Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: SS Cyprus
- Type: Steel-hulled lake freighter
- Year Built: 1907
- Builder: American Ship Building Company, Lorain, Ohio
- Dimensions: Length 420 ft (128 m); Beam 52 ft; Depth of hold 28 ft
- Registered Tonnage: ~15,000 short tons (14,000 ft) displacement; gross tonnage ~7,418 tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 140 m / 460 ft
- Location: Approximately 8 mi north of Deer Park, Michigan
- Coordinates: ~46.79° N, -85.60° W
- Official Number: US Registry #204527
- Original Owners: Lackawanna Steamship Company (subsidiary of Pickands-Mather)
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The SS Cyprus was a steel-hulled lake freighter constructed for bulk iron-ore transport on the Great Lakes. Built at Lorain by American Ship Building Company, she measured 420 ft in length with a 52 ft beam and 28 ft depth of hold. Technologically modern for her time, she featured robust structural framing and likely utilized Mulholland sliding hatch covers designed for bulk freighters handling ore—optimized to protect cargo holds from sea ingress in rough conditions.
Description
The SS Cyprus was a steel-hulled lake freighter constructed for bulk iron-ore transport on the Great Lakes. Built at Lorain by American Ship Building Company, she measured 420 ft in length with a 52 ft beam and 28 ft depth of hold. Technologically modern for her time, she featured robust structural framing and likely utilized Mulholland sliding hatch covers designed for bulk freighters handling ore—optimized to protect cargo holds from sea ingress in rough conditions.
History
Operated by the Lackawanna Steamship Company under the Pickands-Mather umbrella, the Cyprus was launched in August 1907 and completed her maiden voyage shortly thereafter, carrying iron ore uneventfully.
On her second voyage, en route from Superior, Wisconsin, to Buffalo, New York, she carried a full iron-ore load when she encountered gale conditions off Deer Park. The ship gradually listed port, and at about 7:45 p.m., capsized abruptly, sinking rapidly.
Significant Incidents
- The Cyprus foundered due to severe weather combined with cargo instability, possibly aggravated by water ingress through hatch covers shifting the ore load.
- Contemporary investigations suggest water-mixed iron dust and hatch cover leakage played significant roles.
Final Disposition
The Cyprus foundered due to severe weather combined with cargo instability, possibly aggravated by water ingress through hatch covers shifting the ore load. Contemporary investigations suggest water-mixed iron dust and hatch cover leakage played significant roles.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Access: Remote, technical vessel/ROV deployment only
Entry Point: Lake Superior via research vessel or sonar-capable boats
Conditions: Cold freshwater, low visibility, high thermoclines, deep-water currents
Depth Range: ~460 ft (140 m)
Emergency Contacts: U.S. Coast Guard District 9, local maritime rescue services (e.g., Newberry, MI)
Permits: Required for research and recovered imagery in Michigan waters filing under state and federal laws
Dive Support: No recreational access; technical ROV/submersible support via Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society or scientific institutions
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”ss-cyprus-us-204527″ title=”References & Links”]
Crew list largely unrecorded; sole survivor: Second Mate Charles G. Pitz. Search for personnel data via archival newspapers (e.g., St. Paul Pioneer Press, Buffalo Courier), the Great Lakes Vessels Database, and local historical societies. Memorials: None documented—further research through Find-A-Grave or family history archives recommended.
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 Card
Other Names: —
Official Number: US Registry #204527
Registry: United States (Lackawanna Steamship Company, subsidiary of Pickands‑Mather)
Vessel Type: Steel-hulled lake freighter
Builder: American Ship Building Company, Lorain, Ohio; yard no. 353
Year Built: 1907; launched 17 August 1907
Dimensions: Length 420 ft (≈128 m); Beam 52 ft (16 m); Depth 28 ft (8.5 m)
Tonnage: ~15,000 short tons (14,000 t) displacement; gross tonnage ~7,418 tons (as per your data, though sources report displacement)
Cargo on Final Voyage: Iron ore
Date of Loss: 11 October 1907
Location: Approximately 8 mi north of Deer Park, Michigan, Lake Superior
Coordinates: ~46.79° N, −85.60° W
Depth: 460 ft (≈140 m)
Home Port: Fairport, Ohio (via Lackawanna Steamship Company operations)
Owners: Lackawanna Steamship Company (subsidiary of Pickands‑Mather)
Crew: 23 aboard
Casualties: 22 fatalities; 1 survivor (Second Mate Charles G. Pitz)
Description
The SS Cyprus was a steel-hulled lake freighter constructed for bulk iron‑ore transport on the Great Lakes. Built at Lorain by American Ship Building Company, she measured 420 ft in length with a 52 ft beam and 28 ft depth of hold. Technologically modern for her time, she featured robust structural framing and likely utilized Mulholland sliding hatch covers designed for bulk freighters handling ore—oriented to optimize loading and protect cargo holds from sea ingress in rough conditions.
History
Operated by the Lackawanna Steamship Company under the Pickands‑Mather umbrella, the Cyprus was launched in August 1907 and completed her maiden voyage shortly thereafter, carrying iron ore uneventfully.
On her second voyage, en route from Superior, Wisconsin, to Buffalo, New York, she carried a full iron‑ore load when she encountered gale conditions off Deer Park. The ship gradually listed port, and at about 7:45 p.m., capsized abruptly, sinking rapidly.
Final Dispositions
The Cyprus foundered due to severe weather combined with cargo instability, possibly aggravated by water ingress through hatch covers shifting the ore load. Contemporary investigations suggest water‑mixed iron dust and hatch cover leakage played significant roles.
Located By & Date Found
In August 2007, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society discovered the Cyprus wreck during sonar surveys, locating her intact on the lake bottom at approximately the known site
Notmars & Advisories
No specific Notices to Mariners have been issued regarding the Cyprus site, though Lake Superior’s “Shipwreck Coast” presents known navigational hazards. “None noted” for this wreck itself.
Dive Information
Access: Remote, technical vessel/ROV deployment only
Entry Point: Lake Superior via research vessel or sonar-capable boats
Conditions: Cold freshwater, low visibility, high thermoclines, deep-water currents
Depth Range: ~460 ft (≈140 m)
Emergency Contacts: U.S. Coast Guard District 9, local maritime rescue services (e.g., Newberry, MI)
Permits: Required for research and recovered imagery in Michigan waters filing under state and federal laws
Dive Support: No recreational access; technical ROV/submersible support via Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society or scientific institutions
Crew & Casualty Memorials
Crew list largely unrecorded; sole survivor: Second Mate Charles G. Pitz. Search for personnel data via archival newspapers (e.g., *St. Paul Pioneer Press*, *Buffalo Courier*), the Great Lakes Vessels Database, and local historical societies. Memorials: None documented—further research through Find‑A‑Grave or family history archives recommended.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The proud ship was downbound with a full load of iron ore … when she turned turtle and sank … taking 21 of her 22 crew to a watery death … the violent rocking caused her cargo to shift.”
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
U.S. Registry Number: 204527
Site Documentation & Imaging
Sonar imagery from 2007 discovery; likely ROV/video archives held by GLSHS. No public NOAA VR or 3D models identified—future documentation via museum or research institutions may provide visual assets.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society / Museum
- Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
- Find A Grave
References
- “SS Cyprus” Wikipedia entry — registry, build info, sinking details
- David D. Swayze (*Shipwreck!… Directory of… Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes*, 1992) & U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service Annual Report 1908 — cause and loss details
- Discovery report—sonar image and location data from 2007 discovery
- Tahquamenon Country: “Famous Lake Superior Shipwrecks” — survivor account listing and raft narrative
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: —
Official Number: 204527 :contentReference[oaicite:29]{index=29}
Coordinates: ~46.79° N, −85.60° W :contentReference[oaicite:30]{index=30}
Depth: 460 ft (≈140 m) :contentReference[oaicite:31]{index=31}
Location Description: ~8 mi north of Deer Park, Michigan, Lake Superior :contentReference[oaicite:32]{index=32}
Vessel Type: Steel lake freighter
Material: Steel-hulled
Dimensions: 420 ft × 52 ft × 28 ft; ≈15,000 short tons displacement :contentReference[oaicite:33]{index=33}
Condition: Intact hull on port side; structurally preserved (per sonar and diver imagery) :contentReference[oaicite:34]{index=34}
Cause of Loss: Foundering in gale; cargo shift likely due to water ingress and hatch cover failure :contentReference[oaicite:35]{index=35}
Discovery Date: August 2007 :contentReference[oaicite:36]{index=36}
Discovered By: Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (sonar team) :contentReference[oaicite:37]{index=37}
Method: Side-scan sonar survey and imaging
Legal Notes: Total loss; registry closed; presumed insurance claim at time of loss (archival records required)
Hazards: Deep water, remote location — no navigational hazard noted
Permits Required: Yes—for underwater ROV/dive in Michigan waters
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