Oldpirate
Contributor
The location of the newly discovered wreck of the car ferry Ann Arbor no. 5 has been posted on the Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates web site.
The 160' deep wreck is unique in that only about 1/3 of the 360' long vessel is left, after either an atempted salvage operation in 1970 or breaking and sinking while under tow -- depending on which version of history you believe.
The vessel, which had been cut down to serve as a work barge and submerged breakwall for the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in South haven, Michigan, was found by MSRA along with author Clive Cussler's search expert Ralph Wilbanks, the same man who located the confederate submarine Hunley off South Carolina in 1995. The wreck showed up on the side scan sonar during the search for Northwest Airlines Flight 2501 which disappeared off South Haven in 1950.
Divers will find the wreck buoyed with a submerged 55 gallon drum and tag line, with the mooring attached to the highest point on the wreck. The upright vessel is plunged into the bottom of the lake at a 30 degree angle, with the stern in only 120 feet of water. The 12' 6" diameter propellers (two of them) are accessible at 125 feet, along with a 15 foot rudder. The rail car tracks are still in place on the deck.
The slope of the wreck makes it easy to accidentally "slip" down to 160 feet of depth as you swim forward. MSRA asks all divers to exercise extreme caution as they dive this shipwreck.
Recent reports say this wreck was located in the 1980s by famed wreck hunter Dick Race, but the location was never shared with the dive community.
MSRA also discovered the location of the S. S. Michigan off Holland this year, but the location is being withheld pending a complete survey and documentation of the numerous artifacts on the upright, intact passenger steamer.
Maybe now somone will actually start a charter service in the Holland/Saugatuck/South Haven area. Ths wreck, along with the fireboat , Northshore and the tech-diver-only H. C. Akeley make this area a new destination for Great lakes Divers!
Have fun folks!
The 160' deep wreck is unique in that only about 1/3 of the 360' long vessel is left, after either an atempted salvage operation in 1970 or breaking and sinking while under tow -- depending on which version of history you believe.
The vessel, which had been cut down to serve as a work barge and submerged breakwall for the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in South haven, Michigan, was found by MSRA along with author Clive Cussler's search expert Ralph Wilbanks, the same man who located the confederate submarine Hunley off South Carolina in 1995. The wreck showed up on the side scan sonar during the search for Northwest Airlines Flight 2501 which disappeared off South Haven in 1950.
Divers will find the wreck buoyed with a submerged 55 gallon drum and tag line, with the mooring attached to the highest point on the wreck. The upright vessel is plunged into the bottom of the lake at a 30 degree angle, with the stern in only 120 feet of water. The 12' 6" diameter propellers (two of them) are accessible at 125 feet, along with a 15 foot rudder. The rail car tracks are still in place on the deck.
The slope of the wreck makes it easy to accidentally "slip" down to 160 feet of depth as you swim forward. MSRA asks all divers to exercise extreme caution as they dive this shipwreck.
Recent reports say this wreck was located in the 1980s by famed wreck hunter Dick Race, but the location was never shared with the dive community.
MSRA also discovered the location of the S. S. Michigan off Holland this year, but the location is being withheld pending a complete survey and documentation of the numerous artifacts on the upright, intact passenger steamer.
Maybe now somone will actually start a charter service in the Holland/Saugatuck/South Haven area. Ths wreck, along with the fireboat , Northshore and the tech-diver-only H. C. Akeley make this area a new destination for Great lakes Divers!
Have fun folks!
