Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Rhine
- Type: Small wooden motorized gas-screw tug
- Year Built: 1904
- Builder: Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: 37 × 10 × 5 ft
- Registered Tonnage: ~12 gross tons
- Location: Off the pier at Frankfort, Michigan
- Official Number: 203483
- Original Owners: Capt. H. F. Hanrath, Frankfort, MI
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Rhine was a small wooden motorized gas-screw tug, sometimes referred to as a packet or ‘fruit boat’, operating out of Frankfort, Michigan.
Description
Built in 1904, the Rhine measured approximately 37 feet in length, 10 feet in beam, and 5 feet in depth. It had a registered tonnage of around 12 gross tons.
History
The Rhine was likely employed as a small motorized packet or auxiliary tug. Seasonal storms on Lake Michigan could produce treacherously steep waves and cold conditions, which likely overwhelmed her small hull.
Significant Incidents
- Date of Loss: 26 December 1908
- Location: Off the pier at Frankfort, Michigan (Lake Michigan), during a violent seasonal gale.
- Cause of Loss: Foundered in a storm, capsized or overwhelmed by waves near the pier.
- Casualties: All four crew members perished, with no survivors reported.
- Post-incident Notes: Some sources suggest the Rhine may have been recovered later, though no firm confirmation or record of salvage operations appears in secondary sources.
Final Disposition
The total loss of life (4 crew members) and reference to a possible recovery indicate that the storm impact destroyed most of the vessel, though salvage efforts may have taken place later.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No archaeological rediscovery or dive survey has been documented for the Rhine.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”rhine-us-203483″ title=”References & Links”]
The Rhine was a small gasoline-powered motor vessel that foundered in a severe gale on 26 December 1908, with all four crew lost. Some sources hint at possible recovery later, though no firm salvage record exists.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
Join Shotline to read more →