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Nordmeer entering home port of Hamburg in the 1950's.
Nordmeer entering home port of Hamburg in the 1950's.

GPS Location : N45° 08.161' W83° 09.586'
Depth: 40 Feet
Wreck Length: 471 Feet Beam: 60 Feet
Gross Tonnage: 8,683 Cargo: Rolled steel
Launched: 1954 by Flensburger Schiffs Gesellshaft at Flensburg,Germany
Wrecked: November 19, 1966
Description: The career of the motorship Nordmeer ended abruptly when it miscalculated a turn and ran aground 7 miles northeast of Thunder Bay Island. Some crewmen stayed on board, but they evacuated a few days later when a storm struck and tore open the ship's bottom. Part of the vessel stands out of the water, but years of storms and ice have broken and twisted the hull. The big diesel engine stands amid the wreckage, but the cargo has been removed. A steel barge rests alongside the wreck, a relic of extensive salvage work. Some artifacts may be seen today at NOAA's Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center. Click here to read more about the Nordmeer.

 

Bow heeled over to port.
Bow heeled over to port.

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary: Enjoy diving the wrecks of Thunder Bay, but always respect the past. State and federal laws prohibit removing or disturbing artifacts. Future generations are depending on us to leave historic shipwrecks intact. Please take only pictures and leave only bubbles. Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Shipwreck List


The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary maintains seasonal moorings at many shipwreck sites. Available from May to September, the moorings make for safer diving and also protect shipwrecks from anchor damage. Sanctuary regulations require vessels to use moorings when present. Mooring Buoy Interactive Map


Forecast for the Alpena area

 

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