What Changed Because of the Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald?

[GON]

Interesting changes made after the sinking of the Edmond Fitzgerald. This information cut and pasted from Split Rock Lighthouse:

What Changed Because of the Fitz? With the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, it became clear that even larger vessels could sink on Lake Superior. This tragic event led to several important changes in Lake Superior shipping:

1. Pre-November inspections of hatch and vent closures as well as lifesaving equipment became required by the Coast Guard.

2. Lake Superior navigational charts were improved and made more accurate with additional details.

3. To help locate ships in emergency and disastrous situations, all vessels were required to have Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) on board.

4. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) began to use a different system to predict wave height.

5. In 1977, the Coast Guard required ships 1,600 gross register tons or greater to use depth finders.

6. In 1980, vessels were required to have survival suits with attached strobe lights in the crew quarters and at regular workstations.

7. Also in 1980, the LORAN-C (Long Range Navigation) navigation system was implemented over all the Great Lakes. By 1990, GPS took its place.

8. The 1973 Load Line Regulation amendment was repealed. This action prevented vessels from being overloaded which meant ships could sit higher in the water.

 

[RDY4WAR]

The song by Gordon Lightfoot was one of my dad's favorites. I looked into that sinking quite a bit several years ago.

 

[Tjbouwhu]

Here is a good explanation of the late fall weather systems that occur in Great Lakes...called a November Witch!

The gales of November: What are they and why in Michigan?

What are the gales of November, and why do they happen here in Michigan and on the Great Lakes?

www.mlive.com

 

[Passport1]

Here is a small segment of the actual radio coms with the captain of the Arthur Anderson that night as she followed the Fitzgerald. I was active duty CG then and this event shook the entire service.

Heartbreaking audio from the night 45 years ago the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior

"The last time I talked with him, he said he was 'holding his own.' I lost contact after that," another freighter's captain told the U.S. Coast Guard.

www.mlive.com

 

[aquariuscsm]

The song by Gordon Lightfoot was one of my dad's favorites. I looked into that sinking quite a bit several years ago.

I remember hearing that song being played on the radio when I was a little kid. I always loved that song!!

 

[doitmyself]

I remember that stormy evening well. I was in college in the Upper Peninsula and recall when the television notice came on.

I got to see the ship's bell when it was being restored at Michigan State University: https://ssedmundfitzgerald.org/bell-restoration

Thank's Gon for the timely reminder of this event. RIP to the sailors and respects to their families.

 

[wpod]

Interesting changes made after the sinking of the Edmond Fitzgerald. This information cut and pasted from Split Rock Lighthouse:

What Changed Because of the Fitz? With the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, it became clear that even larger vessels could sink on Lake Superior. This tragic event led to several important changes in Lake Superior shipping:

1. Pre-November inspections of hatch and vent closures as well as lifesaving equipment became required by the Coast Guard.

2. Lake Superior navigational charts were improved and made more accurate with additional details.

3. To help locate ships in emergency and disastrous situations, all vessels were required to have Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) on board.

4. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) began to use a different system to predict wave height.

5. In 1977, the Coast Guard required ships 1,600 gross register tons or greater to use depth finders.

6. In 1980, vessels were required to have survival suits with attached strobe lights in the crew quarters and at regular workstations.

7. Also in 1980, the LORAN-C (Long Range Navigation) navigation system was implemented over all the Great Lakes. By 1990, GPS took its place.

8. The 1973 Load Line Regulation amendment was repealed. This action prevented vessels from being overloaded which meant ships could sit higher in the water.
View attachment 77044

The cause of the sinking was the Captains poor choices in choosing to go through the rough waters.

 

[Kira]

Whitefish Point, Michigan is near the tragic site. A local took me there 19 years ago.

Go there and you'll want to build a home like the lighthouse master's home for yourself.

The souvenir shop plays the Gordon Lightfoot song on an endless loop.

The poor lady working in the shop had been turned into a zombie by it.

+1 on the condolences.

Q: I thought the compounding of wave troughs essentially allowed the ship to plummet down (from the height of compounded wave crests) with such velocity that the ship continued through the water and smashed down "full belly" onto the lake's bottom.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Another interesting fact about the ship is that it is was longer in feet than the depth of the lake.

 

[wpod]

The ship was worn out or poorly constructed. as well

 

[mk378]

There is a law that ships which move cargo between US ports (including from the mainland to Puerto Rico) must have been built in the USA. This makes them expensive to replace, so the average age of such ships is old compared to a typical ship in international commerce. They tend to be worn out and less seaworthy.

 

[opus1]

I stumbled on this guy's channel where he outlines the stories behind various events and he has a video on this one.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Wikipedia is also a good source, looking at the various theories of why it sank. It was split into two almost equal lengths. The two sections are are on the Canadian side of the border and some of the debris field is on the US side. Thank you GON for the post.

 

[MNgopher]

While the Jones act does have something to do with fleet age, the biggest piece is that the Great Lakes are not salty, and are a significantly less corrosive environment to a ship. When salties come in, they typically look like rust buckets compared to many of the old lakers...

There are many theories as to what happened to the Fitz. The only people who know can't tell us.

 

[Snagglefoot]

And here is Gordon Lightfoot's song. Careful, because it will stay with you all day. To the 29 men of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

 

[Passport1]

Another less well known song about a forgotten ship. Sank with on Halloween, 1944. USS Reuben James, DD-245. What were their names, tell me what were their names?

 

[I<3oil]

Another interesting fact about the ship is that it is was longer in feet than the depth of the lake.

Mmm....not really unless math changed recently to where 728 > 1,333.

Lake Superior:
Max. depth 1,333 ft (406 m)[7][9]
with a maximum depth of 222.17 fathoms (1,333 ft; 406 m).[7][8][9]

EF:
Length: 728′

 

[Snagglefoot]

[QUOTE="I Mmm....not really unless math changed recently to where 728 > 1,333.

Lake Superior:
Max. depth 1,333 ft (406 m)[7][9]
with a maximum depth of 222.17 fathoms (1,333 ft; 406 m).[7][8][9]

EF:
Length: 728′
[/QUOTE]
Where it sank.

 

[I<3oil]

Where it sank.

Ah, you didn't say that.

 

[Snagglefoot]

[QUOTE="I Ah, you didn't say that.
[/QUOTE]
Fair enough. How about this. The average depth of lake Superior is 483 feet. The Edmund Fitzgerald was as you say, 728 feet.