39 years ago today, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank in eastern Lake Superior with the loss of all 29 souls on board. Even to this day, the 1975 sinking remains the Great Lakes region’s most famous and mysterious maritime disaster.
To remember of the tragedy, the National Weather Service office in Marquette, Michigan has been live tweeting the event based on the original NTSB Report of the incident and a re-examination paper released in 2006 by Thomas R. Hultquist from NOAA/ NWS Marquette. A sample of their live feed, in near real-time as it happened 39 years ago, can be found below. And what better way to kick it off than with the Gordon Lightfoot’s “The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald”, aka Gales of November, written in remembrance of the event:
Over the next couple of days we will be retracing the final voyage of the Edmund Fitzgerald. #EdmundFitz1975
At the time of her launch, the 26,000 DWT Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest freighter on the Great Lakes, measuring 729’ long by 75’ wide, and in 1964 became the first carrier to haul more than 1 million tons of iron ore pellets through the SOO locks.
Captain Ernest McSorley, a veteran mariner, assumed command of the Fitzgerald at the start of the 1972 shipping season. #EdmundFitz1975 — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 9, 2014
On October 31, 1975, the Coast Guard noted a problem with the cargo hatch covers during a routine inspection of the vessel. #EdmundFitz1975
The NWS issued a gale warning for winds up to 45 knots on Lake Superior for the night of November 9, 1975. #EdmundFitz1975 — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 9, 2014
At 3 AM on 11/10/1975, the faster Edmund Fitzgerald pulls ahead of the Arthur M. Anderson. #EdmundFitz1975 — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
Updated forecast from the NWS indicated Northwest winds 32-48kts that afternoon and night with waves 8 to 16 feet. #EdmundFitz1975 — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
The Fitzgerald indicated it would slow down to reduce the distance between Anderson and itself. #EdmundFitz1975 — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
An estimated 75 knot, hurricane-force northwest wind gust hit the Arthur M. Anderson at 4PM on 11/10/1975. #EdmundFitz1975
Captain McSorley reported to the Anderson that both of its radars were out and it would need them to help them navigate. #EdmundFitz1975 — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
East-Northeast of Caribou Island, the Anderson reports northwest winds at 52 knots and waves of 12 to 18 feet. #EdmundFitz1975 — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
#EdmundFitz1975 communicated with the northbound Swedish freighter Avafors and indicated that it was taking heavy seas across the deck.
Captain McSorley tells the Avafors that this is “One of the worst seas I’ve ever been in.” #EdmundFitz1975 — NWS Marquette (@NWSMarquette) November 10, 2014
The Anderson continues to provide navigational assistance to the Fitzgerald as it follows the ship towards Whitefish Bay. #EdmundFitz1975
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October 3, 2024
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