Identification & Site Information
- Name: Shepherd II
- Built: Unknown (likely mid‑20th century)
- Type: Presumed small wooden vessel (possibly Tug or fishing boat)
- Loss Date: 1980 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files entry: “S – letter S, 24 PM S”)
- Location: Wrecked on a reef (specific lake unrecorded; likely Lake Huron or Erie based on letter classification)
- Casualties: None reported
Final Incident & Circumstances
- The Shepherd II was wrecked on a reef, most likely during a storm event, leading to structural failure or grounding.
- There were no casualties or emergency rescue incidents, nor any documented cargo involvement.
Current Status
- No known dive surveys or sonar missions have located the wreck, and details such as Hull condition, depth, and debris spread are currently undocumented.
- The reef location may pose navigational hazards and is likely recorded only in local harbor or reporter logs.
Archaeological & Research Recommendations
| Research Focus | Suggested Approach |
|---|---|
| Exact location & lake | Check regional harbor logs and Coast Guard records for reef incidents in 1980 under the name Shepherd II |
| Vessel details & ownership | Search U.S. Vessel Registry for “Shepherd II” circa 1970–1980 for official number and owner/operator |
| Weather conditions | Cross-reference storm events in 1980 via National Weather Service archives and local newspapers |
| Wreck site reconnaissance | Conduct side-scan sonar mapping of candidate reefs and compare against local reef collision records |
Conclusion
The Shepherd II appears to have been a small wooden vessel wrecked upon a reef in 1980 with no loss of life. The event is briefly noted in inventory lists but remains uninvestigated archaeologically. Identifying the wreck site likely hinges on linking harbor records to vessel registry and deploying sonar survey in offshore reef zones.
- Prepare registry and archive queries for the Shepherd II and reef incident?
- Outline sonar mapping targets based on likely reef locations?
- Draft regional storm and harbor record search guidance to locate incident specifics?