Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: SS Pere Marquette 18
- Type: Steel-hulled train/car ferry, screw steamer
- Year Built: 1902
- Builder: American Ship Building Co., Cleveland, OH
- Dimensions: 338 ft (103 m) x 56 ft (17 m) x 19.42 ft (6 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 2,909 GRT / 1,722 NRT
- Depth at Wreck Site: 152 m / 500 ft
- Location: Lake Michigan, ~25 mi east of Sheboygan, WI
- Coordinates: Withheld
- Official Number: 150972
- Original Owners: Pere Marquette Railway Company
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
SS Pere Marquette 18 was a steel-hulled, steam-propelled car ferry designed to transport rail freight and passengers across Lake Michigan. She featured two triple-expansion steam engines powered by six Scotch boilers and drove twin screws. Her design included four railroad tracks on the main deck, accommodations for roughly 30 railcars, and staterooms for passengers. During summer seasons (1909–1910), she was temporarily refitted as an excursion steamer.
Description
SS Pere Marquette 18 was a steel-hulled, steam-propelled car ferry designed to transport rail freight and passengers across Lake Michigan. She featured two triple-expansion steam engines powered by six Scotch boilers and drove twin screws. Her design included four railroad tracks on the main deck, accommodations for roughly 30 railcars, and staterooms for passengers. During summer seasons (1909–1910), she was temporarily refitted as an excursion steamer.
History
Launched on 16 August 1902 as Hull No. 412 by American Ship Building Co., the vessel served primarily between Ludington, MI and ports in Wisconsin, including Milwaukee, Manitowoc, and Kewaunee. Her 1909 and 1910 summer seasons were spent as a passenger excursion vessel operating from Chicago to Waukegan. In September 1910, following re-inspection, she resumed ferry service.
Significant Incidents
- Pere Marquette 18 departed Ludington late on 8 September 1910 carrying 29 loaded railcars and 62 people.
- Around 3:30 AM, water was discovered flooding the stern’s crew quarters compartment (“flicker”).
- Pumps failed to keep pace, and the crew began jettisoning railcars.
- At 5:00 AM, the wireless operator sent a CQD message received by the Pere Marquette 17, which responded immediately.
- Despite rescue efforts, the vessel sank stern-first by 7:30 AM after a suspected internal air pressure explosion.
- Twenty-seven were lost, including the captain and all officers.
Final Disposition
On 23 July 2020, wreck hunters Jerry Eliason and Ken Merryman located the wreck using side-scan sonar and confirmed the identity with a drop camera. The wreck lies in 500 ft (152 m) of water, 25 miles east of Sheboygan, WI. The bow is raised, the decks are collapsed, and the pilothouse lies on the stern.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is not a navigational hazard. Access is by boat only, with entry points offshore in Lake Michigan. Dive conditions are characterized by deep water, cold temperatures, and poor visibility. Emergency contacts include the USCG Sheboygan. ROV/submersible support is recommended for dives.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”ss-pere-marquette-18-us-150972″ title=”References & Links”]
A memorial plaque in Ludington commemorates the 29 total lives lost, including wireless operator Stephen F. Sczepanek—the first Great Lakes operator to die in service.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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