Diving the Nordmeer - Sept 1970
Nordmeer
Steel Ocean General Cargo Freighter
GPS Location: N45° 08.161' W83° 09.586'
Depth: 40 Feet
Wreck Length: 471 Feet Beam: 60 Feet
Gross Tonnage: 8,683 Cargo: Rolled steel
Launched: 1954 by Flensburger Schiffs Gesellshaft at Flensburg, Germany
Wrecked: November 19, 1966
Description: The career of the motorship Nordmeer ended abruptly when it miscalculated a turn and ran aground 7 miles northeast of Thunder Bay Island. Some crewmen stayed on board, but they evacuated a few days later when a storm struck and tore open the ship's bottom. Part of the vessel stands out of the water, but years of storms and ice have broken and twisted the hull. The big diesel engine stands amid the wreckage, but the cargo has been removed. A steel barge rests alongside the wreck, a relic of extensive salvage work. Some artifacts may be seen today at NOAA's Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center.
From: https://thunderbay.noaa.gov/shipwrecks/nordmeer.html
Images below: Mike Michaels - Diving the Nordmeer September 1970 (4 years after sinking)
Steel Ocean General Cargo Freighter
GPS Location: N45° 08.161' W83° 09.586'
Depth: 40 Feet
Wreck Length: 471 Feet Beam: 60 Feet
Gross Tonnage: 8,683 Cargo: Rolled steel
Launched: 1954 by Flensburger Schiffs Gesellshaft at Flensburg, Germany
Wrecked: November 19, 1966
Description: The career of the motorship Nordmeer ended abruptly when it miscalculated a turn and ran aground 7 miles northeast of Thunder Bay Island. Some crewmen stayed on board, but they evacuated a few days later when a storm struck and tore open the ship's bottom. Part of the vessel stands out of the water, but years of storms and ice have broken and twisted the hull. The big diesel engine stands amid the wreckage, but the cargo has been removed. A steel barge rests alongside the wreck, a relic of extensive salvage work. Some artifacts may be seen today at NOAA's Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center.
From: https://thunderbay.noaa.gov/shipwrecks/nordmeer.html
Images below: Mike Michaels - Diving the Nordmeer September 1970 (4 years after sinking)
NORDMEER
Wreck Location: 45deg, 8'20" N, 83deg, 9'30" W.
Sources: glp,is(1-67),stb,slh,sol,lhdc,net,nsc
From <http://www.boatnerd.com/swayze/shipwreck/n.htm>
- Other names : none
- Official no. : German LR525650 call no. DIGH
- Type at loss : propeller, steel, package and bulk freighter
- Build info : 1954, Flensburger Schiffs Gesellshaft, Flensburg, Germany
- Specs : 470 ft., 8683 t.
- Date of loss : 1966, Nov 19
- Place of loss : a few mi N of Thunder Bay Isl.
- Lake : Huron
- Type of loss : navigational error
- Loss of life : none
- Carrying : stainless steel wire
Wreck Location: 45deg, 8'20" N, 83deg, 9'30" W.
Sources: glp,is(1-67),stb,slh,sol,lhdc,net,nsc
From <http://www.boatnerd.com/swayze/shipwreck/n.htm>
![Picture](/uploads/1/0/6/2/106221155/nordmeer-spec-image_2.png)
Table at Left From: Wreck 41
http://www.tbscuba.com/Wreck52.html
Additional Note: The SS Edward Y. Townsend had a large crack in its deck from the same storm, It was declared a total loss and was docked for almost two years. It would later be towed to Europe to be scrapped. On its way for scrapping it broke in two and sank in the same vicinity as the R.M.S. Titanic. The German saltie Nordmeer which had grounded at Thunder Bay Island Shoal on November 19 was declared a total loss after the additional damage to its bottom caused by the storm.
From <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Daniel_J._Morrell>
http://www.tbscuba.com/Wreck52.html
Additional Note: The SS Edward Y. Townsend had a large crack in its deck from the same storm, It was declared a total loss and was docked for almost two years. It would later be towed to Europe to be scrapped. On its way for scrapping it broke in two and sank in the same vicinity as the R.M.S. Titanic. The German saltie Nordmeer which had grounded at Thunder Bay Island Shoal on November 19 was declared a total loss after the additional damage to its bottom caused by the storm.
From <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Daniel_J._Morrell>