Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: SS Michigan
- Type: Steel-hulled package freighter
- Year Built: 1890
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Eastern Lake Huron or Northern Lake Superior
- Coordinates: Exact coordinates unknown
- Official Number: Not identified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
- Steel-hulled, propeller-driven package freighter (grain and general cargo transport).
Description
The SS Michigan was a steel package freighter primarily used for transporting grain across the Great Lakes. It was built in 1890 and is noted for its involvement in a significant maritime incident in 1943.
History
- Primarily carried grain across the Great Lakes.
- November 4, 1943: While lightering grain from the damaged Canadian steamer Riverton in heavy weather, the SS Michigan was driven onto a shoal and grounded (12 pm local time noted in GL Shipwreck Files).
- Conditions reported as an ongoing storm at the time of the stranding.
Significant Incidents
- Loss Cause: Grounded on shoal during storm conditions while assisting Riverton; capsized/foundered due to shifting cargo and flooding.
- Declared a total loss; no official salvage succeeds recorded.
Final Disposition
The SS Michigan was declared a total loss after capsizing due to shifting cargo and flooding while grounded during a storm. No successful salvage operations were recorded.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The exact wreck coordinates of the SS Michigan are unknown. The last known grounded location is likely near the Riverton incident site, possibly in eastern Lake Huron or northern Lake Superior, depending on the voyage route. No documentation of sonar survey or site rediscovery exists.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”ss-michigan-1890″ title=”References & Links”]
The SS Michigan was a steel-grain package freighter active around WWII, meeting her demise on November 4, 1943, after being driven onto a shoal during stormy weather while offloading grain from the damaged Riverton. She capsized and was declared a total loss—yet her final resting place remains undocumented. Further archival research and marine survey are required for confirmation.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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