Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Transport
- Type: Iron barge (formerly a sidewheel car ferry)
- Year Built: 1880
- Builder: Detroit Dry Dock, Wyandotte, Michigan (Hull No. 34)
- Dimensions: Length: 254 ft (77.4 m); Beam: 46 ft (14 m); Depth: 14 ft (4.3 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 1,595 GT
- Location: Near Eagle Harbor, Michigan
- Official Number: 145211
- Original Owners: Roen Steamship Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Transport was originally built as a sidewheel car ferry capable of carrying 21 railcars, serving as one of the early Great Lakes car ferries designed for transporting railroad cars across the lakes.
Description
The Transport was converted into a barge in 1933, having her engines removed and being adapted for pulpwood and bulk cargo transport. She was fitted with a crane for loading and unloading cargo and was operating as an unpowered barge at the time of her loss.
History
The Transport was built in 1880 by Detroit Dry Dock in Wyandotte, Michigan. Throughout her career, she served in various freight transport capacities and was owned by Roen Steamship Company at the time of her loss.
Significant Incidents
- September 22, 1942: The Transport was under tow by the tug John Roen when a powerful gale struck Lake Superior, causing the tow line to part and leaving her adrift.
- She was driven ashore near Eagle Harbor, Michigan, where heavy surf caused irreparable damage, leading to her declaration as a total loss.
Final Disposition
The wreckage of the Transport was later cut up in place for scrap, and no significant remains of the vessel exist today. She was included on lists of U.S. maritime war losses during World War II, although she was not directly involved in combat.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern wreckage remains confirmed. The original wreck site is near Eagle Harbor, Michigan.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”transport-us-145211″ title=”References & Links”]
The Transport had a long and varied career, beginning as a pioneering car ferry before being converted into a barge in 1933. Lost in a 1942 storm while carrying pulpwood, she was driven ashore and wrecked near Eagle Harbor, Michigan. Though her remains were later salvaged for scrap, her story remains a testament to the evolution of Great Lakes shipping and the challenges faced by unpowered barges in severe weather.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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