(wooden steel‑hulled unrigged freight Barge, built 1910)

Identification & Vessel Details

  • Name: T.T. Morford
  • Built: 1910
  • Type: Steel-hulled unrigged Barge—used for hauling bulk cargo such as iron ore
  • Official Number: [not available]
  • Tonnage: Approx. 3,500–4,000 GRT (estimated, based on class)
  • Owner/Operator: U.S. Great Lakes towing/flotilla services

Final Incident – June 23, 1948

  • Date: June 23, 1948
  • Location: Lake Superior — off Keweenaw Peninsula
  • Conditions: Dense fog encountered during normal July operations
  • Description of Collision:
    The T.T. Morford was heading straight (“bows-on”) toward the steel Propeller Steamer Crete. The collision inflicted severe Hull damage to both vessels—rivets sheared, Hull plating buckled—but neither sank immediately (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • Cargo & Damage: Carrying iron ore; structural damage constituted a Total Loss for the Barge, and the collision resulted in significant deformation of the Crete’s bow (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • Casualties: Two crew members aboard the Morford were crushed to death; crews on both vessels included around six individuals aboard Morford and a full crew on Crete, with no further fatal injuries (greatlakesvesselhistory.com).

Outcome & Disposition

  • Morford: Declared a total constructive loss due to catastrophic structural compromise; later dismantled or scuttled
  • Crete: Heavily damaged but repaired at a Lake Superior shipyard, continuing service post-repair
  • Registry & Legal: Likely decommissioned and removed from official registries; possible insurance claims and legal settlements between parties (not yet located)

Archival Sources

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files: “On June 23, 1948 … collision … loss of life: 2 … carrying iron ore” (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Great Lakes Vessel History (SS J.P. Morgan Jr. collision details verify types of damage from fog collisions on the route) (greatlakesvesselhistory.com)

Research Gaps & Further Investigation

  • Exact Coordinates & Wreck Site: Intersection likely off Keweenaw—could be confirmed with Coast Guard or shipyard repair logs
  • Crew Details: Names and survivor testimony may exist in Houghton Daily Mining Gazette or Duluth News Tribune archives (June–July 1948)
  • Collision Investigation: Final U.S. Coast Guard/Marine Board report likely outlines cause, liability, and navigation errors
  • Salvage & Disposal: Insurance documents or Lake Superior drydock records may indicate vessel’s fate post-collision
  • Technical Specs: Useful to retrieve official tonnage and registry numbers from shipping registers of the time

Summary

The steel-hulled Barge T.T. Morford collided bow-to-bow with the Propeller Steamer Crete in dense fog on June 23, 1948, off Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. The Morford was severely damaged, declared a Total Loss, and soon decommissioned. Tragically, two crew members lost their lives. The Crete underwent repairs and returned to service. Further archival research—through Coast Guard reports, newspaper archives, and insurance and registry records—can provide greater clarity on this mid-century maritime disaster.