November 10 - Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Service. A memorial service for the men lost on the Edmund Fitzgerald will be held on November 10 at Dr. Henri Belanger Park in River Rouge, Mi. The service will be held near the Mariners Memorial Lighthouse beginning at 6:00 p.m. The tug boat will be on hand to take out a wreath to be placed on the river. The service will feature a plaque presentation, bell ringing, lantern lighting, and refreshments will be served. For more information call Roscoe Clark at 810-519-2148 or Dolores Swekel 313-842-7822.

The service will be at River Rouge Michigan on the Detroit River next to where the ship was built at the slips and on the other side is where Zug Island is.

A special Edmund Fitzgerald open house will be open to the pubic from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the River Rouge Historical Museum

I am honored and excited to be invited to attend the upcoming service held this
November 10th in River Rouge.I will be coming from Kansas to honor my dad and the other
28 crewmen.My father was the " Old Cook" referred to in the Gordon Lightfoot song.
There will be so many events having to do with the FITZ I hope to be able to fit it all in.
I think it's great to include the school kids learning about the Great Lakes and the ships
that have sailed on them.
I grew up in Toledo Ohio and watched from many ports my dads ship sail off with a load
of iron ore or coal. Those good memories never go away. Hope to see you there.
All are welcome to honor and remember that fateful night.

Pam Johnson
Daughter of ROBERT C. RAFFERTY

Mark and Unmark Shoals found and verfied
by two Hydrographic Services
Six-Fathom Shoal Updates

During a taped conversation with his office, which was made a part of the record, the ANDERSON’s master stated that the FITZGERALD "passed right over that 6-fathom spot." The Canadian Hydrographic Service survey shows the water depth at this charted "6- fathom spot". If the FITZGERALD, whose draft was more than 27 feet, had passed through this position on a course plan later that day of 141 T the vessel would have had to pass over the north tip of Caribou Island and through an area where the depth is less than 21 feet.

During a taped conversation with his office, which was made a part of the record, the ANDERSON’s master stated that the FITZGERALD "passed right over that 6-fathom spot."
Listen

"Revise Lake Survey Chart No. 9 showing the areas between Michipicoten Island and Caribou Island in Lake Superior to reflect the findings of the survey performed by the Canadian Hydrographic Service. (Class II, Priority Action) 01—78—33)

Crain on hand for lifting
We found over turn rocks at the shoal
Red paint on rocks and bottom damage on shoal cause by a boat grounding

Under the Ontario Heritage Act, an archaeological underwater license is
required to conduct a general survey and collect data from a registered
heritage site.
No fee is attached to the one-year license but at the end of each dive
season a report must be submitted entailing the work completed.

Contravention of the Act by an individual yields a fine of not more
than $50,000, one year imprisonment, or both; contravention by a
corporation yields a fine of not more than $250,000.
Six-Fathom Shoal Updates

During a taped conversation with his office, which was made a part of the record, the ANDERSON’s master stated that the FITZGERALD "passed right over that 6-fathom spot." The Canadian Hydrographic Service survey shows the water depth at this charted "6- fathom spot". If the FITZGERALD, whose draft was more than 27 feet, had passed through this position on a course plan later that day of 141 T the vessel would have had to pass over the north tip of Caribou Island and through an area where the depth is less than 21 feet.

During a taped conversation with his office, which was made a part of the record, the ANDERSON’s master stated that the FITZGERALD "passed right over that 6-fathom spot."
Listen

"Revise Lake Survey Chart No. 9 showing the areas between Michipicoten Island and Caribou Island in Lake Superior to reflect the findings of the survey performed by the Canadian Hydrographic Service. (Class II, Priority Action) 01—78—33)

S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald Draft Marks = 1" = 135 Tons per inch of draft
6" Repainted draft mark = 810 tons of taconite ore
Zug Island VIDEO

Weight of one Taconite pellet = .009 lbs.
1 - US Cup full of Taconite pellets holds = 150 count.
1 - US Cup full of Taconite pellets weight = 1,35 lbs.
1 - US Cup full of Taconite pellets holds 1/3 cup of water in void spaces.
Typ. Size of one Taconite pellets is = 1/2" Dia.
112 Count of Taconite pellets has a weight of 1 Lbs
Six-Fathom Shoal Updates

Perhaps the most widely accepted of the four theories about the loss of the Fitzgerald is that the ship crossed Caribou Island’s Six-Fathom Shoal, which is located off the north end of the island with water as shallow as 26.5 feet. This contact or a near contact could damage the hull plate and allow water to begin accumulating inside the affected port side ballast tanks. Significantly, within a few minutes of passing the mark and unmarked shoals, the Fitzgerald Captain Ernest McSorley reported a port list, missing vents and a fence rail down. Beyond that, Captain “Bernie” Cooper and Morgan Clark of the Anderson commented that his radar showed the -
"Fitzgerald to be closer to the shoal than he wanted his ship to be"