It was 36 years on Thursday after the Edmund Fitzgerald sank ore boat in powerful storms in the eastern part of the Lake, taking all 29 crew members with it.
Storm 9-10 November 1975, is one of the most powerful to strike in the region of Lake. Various shore stations recorded sustained winds of more than 60 mph, with gusts reaching 85 mph. conditions in the second half of the 9 November were peaceful and the surface of the Lake was a glass — Fitzgerald finished loading taconite pellets in Burlington Northern docks in Superior, Wis.
Forecasts had predicted a quick change as storm system from the West. Capt. Ernest Mcsorley chose Northeast course, as he led the ship US steel plant in Zug Island, Mich., outside Detroit. This course has enabled the ship to hug the northern shoreline of Lake and escape the full force of the North-Western wind.
Fitzgerald joined the carrier ore Arthur m. Anderson, who had two harbors, Minn. two ships will be brave journey together.
National Weather Service issued a storm warning early November 10, forecasting of wind up to 60 mph. As conditions deteriorated, Mcsorley radioed Anderson and said that he lost both of its RADAR and that he needed help in navigation. He then slowed Fitzgerald that Anderson could catch up and be in the range of 10-mile Anderson radar.
They followed the Canadian coastline until in the eastern part of the Lake, where they turned to the Southeast to the relative shelter of Whitefish Bay. Captains of both vessels reported waves over 30 feet. Captain Cooper announced that he has difficulty tracking Fitzgerald, because the waves were so high, they appear on your RADAR, obscuring the troubled ship.
McSorley radioed Captain foreign vessel Avafors for validation. When asked how he's doing, Mcsorley replied "I am a bad list, lost both radar. And I'm taking heavy seas on deck. One of the worst seas I've ever been in. "
Shortly after the conversation, Mcsorley told Captain Anderson Cooper: "we are holding our own."
This was the last transmission from the Edmund Fitzgerald. Cooper noted that he would see Fitzgerald on his radar for the last time shortly thereafter. Having received no response to repeated radio calls, Cooper radioed the coast station salt Marie, Mich.,
"Something bad happened," said Cooper.
Coast Guard asked him to turn around and start searching. Mountain waves made this extremely dangerous maneuver. Cooper turned his boat and soon joined in the search for William Clay Ford ore carrier which was safely anchored in Whitefish Bay.
A few hours flight from USCG station Traverse City, Mich., arrived at the scene and was soon joined by helicopter, carrying a powerful searchlight. The Canadian Coast Guard fixed-wing plane, also contributed to the search. No sign of the ship was located.
Ultimately Fitzgerald boats washed up on the coast of Canada along with other debris. Fitzgerald, and its 29 crew members were missing. The review mission conducted in the summer of 1976, is located approximately 14 miles from the Canadian Coast just ship from the entrance to Whitefish Bay. Fitzgerald, is divided into 2 parts and was resting at the bottom in 500 feet of water.
Theories abound to what happened to Fitzgerald – including possible involvement of a UFO. The most widely accepted theory holds that the ship broke up on the surface and spilled its cargo. The loss of buoyancy led to the rapidly sinking ship.
The total area of wreck known as shipwreck coast and is home to the remains of some 400 vessels. Most of these fragments, from the second half of the 19th century, when shipping was extremely dangerous.
Ships of this era lacked the two-way and electronic navigation equipment, which is common today. Hurricanes were not the only factor in danger. Area is also the subject of dense fog and smoke from forest fires often obscure vision.
Loss of Fitzgerald was the first major incident on the Great Lakes with 604-foot ore carrier, Daniel j. Morrell sank in the waters of Northern Lake Huron in November 1966. One person was rescued 29 crew.
Edmund Fitzgerald legacy lives. Rules were adopted shortly after the tragedy, aimed at enhancing, shipping, safer, including requiring the use of depth finders and the presence on Board of survival suits.
Gordon Lightfoot wrote a song about the tragedy while reading newspapers in the airplane. "Summer dream" album, which included the collapse of the Edmund Fitzgerald ", was released in June 1976. The song reached # 2 in the American sales charts during the album topped out at # 12.
The sailors Church in Detroit until 2005, was held annual Memorial, honor Fitzgerald crew. Subsequent memorials in the Church honor all those who lost in the Great Lakes region.
Loss of Edmund Fitzgerald remains a deadly incident on the Lake. Fitzgerald is the largest ship to any of the Great Lakes region.
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