undertaken. Local sources suggest the vessel still rests where she sank, in relatively shallow water accessible to wreck divers.

Current Condition & Accessibility

• No Notices to Mariners specifically cite this wreck.
• The area near Whiskey Island, close to Charlevoix, remains heavily trafficked and occasionally fog-bound. Mariners should maintain vigilant watch practices, especially when navigating near small craft or fishing vessels.

Resources & Links

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The tragic loss of Razal Brothers is one of the few modern fatalities on the Great Lakes. Struck by the wake or directly by a large freighter in foggy conditions, her sinking highlights the persistent collision risks in waters shared by large freighters and small fishing vessels. No known remains have been recovered, yet her wreck lies as testament to the dangers on Lake Michigan even late in the 20th century.