by Don Homer
My curiosity was aroused by the number of ships that have sunk on our Great Lakes. Why so many? What is unique about the Great Lakes? In my mind, ships on the Great Lakes should have the same problems as ships on the ocean. But since trips are shorter and closer to land, they should be safer.
Apparently, I was wrong; it’s time for some research.
The Great Lakes are freshwater, which is less dense than ocean saltwater, so ships ride lower in the water. Because the lakes are smaller and the shores are closer, the wave period is shorter, and the waves come from different directions (“washing machine effect”). Time to recover in the troughs between waves is shorter, and the waves are taller because the lakes are shallower.
Fast-forming, unpredictable storms over the Great Lakes are common in November (sometimes referred to as November Witches). As winter moves in over warm water, creating fog and rapid winter ice formation on a ship’s superstructure, freshwater’s lower buoyancy can cause structural failures and capsizing, especially for older, less resilient vessels. Great Lakes’ waves can lift the middle of a ship, while the ends sag (torsional stress) or slam the bow down, causing flooding. Blizzards can block all visibility. But the real danger is heavy ice buildup from freshwater (which freezes earlier than saltwater) lowering a ship in the water and reducing stability, causing it to capsize. This is what likely doomed the SS Kamloops, which disappeared on Lake Superior in 1927, claiming all 22 crew members. This ship was found in 1977, and divers discovered bodies, including that of “Old Whitey” (Herbert Harvey), preserved by the dark, cold freshwater in the boiler room, alongside cargo.
There are an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 shipwrecks in the Great Lakes, making them one of the world’s largest underwater museums, with many still undiscovered, especially in Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. These wrecks, dating from the 17th century onward, are well preserved, with estimates suggesting around 30,000 lives lost.
The last major shipwreck to make headlines was the iconic SS Edmund Fitzgerald in Lake Superior on November 10, 1975, with 29 crew lost. Many more minor losses occur each year, but significant, tragic losses of large vessels are less common now due to better safety practices. The Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck, arguably the most widely memorialized, was the largest shipwreck on the Great Lakes since the 1600s. Gordon Lightfoot’s tale of the Fitzgerald and its crew is about the disaster. This is a link to his tribute. Copy it to your browser address bar.
The images below illustrate the stress that can lead to a disaster.
About the Author: Don Homer
Born in Upper Darby, PA. My father always complained about my being born Jan 2, as he was born Dec 31. However, I did win a year’s diaper service for the first baby in our neighborhood.
I went Haverford High school and then joined the Marine Corps. Stationed in California and Okinawa. My enlistment ended in 1964, just a month before Lyndon Johnson was elected. Had it ended after the election, I was bound for Vietnam. A lucky break.
I started going to Drexel at night and was hired by General Electric as an electrical technician. I graduated as an electrical engineer.
I loved sports, and have tried many, sky diving, skiing, football, table tennis and tennis. But one sport I started became a lifelong sport for me, rugby. I accidentally found rugby, but decided it was invented just for me. I’ve played for 50 years and traveled the world playing rugby.
Photo Credit: Great Lakes Now