SS Pere Marquette 18 in 1910 — courtesy of the Great Lakes Marine Collection, Milwaukee Public Library

Identification Card (Site Style)

Name: SS Pere Marquette 18
Other Names: None
Official Number: 150972
Registry: United States
Vessel Type: Steel-hulled train/car Ferry, screw Steamer
Builder: American Ship Building Co., Cleveland, OH
Year Built: 1902
Dimensions: 338 ft (103 m) x 56 ft (17 m) x 19.42 ft (6 m)
Tonnage: 2,909 GRT / 1,722 NRT
Cargo on Final Voyage: 29 loaded railroad cars with coal and mixed freight
Date of Loss: 9 September 1910
Location: Lake Michigan, ~25 mi east of Sheboygan, WI
Coordinates: Withheld
Depth: Approx. 500 ft (152 m)
Home Port: Grand Haven, Michigan
Owners: Pere Marquette Railway Company
Crew: 62 (passengers and crew total)
Casualties: 27 aboard Pere Marquette 18; 2 from rescue vessel

Description

SS Pere Marquette 18 was a steel-hulled, steam-propelled car Ferry designed to transport rail freight and passengers across Lake Michigan. She featured two triple-expansion steam engines powered by six Scotch boilers and drove twin screws. Her design included four railroad tracks on the main Deck, accommodations for roughly 30 railcars, and staterooms for passengers. During summer seasons (1909–1910), she was temporarily refitted as an excursion Steamer.

History

Launched on 16 August 1902 as Hull No. 412 by American Ship Building Co., the vessel served primarily between Ludington, MI and ports in Wisconsin, including Milwaukee, Manitowoc, and Kewaunee. Her 1909 and 1910 summer seasons were spent as a passenger excursion vessel operating from Chicago to Waukegan. In September 1910, following re-inspection, she resumed Ferry service.

Final Dispositions

Pere Marquette 18 departed Ludington late on 8 September 1910 carrying 29 loaded railcars and 62 people. Around 3:30 AM, water was discovered flooding the Stern’s crew quarters compartment (“flicker”). Pumps failed to keep pace, and the crew began jettisoning railcars. At 5:00 AM, the wireless operator sent a CQD message received by the Pere Marquette 17, which responded immediately. Despite rescue efforts, the vessel sank Stern-first by 7:30 AM after a suspected internal air pressure explosion. Twenty-seven were lost, including the captain and all officers.

Located By & Date Found

On 23 July 2020, wreck hunters Jerry Eliason and Ken Merryman located the wreck using side-scan sonar and confirmed the identity with a drop camera. The wreck lies in 500 ft (152 m) of water, 25 miles east of Sheboygan, WI. The bow is raised, the decks are collapsed, and the pilothouse lies on the Stern.

NOTMARs & Advisories

None noted. The wreck is not a navigational hazard.

Dive Information

Access: Boat only
Entry Point: Offshore Lake Michigan
Conditions: Deep water, cold, poor Visibility
Depth Range: 500 ft (152 m)
Emergency Contacts: USCG Sheboygan
Permits: Not applicable
Dive Support: ROV/submersible only

Crew & Casualty Memorials

Memorial plaque in Ludington commemorates the 29 total lives lost, including wireless operator Stephen F. Sczepanek—the first Great Lakes operator to die in service.

Documented Statements & Extracts

“We think that his efforts were directed more towards saving the ship, than to the saving of the lives aboard his boat.” — Marine Review, 1910

Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails

Official Number: 150972. Enrollment surrendered at Grand Haven, MI on 15 September 1910 as “Vessel Lost”. The ship and cargo were insured for ~$400,000 and $100,000 respectively.

Site Documentation & Imaging

Video footage, sonar scans, and site photos obtained by Eliason and Merryman during the 2020 expedition. Zebra mussel encrustation is extensive; railcar debris visible.

Image Gallery

Resources & Links

References

  1. Wikipedia – SS Pere Marquette 18
  2. WisconsinShipwrecks.org Vessel Record
  3. Carferries.com – PM 18 History
  4. The Scuba News – 2020 Discovery Report

NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card

Wreck Name: Pere Marquette 18
Other Names: None
Official Number: 150972
Coordinates: Not released
Depth: ~152 m (500 ft)
Location Description: ~25 miles east of Sheboygan, WI, Lake Michigan
Vessel Type: Train/Car Ferry
Material: Steel
Dimensions: 338 ft x 56 ft x 19.42 ft; 2,909 GRT / 1,722 NRT
Condition: Bow upright, Stern buried, collapsed Deck, Zebra Mussels
Cause of Loss: Flooding and suspected internal explosion
Discovery Date: 23 July 2020
Discovered By: Ken Merryman & Jerry Eliason
Method: Side-scan sonar and drop camera
Legal Notes: Registry struck 1910; insured
Hazards: None
Permits Required: No