Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

White Swan US 222237

Explore the wreck of the White Swan, a wooden bulk freighter lost in 1956 on Skillagalee Reef in Lake Michigan, a site rich in maritime history.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: White Swan
  • Type: wooden-hulled propeller-driven bulk freight vessel
  • Year Built: 1922
  • Builder: Burger Boat Company
  • Dimensions: 81 ft (24.7 m) X 23 ft (7 m); Depth of hold: 8 ft (2.4 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 99 tons
  • Location: Ile Aux Galets (Skillagalee) Reef, western Straits of Mackinac
  • Official Number: 222237
  • Original Owners: Jack Price Lyons and Richard N. Lyons

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The White Swan was a wooden-hulled propeller-driven bulk freight vessel, commonly referred to as a “rabbit” freighter. This term typically described smaller, nimble bulk carriers used for regional cargo operations on the Great Lakes. Despite its modest size, the White Swan played a versatile role in transporting goods ranging from flour to hardwood logs.

Description

Built in 1922 by the renowned Burger Boat Company of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, the White Swan was originally constructed for the White Swan Flour Company. For many years, she transported flour products across the Great Lakes, serving as a critical link in regional food distribution networks.

The vessel was later repurposed for hauling other cargo, including hardwood logs, and occasionally served as a “Christmas Tree Ship”, delivering holiday trees from northern Michigan to ports along the southern Great Lakes—a tradition made famous by vessels like the Rouse Simmons.

By the time of her final voyage, the White Swan was owned by Jack Price Lyons and Richard N. Lyons of Lorain, Ohio, and was powered by a brand-new Kahlenberg diesel engine, reflecting ongoing investments to keep her operational in a competitive shipping environment.

History

Final Voyage (1956):

On November 30, 1956, the White Swan was en route from Lime Island to Petoskey, Michigan, carrying a load of hardwood logs. While navigating the Straits of Mackinac, the vessel encountered a dangerous combination of stormy weather and dense fog—a frequent hazard in this treacherous section of Lake Michigan.

The vessel stranded on Ile Aux Galets Reef (commonly known as Skillagalee Reef), a notorious hazard for mariners in the region. Despite efforts to free the vessel, the White Swan remained stuck on the reef for several days.

Sinking and Salvage Efforts:

After approximately a week, the vessel slipped off the reef and sank in deeper water. Although the ship was considered a total loss, her brand-new Kahlenberg diesel engine was later salvaged—an indication of the engine’s value and the continued demand for reliable marine power systems.

Significant Incidents

Loss of Life:

There were no fatalities reported in the sinking of the White Swan. The crew likely had ample time to evacuate safely during the days the vessel was stranded on the reef before she ultimately slipped into deeper waters.

Final Disposition

The White Swan remains at the bottom of Lake Michigan, near Ile Aux Galets Reef in the Straits of Mackinac. While her engine was salvaged, there are no records of attempts to recover the vessel itself, and she is presumed to have deteriorated over time in the cold freshwater environment.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The Ile Aux Galets Reef (Skillagalee Reef) is a well-documented navigational hazard in the Straits of Mackinac. Mariners are advised to exercise caution when navigating this region due to the presence of shallow reefs and sudden weather changes that have historically contributed to many shipwrecks.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The White Swan‘s sinking in 1956 reflects both the perils of navigating the Straits of Mackinac and the evolving role of small bulk freighters on the Great Lakes. Originally built for the White Swan Flour Company, the vessel adapted to changing economic conditions by shifting to lumber transport and participating in the Christmas Tree Ship tradition. Her loss on Skillagalee Reef underscores the dangers posed by sudden storms and fog, even in an era of more advanced navigation technologies.

The salvage of her Kahlenberg diesel engine illustrates the practicality and resilience of Great Lakes shipping operations, where even in the face of a total vessel loss, valuable components were recovered and repurposed. Today, the White Swan remains part of the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes, embodying both the traditions and challenges of regional shipping in the 20th century.