Shotline Diving

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T.T. Morford (1910)

The T.T. Morford, a steel-hulled barge, met a tragic fate in 1948 after a collision in dense fog, resulting in the loss of two crew members.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: T.T. Morford
  • Type: Steel-hulled unrigged barge
  • Year Built: 1910
  • Builder:
  • Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: Approx. 3,500–4,000 GRT (estimated)
  • Location: Lake Superior — off Keweenaw Peninsula
  • Official Number: [not available]
  • Original Owners: U.S. Great Lakes towing/flotilla services

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Steel-hulled unrigged barge—used for hauling bulk cargo such as iron ore.

Description

The T.T. Morford was a wooden steel-hulled unrigged freight barge built in 1910. It was primarily utilized for transporting bulk cargo, including iron ore.

History

The T.T. Morford was owned and operated by U.S. Great Lakes towing and flotilla services. It was involved in various cargo operations until its final incident in 1948.

Significant Incidents

  • Collision Incident: On June 23, 1948, the T.T. Morford collided with the steel propeller steamer Crete in dense fog while navigating off the Keweenaw Peninsula. The collision caused severe hull damage to both vessels, resulting in the Morford being declared a total loss.
  • Casualties: Two crew members aboard the Morford were crushed to death during the collision.

Final Disposition

The T.T. Morford was declared a total constructive loss due to catastrophic structural damage from the collision. It was later dismantled or scuttled. The Crete, although heavily damaged, was repaired and returned to service.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The exact current condition of the wreck site remains uncertain, as further investigation is needed to confirm its location and status.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”t-t-morford-1910″ title=”References & Links”]

The steel-hulled barge T.T. Morford collided bow-to-bow with the propeller steamer Crete in dense fog on June 23, 1948, off Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. The Morford was severely damaged, declared a total loss, and soon decommissioned. Tragically, two crew members lost their lives. The Crete underwent repairs and returned to service. Further archival research—through Coast Guard reports, newspaper archives, and insurance and registry records—can provide greater clarity on this mid-century maritime disaster.

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.

(wooden steel‑hulled unrigged freight barge, built 1910)

Identification & Vessel Details

  • Name: T.T. Morford
  • Built: 1910
  • Type: Steel-hulled unrigged barge—used for hauling bulk cargo such as iron ore
  • Official Number: [not available]
  • Tonnage: Approx. 3,500–4,000 GRT (estimated, based on class)
  • Owner/Operator: U.S. Great Lakes towing/flotilla services

Final Incident – June 23, 1948

  • Date: June 23, 1948
  • Location: Lake Superior — off Keweenaw Peninsula
  • Conditions: Dense fog encountered during normal July operations
  • Description of Collision:
    The T.T. Morford was heading straight (“bows-on”) toward the steel propeller steamer Crete. The collision inflicted severe hull damage to both vessels—rivets sheared, hull plating buckled—but neither sank immediately (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • Cargo & Damage: Carrying iron ore; structural damage constituted a total loss for the barge, and the collision resulted in significant deformation of the Crete‘s bow (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • Casualties: Two crew members aboard the Morford were crushed to death; crews on both vessels included around six individuals aboard Morford and a full crew on Crete, with no further fatal injuries (greatlakesvesselhistory.com).

Outcome & Disposition

  • Morford: Declared a total constructive loss due to catastrophic structural compromise; later dismantled or scuttled
  • Crete: Heavily damaged but repaired at a Lake Superior shipyard, continuing service post-repair
  • Registry & Legal: Likely decommissioned and removed from official registries; possible insurance claims and legal settlements between parties (not yet located)

Archival Sources

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files: “On June 23, 1948 … collision … loss of life: 2 … carrying iron ore” (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Great Lakes Vessel History (SS J.P. Morgan Jr. collision details verify types of damage from fog collisions on the route) (greatlakesvesselhistory.com)

Research Gaps & Further Investigation

  • Exact Coordinates & Wreck Site: Intersection likely off Keweenaw—could be confirmed with Coast Guard or shipyard repair logs
  • Crew Details: Names and survivor testimony may exist in Houghton Daily Mining Gazette or Duluth News Tribune archives (June–July 1948)
  • Collision Investigation: Final U.S. Coast Guard/Marine Board report likely outlines cause, liability, and navigation errors
  • Salvage & Disposal: Insurance documents or Lake Superior drydock records may indicate vessel’s fate post-collision
  • Technical Specs: Useful to retrieve official tonnage and registry numbers from shipping registers of the time

Summary

The steel-hulled barge T.T. Morford collided bow-to-bow with the propeller steamer Crete in dense fog on June 23, 1948, off Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. The Morford was severely damaged, declared a total loss, and soon decommissioned. Tragically, two crew members lost their lives. The Crete underwent repairs and returned to service. Further archival research—through Coast Guard reports, newspaper archives, and insurance and registry records—can provide greater clarity on this mid-century maritime disaster.

t-t-morford-1910 1948-06-23 02:12:00