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.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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