Ship Simulator
English forum => Small talk => Topic started by: Royern on November 10, 2009, 00:13:09
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This is briefly what happened: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgI8bta-7aw Gordon Lightfoot sings about the incident, following videos taken. (this is really good stuff for all u mariners and alike) :thumbs:
SS Edmund Fitzgerald (nicknamed "Mighty Fitz," "The Fitz," or "The Big Fitz") was an American Great Lakes freighter launched on June 8, 1958. Until 1971 she was the largest ship on the Great Lakes.
[1] Although she had reported having some difficulties during a gale on Lake Superior, the Fitzgerald sank suddenly on November 10, 1975 in 530 feet (160 m) of water without sending any distress signals. The site of the loss is: 46°59.9′N 85°06.6′W / 46.9983°N 85.11°W / 46.9983; -85.11, in Canadian waters approximately 17 miles (15 nmi; 27 km)
from the entrance to Whitefish Bay. All 29 hands in the crew perished, presumably by drowning. The incident is the most famous disaster in the history of Great Lakes shipping,
[2] and is the subject of Gordon Lightfoot's hit song, "The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald."
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I sailed over that spot many a times when we were dodging those nasty November gales. I worked for all 3 Canadian lakes companies Algoma Central Marine, Canada Steamship Line and Upper Lakes Shipping. All of those lakes can get nasty but nothing like Superior. She's soo big and deep and with the right wind direction and long enough to blow she can get big. I've seen at least 30' waves. Break right over the deck.
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Rest in Peace, Edmund Fitzgerald :'(
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If I can remember the history of the Big Fitz:
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was launched in Winsconsin and at launch she backdrafted it into the dock. In 1957, Big Fitz was on the normal journey across Superior, A few days in, the November Gales got to it's worse and made heavy waves crash on the deck breaking the rail. Not long after, she leaks and begins to sink, by the time the stern was still on the surface, the lights were still on until the bridge windows caved in, and communication to get rescued was lost. All 29 died on her. In 1975, they found the Edmund Fitzgerald was found. Her stern was broken off and upside down, and the bow right side up. The divers recovered the bell and replaced it with a bell that is fake and has the name of all who died on it. At a church, the bell is rung 29 times for all who were lost to the November Gales that claimed them and the Edmund Fitzgerald. To this day, almost 52 Years later, the Big Fitz is still there after the November Gales stole her life. R.I.P. Edmund Fitzgerald.
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oh the mysteriousness of the great lakes, amazing how fierce they can be :-\
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I was watching something a few days ago about the Great Lakes,
Very sad indeed...More of a sea, than a Lake..!
Jack.
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oh the mysteriousness of the great lakes, amazing how fierce they can be :-\
You right Jack and Master Captain. The Great Lakes are vast, and no less dangerous than the seas :)
Also, great history matt6574 :thumbs:
Sad deal, too bad she has been lost :(