Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: STEELVENDOR
- Type: Steel-hulled, diesel-propelled package/bulk freighter
- Year Built: 1923
- Builder: Federal Shipbuilding, Kearney, New Jersey
- Dimensions: 250 ft × 43 ft × 20 ft (76 m × 13 m × 6 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Gross ≈ 1,695 tons
- Location: Approximately 15 mi east of Manitou Island, Lake Superior
- Coordinates: Unknown—approximate only
- Official Number: 223082
- Original Owners: Not specified in available sources
- Number of Masts: Not documented
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
STEELVENDOR was a steel-hulled motor freighter powered by a diesel engine and single propeller. Built in 1923 for general cargo and bulk transport across the Great Lakes, her final voyage in 1942 reflects her wartime function of moving steel billets—key to U.S. industrial and war efforts.
Description
Commissioned in 1923 and constructed by Federal Shipbuilding in Kearney, New Jersey, STEELVENDOR served the Great Lakes maritime trade throughout the interwar period and into WWII. Specific operational history (ownership changes, cargo types, modifications) remain undocumented in online sources and would benefit from registry and company record research.
History
On 3 September 1942, en route from Duluth, Minnesota, to Waukegan, Illinois, carrying steel billets, she ran into a severe storm on Lake Superior. The unsecured cargo shifted amid heavy seas, causing her to capsize and founder stern-first at approximately 3:45 am. One crew member perished; the remaining 24 were rescued.
Significant Incidents
- On 3 September 1942, STEELVENDOR capsized and sank due to cargo shift during a storm.
Final Disposition
STEELVENDOR was declared a total constructive loss. No salvage efforts or recovery operations are recorded in available sources. She remains listed among U.S. merchant marine losses during WWII.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no known discoveries, sonar surveys, underwater archaeological records, or diving expeditions confirming her current resting place. The wreck remains unlocated in contemporary maritime records.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”steelvender-us-223082″ title=”References & Links”]
Crew names, including the one fatality, remain unidentified in current sources. Recommended next steps include researching U.S. Coast Guard casualty reports (1942), local newspapers (e.g., Duluth, Marquette), and genealogical sites like Find A Grave for potential memorial records.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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