(steel bulk freighter, 1902–1905)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: SS Etruria
• Type: Steel-hulled bulk freighter
• Built: Launched February 8, 1902, by West Bay City Shipbuilding Co. (West Bay City, MI); enrolled April 12, 1902; Official No. 136977; approx. 4,653 GRT; depth 28 ft (Wikipedia)
• Dimensions: 434 ft long, 50 ft beam (Wikipedia)
• Cargo: Coal (7,000 tons capacity) (Wikipedia)

Collision & Sinking

• On June 18, 1905, while upbound from Toledo to Superior in heavy fog, Etruria was struck on her starboard side near hatch No. 9 by the downbound steel freighter Amasa Stone, approximately 10 miles off Presque Isle Light in Lake Huron (Wikipedia).
• Etruria capsized and sank within five minutes in about 310–317 ft (94–97 m) of water. All crew were rescued by nearby vessel Maritana (Wikipedia).

Court Ruling & Liability

• The collision led to Hawgood Transit Co. v. Mesaba S.S. Co., adjudicated by the Sixth Circuit on January 22, 1909. Both vessels were held negligent: Amasa Stone for excessive speed and lack of lookout; Etruria for failing to properly respond to passing signals and not stopping promptly (vLex).

Discovery & Wreck Condition

• The wreck was located on May 17, 2011 as part of NOAA’s “Project Shiphunt” and was confirmed upside-down in ~310 ft of water (Wikipedia).
• It lies inverted, largely intact: about 405 ft Hull exposed, bow elevated slightly, Stern partly buried, with superstructure and anchors still in place (Wikipedia).

Site Status & Diving Notes

• This wreck is designated as part of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (GPS: N 45°28.981′ W 83°28.4198′).
• At ~310 ft, it requires advanced technical diving or ROV operations. Mooring buoys are installed to protect the site (Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary).

Historical Significance

• At sinking, Etruria was the largest freighter lost on the Great Lakes to date (Wikipedia).
• The incident underscores early-20th-century navigation challenges in fog and the legal importance of proper signaling and speed adherence.

Summary Table