/ Associated Press Agency
The Edmund Fitzgerald, one of the most iconic ships to sail the waters of the Great Lakes, marked 50 years since its tragic end, in a shipwreck that took its entire crew during a severe storm on Lake Superior on November 10, 1975, and whose causes remain a mystery to this day.
The Fitzgerald, a freighter 222.5 meters long and 22.9 meters wide, was named after an executive of a Milwaukee insurance company. It was the largest ship on the Great Lakes when it was launched in 1958 and held that title until 1971.
On its final voyage, the ship departed from Superior, Wisconsin, USA, on November 9, 1975, carrying 26,000 tons of iron ore on a well-known route to Zug Island, in Detroit. In command was Captain Ernest M. McSorley, 63, who planned to retire after the 1975 season.
McSorley was known for his skill in navigating storms on the Great Lakes, but the one that struck on November 10 was unlike any he had faced before. The ship’s master chose a northerly route across Lake Superior to seek protection from the highlands of the Canadian shore. Gale warnings were issued on the night of November 9, however, these escalated to storm warnings in the early hours of the following morning.
The crew of the Arthur Anderson, a ship following the Fitzgerald on that crossing, reported waves up to 7.6 meters high. The first officer radioed McSorley, who reported that his ship had sustained damage from the bad weather. “We are holding our own,” the captain told the Arthur Anderson, which was the last message sent by anyone on board.
No Response
There are many theories about what caused the Fitzgerald to sink so quickly without issuing a distress call, but the exact reason remains unknown.
Even without an answer, the accident spurred many “incredible” safety improvements, said Frederick Stonehouse, whose 1977 book “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” was the first of dozens written about the tragedy.
According to Stonehouse, whereas before the sinking of the Fitzgerald a ship of similar size was lost on the lakes every six or seven years, since then none have sunk. “All sailors who sail the Great Lakes today owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Fitzgerald,” the author commented.
The Fitzgerald remains at the bottom of Lake Superior, submerged at a depth of 163 meters, about 27.36 kilometers northwest of Whitefish Point, Michigan. No bodies were recovered.
The wreck is protected as a burial site by Canadian law – the territory where the ship sank – a status advocated for by family members. For this reason, unauthorized diving and the recovery of objects are prohibited.
Each year, in the Great Lakes region, events are held to remember the men who lost their lives in the tragedy and to bring their families together. Organizers say the fiftieth anniversary has boosted public interest.
