Identification Card (SLD)

Description

The SS Carl D. Bradley was a steel-hulled, self-unloading Great Lakes freighter launched in 1927 by the American Ship Building Company in Lorain, Ohio. At over 638 feet in length and Net Tonnage near 17,600, she was among the largest freighters on the Great Lakes, holding the title “Queen of the Lakes” for over two decades. She was built for the Michigan Limestone division of U.S. Steel and operated by Bradley Transportation Company, primarily hauling limestone from Rogers City, Michigan. Her modern features included self-unloading systems, advanced crew accommodations, and a layout optimized for the heavy bulk trade.

History

Commissioned in 1927, the Carl D. Bradley served in the dense limestone-and-ore trade across the Great Lakes. She set cargo records and was known for her size and speed. Despite her strength, she showed signs of age and structural issues—rusting holds and weakened bulkheads—over her 31 seasons. Notable incidents include collisions and groundings, though none resulted in Total Loss. Plans were underway to lay her up for extensive repairs in Manitowoc after the 1958 season.

Final Disposition

On 18 November 1958, while in ballast and returning from Gary, Indiana toward Manitowoc for winter lay-up, the freighter encountered a severe storm over Lake Michigan. As winds and waves intensified, she began to suffer structural failure. Around 5:35 p.m., a loud thud was heard, followed by a noticeable sag in the midships section. The vessel broke in two—her Stern plunged first while the bow tipped and sank. Crew launched life-saving efforts, but the raging seas claimed 33 of the 35 aboard. Only Frank Mays and Elmer Fleming survived after enduring hours in a liferaft and were rescued by the USCG Cutter *Sundew*. The wreck was later located in deep water, and the vessel’s remains were declared a Total Loss.

Located By & Date Found

The sinking site was known from survivor accounts and search-and-rescue operations beginning 18–19 November 1958. In spring 1959, sonar sweeps by the Army Corps of Engineers located the wreck near Boulder Reef, just south of Gull Island in approximately 360 ft of water. Later ROV surveys confirmed the wreck lay in two intact sections, upright, and approximately 90 ft apart on the lake floor.

NOTMARs & Advisories

There are no currently active Notices to Mariners associated with the site. The wreck lies in deep water (~360 ft) and presents minimal navigational hazard due to depth. Divers and researchers are advised to proceed with caution due to decompression, cold temperatures, and remote location.

Dive Information

Access: Boat launched from Rogers City, MI or nearby ports.
Entry Point: Open-water deep-wreck dive.
Conditions: Approximately 310–370 ft (94–113 m) depth; extremely cold water (35–40 °F / 1.7–4.4 °C); thermoclines present.
Emergency Contacts: U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie; Rogers City EMS / dive support.
Permits: Required for technical diving and artifact removal; unauthorized interference prohibited.
Dive Support: Limited—technical diving teams experienced in deep Great Lakes wrecks recommended.

Crew & Casualty Memorials

Thirty-three crew members perished in the sinking. Two survivors—Frank Mays and Elmer Fleming—relayed harrowing accounts of the ship’s breakup and their survival. A public memorial exists in Rogers City’s Lakeside Park, including the recovered bell and annual commemorations. Memorial services and funds were organized for the families. The event remains central in Rogers City maritime history.

Documented Statements & Extracts

“The Carl D. Bradley heaved upward amidships and broke in two. The forward section rolled over and sank. The Stern plunged to the bottom …”
—Elmer Fleming, survivor interviewed by Beaver Island Historical Society.(https://www.beaverislandhistory.org/sinking-of-the-carl-d-bradley)

Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails

U.S. Official Number: 226744. Registered by Bradley Transportation Company of Rogers City, MI. After her loss in 1958, the ship was declared a constructive Total Loss. Insurance litigation ensued; U.S. Steel ultimately settled surviving crew family claims with payouts. The ship was removed from the registry following documented loss findings.

Site Documentation & Imaging

ROV and sonar surveys conducted during the late 1950s and continuing into the 1990s mapped the wreck site. In 1997, remote submersible expeditions, including survivor Frank Mays, confirmed the ship lay in two sections upright on a muddy bottom, pieces separated by ~90 ft. Still and video images, as well as survey data, form part of the Great Lakes maritime heritage archive. (Beaver Island Historical Society; USCG reports)

Image Gallery(LAC, Facebook)

Resources & Links

• Wikipedia: SS Carl D. Bradley
• USCG Marine Board Investigation Report – Carl D. Bradley
• Beaver Island Historical Society – Sinking of the Carl D. Bradley
• Carl D. Bradley Official Memorial Website
• Wreckless Diver – Recent Carl D. Bradley Dive Report

References

1. “SS Carl D. Bradley.” Wikipedia. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Carl_D._Bradley?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
2. “The Sinking of the Carl D. Bradley.” Beaver Island Historical Society. (https://www.beaverislandhistory.org/sinking-of-the-carl-d-bradley)
3. U.S. Coast Guard. Marine Board of Investigation: Foundering of the SS Carl D. Bradley, Lake Michigan, 18 November 1958. (https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO%20Documents/5p/CG-5PC/INV/docs/boards/carlbradley.pdf)
4. Clark, Mel. “The Wreck of the Carl D. Bradley.” Advanced Diver Magazine. (https://advanceddivermagazine.com/articles/cardbradley/carlbradley.html)

NOAA Shipwreck Record Card