The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

On 14 November, a U. S. Navy aircraft joined the search, and utilizing MAD (Magnetic Anomaly Detection) equipment located a strong single magnetic contact at 47 degrees 00.5'N, 85 degrees 06'W. A slight oil slick was observed at the contact position. This contact was later determined to be the sunken hulk of FITZGERALD.

Ontario Canadian Provincial Police conducted numerous shoreline searches during the active search period, and helicopters from CG Air Station Traverse City also searched the Michigan and Canadian shores. CONCLUSIONS. 1. PREFACE The SS EDMUND FITZGERALD left Superior, WI, on the afternoon of 9 November 1975, enroute to Detroit, MI, with a full cargo of taconite pellets. That evening, and the next day, FITZGERALD proceeded eastward in Lake Superior, on a course north of the charted lanes due to the weather, heading towards Whitefish Bay and the Locks at Sault Ste. Marie, MI. At the same time, a severe November storm was crossing Lake Superior and, as a result, FITZGERALD encountered worsening weather throughout the early hours of the 10th of November, and by that afternoon, was experiencing winds in excess of 50 knots and seas approaching 16 feet. At approximately 1530, 10 November, FITZGERALD reported damage, but did not, at that time or in subsequent communications, indicate that it was a serious nature to that there was any immediate concern for the safety of the vessel. No distress message was received. FITZGERALD sank sometime after 1910, 10 November 1975, at a position of 46 degrees 59.9'N, 85 degrees 06.6'W, approximately 17 miles from the entrance to Whitefish Bay, MI.

DIFFICULTIES REPORTED BY FITZGERALD. FITZGERALD reported the loss of two vents and some fence rail, indicating that topside damage had occurred to the vessel. The flooding which could be expected to result from the loss of any two tank or tunnel vents would not be serious enough, by itself, to cause the loss of the vessel.

FITZGERALD reported, at the same time, that it had developed a list. The existence of the list which would result from flooding of any two ballast tanks, a tunnel, or a tunnel and a ballast tank would not, of itself, indicate damage sufficiently serious to cause the loss of the vessel. FITZGERALD reported that steps were being taken to deal with the flooding and the list, and that two

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