Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: SS Francisco Morazan
- Type: Cargo Ship
- Year Built: 1922
- Builder: Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg, Germany
- Dimensions: Length 234 ft 5 in (71.45 m); Beam 36 ft 8 in (11.18 m); Depth of hold 17 ft 9 in (5.41 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 1,441 GRT
- Location: South Manitou Island, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: Not documented
- Original Owners: Hamburg-Amerika Packetfahrt AG; multiple owners thereafter
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type: Cargo Ship
Description
The Francisco Morazan was originally launched as Arcadia in 1922. It was a steel-hulled cargo ship with a length of 234 feet 5 inches and a gross tonnage of 1,441 GRT. The vessel was powered by a twin-screw steam-driven compound steam engine, capable of reaching speeds of 9 knots.
History
The Francisco Morazan had a varied service history, operating under multiple owners and flags throughout its 38-year career. Initially launched for Hamburg-Amerika Packetfahrt AG, it was requisitioned by Nazi Germany’s Kriegsmarine in 1940 for military operations. After sustaining damage during World War II, it was seized by Allied forces in 1945 and transferred to the British Ministry of War Transport, where it was renamed Empire Congress. In 1946, it was allocated to the Norwegian government and renamed Brunes. The ship changed hands several times, eventually being registered in Panama and Liberia under the name Francisco Morazan.
Significant Incidents
- Date of Loss: November 29, 1960
- Location: South Manitou Island, Lake Michigan
- Cause: Ran aground in a snowstorm
- Cargo: 1,118 tons of mixed goods
- Casualties: None
Final Disposition
After running aground, the Francisco Morazan was deemed unsalvageable. Rescue efforts were initiated, but poor weather conditions hindered operations. The crew was evacuated, and some cargo was recovered before salvage efforts were abandoned. The wreck has since become a local attraction.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Francisco Morazan is partially exposed above the surface and is deteriorating but remains a visible landmark. It is part of the Manitou Passage State Underwater Preserve, offering protection under Michigan law.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”ss-francisco-morazan-arcadia-elbing-empire-congress-brunes-skuld-ringas-los-mayas” title=”References & Links”]
The wreck of the Francisco Morazan serves as a significant historical reminder of the challenges faced by ships navigating the Great Lakes in winter. It is now a part of Michigan’s maritime heritage, attracting interest from historians, divers, and tourists alike.
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.
Great Lakes Shipwreck Report: SS Francisco Morazan
Vessel Identification & Site Information
- Name: SS Francisco Morazan
- Former Names: Arcadia, Elbing, Empire Congress, Brunes, Skuld, Ringås, Los Mayas
- Registration Number: Not documented
- Year Built: 1922
- Builder: Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg, Germany
- Hull Material: Steel
- Vessel Type: Cargo Ship
- Original Owner: Hamburg-Amerika Packetfahrt AG
- Power & Propulsion
- Propulsion: Twin-screw steam-driven
- Engine Type: Compound steam engine
- Speed: 9 knots (17 km/h)
- Hull Dimensions
- Length: 234 feet 5 inches (71.45 meters)
- Beam: 36 feet 8 inches (11.18 meters)
- Depth: 17 feet 9 inches (5.41 meters)
- Draught: 16 feet 6.5 inches (5.042 meters)
- Gross Tonnage: 1,441 GRT
- Deadweight Tonnage (DWT): 2,091
Service History
The Francisco Morazan was originally launched as Arcadia in 1922 for Hamburg-Amerika Packetfahrt AG. Over its 38-year career, it operated under multiple owners and flags, sailing for at least eleven different operators. The vessel saw service in both commercial and military operations, being requisitioned by Nazi Germany’s Kriegsmarine in 1940 for use in Operation Sea Lion. Damaged during World War II, she was seized by Allied forces in 1945 and transferred to the British Ministry of War Transport, where she was renamed Empire Congress.
After being allocated to the Norwegian government in 1946, the ship was renamed Brunes and resumed merchant service under various Norwegian owners. In 1958, she was sold to a Greek company and renamed Los Mayas before being registered in Panama and later Liberia under the name Francisco Morazan.
By 1959, she was under the management of West Indies Transport Company and was engaged in international cargo shipping.
Final Voyage & Sinking
- Date of Loss: November 29, 1960
- Location: South Manitou Island, Lake Michigan
- Cause: Ran aground in a snowstorm
- Cargo: 1,118 tons of mixed goods (canned chicken, toys, empty shampoo bottles, and other items)
- Casualties: None
On November 27, 1960, the Francisco Morazan departed Chicago, bound for Rotterdam and Hamburg. Her cargo consisted of a variety of consumer goods, and she was racing to exit the Great Lakes via the St. Lawrence Seaway before its seasonal closure on December 3.
The vessel encountered dense fog and later a malfunctioning boiler feed pump, which caused an eight-hour delay for repairs. By the evening of November 28, the Francisco Morazan was navigating near Point Betsie in whiteout snowstorm conditions. Pushed off course by high winds and rough waters, she ran aground just 300 yards (274 meters) from the shore of South Manitou Island.
Rescue Efforts
Three U.S. Coast Guard vessels and a civilian tug responded to the distress call. By December 4, after it was determined that the ship was unsalvageable, all crew members—including Captain Eduardo Trivizas’ pregnant wife—were evacuated. Early salvage efforts recovered some of the cargo, but poor weather conditions led to the operation being abandoned.
Wreck Information
- Depth: Shallow waters, partially exposed above surface
- Current Condition: Wreck is deteriorating but remains a visible landmark
- Protection Status: Part of the Manitou Passage State Underwater Preserve
Over the years, the Francisco Morazan became a local attraction, with island residents salvaging canned chicken and toys from the wreck. In 1967, a local boy tragically drowned while exploring the ship. In 1968, the Michigan Attorney General filed a lawsuit to have the wreck removed, citing environmental concerns over rotting cargo and remaining fuel oil. The day after the lawsuit was filed, a fire mysteriously broke out on the wreck, consuming the remaining cargo.
Today, the Francisco Morazan remains one of Michigan’s most accessible shipwrecks. It is a popular site for kayakers, boaters, and aerial photography, as portions of the hull remain visible above water. The wreck is part of the Manitou Passage State Underwater Preserve and is protected under Michigan law.
Resources & Further Reading
- National Park Service: Francisco Morazan Shipwreck
- Atlas Obscura: Wreck of the Francisco Morazan
- Wikipedia: SS Francisco Morazan (1922)
Conclusion
The wreck of the Francisco Morazan serves as a significant historical reminder of the challenges faced by ships navigating the Great Lakes in winter. Her remains are now a part of Michigan’s maritime heritage, drawing interest from historians, divers, and tourists alike.
Keywords & Categories
Keywords: Francisco Morazan, Lake Michigan shipwreck, Manitou Passage State Underwater Preserve, Great Lakes maritime history, cargo shipwreck, South Manitou Island, Great Lakes navigation hazards
Categories: Shipwrecks, Maritime History, Great Lakes History, Underwater Archaeology
Glossary Terms
- Deadweight Tonnage (DWT): The weight a ship can carry, including cargo, fuel, and supplies.
- Kriegsmarine: The naval branch of Nazi Germany’s military during World War II.
- St. Lawrence Seaway: A system of locks and channels connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.
- Manitou Passage State Underwater Preserve: A Michigan-designated area that protects shipwrecks and underwater cultural resources.