North Star

MV Great Lakes Diver, Port Sanilac Marina, Michigan. 586 792 2040.

Six identical sister ships were constructed between 1888 and 1889 by the Globe Iron Works company of Cleveland, Ohio: North Star, North Wind, Northern Light, Northern Queen, Northern King and Northern Wave. All were 300' steel propellor-driven package freighters.

The North Star was infamously involved in the first Great Lakes collision between two steel ships, sinking another from Globe Iron Works, the Charles J. Sheffield. In heavy fog the North Star broadsided the Sheffield just forward of her stack. The Sheffield's crew clambered aboard the North Star and when she backed away the Sheffield sank in 8 minutes flat to a total loss of $160,000. Both vessels were later found to be at fault in a much publicised case, with the 1891 Marine Review reporting the Judge's statement that “From the ancient ground hog to the modern superintendent of the weather bureau the weather-wise are as often false as true prophets and their miscalculations are the daily subject of good humored derision by the public.”

On another cold foggy morning in November 1908, downbound from Duluth with mixed cargo of wheat and shingles, the North Star met her own fate at the hands of yet another Globe Iron Works Ship—none other than her sister ship the Northern Queen! The two vessels collided in the dense fog, with Northern Queen ramming the North Star in the starboard side close to her bow and resulting in a hole so huge that she, also, only took minutes to sink. Before she sunk the 22 quick-witted crew launched lifeboats and made it safely aboard the sister ship.

The North Star is now a disorientating mass of wreckage, having split in two on the way down. Two buoys are generally kept attached to the fore and aft portions of the ship and for divers with reasonably good air consumption a line (if you can find it in the murk) links the two halves. In the absence of a line divers often make what has been termed ‘The Leap of Faith’ to swim the forty foot gap. It is not that difficult a task as, even in the more often than not limited visibility, the sillhouette of the hull, which is upright but listing to starboard, can usually be discerned. However, this is a large wreck and two dives can easily be filled before remaining time, air or core body temperature start to run low.

The enourmous engine and twin boilers are present on the stern section and divers can explore the holds to a certain extent. More holds, the masts and bows of the Star can be taken in on another dive. I have read in a guide or two that the anchors are in place but this is not true; one of the anchors sits proudly on display at Port Sanilac Marina, with a commemorative inscription, having been "Recovered" some time ago.