Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

Description

The STARUCCA was a wooden-hulled steam screw package freighter designed to carry both bulk and packaged cargoes throughout the Great Lakes. Equipped with 1,800 nominal horsepower, she was capable of efficient service between major ports, reflecting the transitional era of Great Lakes shipping when wooden hulls were still widely employed despite the rise of iron and steel shipbuilding.

History

Launched in 1875 at Buffalo, New York, STARUCCA served as a package freighter during a period of heavy commercial growth on the Great Lakes. Her career reflected the versatility of wooden steamers that carried everything from general goods to bulk commodities, sustaining regional trade and settlement.

Final Voyage

On 15 November 1888, STARUCCA stranded roughly 10 miles east of Grand Marais, Michigan, during late-fall navigation on Lake Superior. Weather was reported severe, but precise circumstances remain undocumented. The Port Huron Daily Times of 23 November 1888 noted the loss but offered no clear cause. She was declared a Total Loss, with no record of salvage operations. The vessel was one of many to succumb to Lake Superior’s notorious November gales.

Final Disposition

The STARUCCA was Abandoned following her loss. No confirmed salvage took place. Today, the wreck site lies in shallow water east of Grand Marais, Michigan, within the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve. Shifting sands frequently bury or reveal the wreck remains, leaving the boiler, shaft, and scattered timbers intermittently visible.

Located By & Date Found

The wreck site was identified in the late 20th century, though precise discovery details are undocumented. It is now monitored within the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Protected under Michigan’s State Underwater Preserve system. Divers are prohibited from artifact removal. Visibility varies due to shifting sands; the site may appear minimal or buried in summer months.

Dive Information

Access: Boat launch from Grand Marais
Depth Range: ~15 ft (4.5 m)
Conditions: Shallow, variable Visibility; wreckage often buried by sand
Permits: Covered by Michigan’s Underwater Preserve law (no collection)
Emergency Contacts: USCG Sector Sault Ste. Marie

Crew & Casualty Memorials

No confirmed loss-of-life records. Further archival research in crew lists and contemporary newspapers required.

Documented Statements & Extracts

“The wreck of the Starrucca lies some ten miles east of Grand Marais, but particulars are scarce.” — Port Huron Daily Times, 23 November 1888

Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails

Official No. 115381; enrolled Buffalo, NY; Gross Tonnage 1,313.09 / Net Tonnage 1,155.20. Further insurance records not yet located.

Site Documentation & Imaging

Photographed by GLSPS and divers within the Whitefish Point Preserve. Portions modeled in 3D imaging due to partial burial by sand.

3D Model

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Ships Database (HCGL)
• Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Port Huron Daily Times (Nov 23, 1888)
• David Swayze Shipwreck Database
• NOAA Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary

NOAA Shipwreck Record Card