SS Scotiadoc

The Great Lakes freighter SS Scotiadoc was a 424 feet (129 m) long, 48 feet (15 m) wide, and 23.75 feet (7.24 m) deep, dry bulk freighter of typical construction style for the early 1900s, primarily designed for the iron ore, coal, and grain trades on the Great Lakes. Commissioned by the Lakewood Steamship Co. of Cleveland, Ohio, SS Martin Mullen was launched as hull number 422 by American Ship Building Co. of Columbus.[1]

Martin Mullen in Houghton, Michigan, c. 1906
History
Name:
  • Martin Mullen (1904–1947)
  • Scotiadoc (1947–1953)
Owner:
  • Lakewood Steamship Co. (1904–1905)
  • Pioneer Steam Ship Co. (1905–1947)
  • Paterson Steamships, Ltd. (1947–1953)
Port of registry:
Builder: American Ship Building Co., Cleveland, Ohio
Launched: May 14, 1904
Identification:
  • US 201025
  • Canadian Registry 173186
Fate: Rammed by freighter Burlington in heavy fog on June 20, 1953
General characteristics
Class and type: Lake freighter
Tonnage: 4432 tons
Length: 424 ft (129 m)
Beam: 48 ft (15 m)
Depth: 23.75 ft (7.24 m)
Crew: 29

Career

Martin Mullen made frequent trips to and from Duluth-area ports. She was purchased by Paterson Steamships in 1947 and renamed Scotiadoc.

Final voyage

Scotiadoc was rammed by Canadian steamer Burlington in heavy fog on June 20, 1953, off Trowbridge Island, near the Sleeping Giant in Lake Superior. One crew member died. Captain George Edgar Morris testified that he picked up Burlington on radar when it was five miles away. Burlington collided with the starboard side of Scotiadoc near the stern.[2]

Discovery of shipwreck

Shipwreck hunters found the wreck in 2013. At a depth of 850 feet, it is among the deepest shipwrecks in the Great Lakes.[2][3][4]

References
  1. "Martin Mullen". Great Lakes Vessels Online Index. Bowling Green State University. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  2. Krueger, Andrew (October 6, 2013). "Lake Superior shipwreck find Scotiadoc is Great Lakes' deepest". Duluth News Tribune.
  3. "'Deepest' Great Lakes shipwreck found near Thunder Bay: Scotiadoc found largely intact near Trowbridge Island, 30 km southeast of Thunder Bay". CBC News. 2013-10-07. Archived from the original on 2013-10-08. Retrieved 2014-03-02. Jerry Eliason, a member of the group that found the sunken ship, said it's likely the deepest wreck ever found in the Great Lakes.
  4. Samantha Edwards. "Shipwreck found in Lake Superior near Thunder Bay". Cottage Life. Archived from the original on 2014-03-02. Surprisingly, the ship was in good condition even after spending decades underwater.

Further reading


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