EDMUND FITZGERALD LIFEBOAT MANUAL

The normal route the ship took was from Silver Bay Minnesota to the steel mills on the lower Lakes in the Detroit and Toledo area. The ‘Mighty Fitz’ was built to transport taconite iron ore pellets between the mines near Duluth, MN and ports around the Great Lakes. 15,000 onlookers went to see the largest ship on North America’s Great Lakes at the time. The SS Edmund Fitzgerald first launched on June 8, 1958, at River Rouge Michigan. Edmund Fitzgerald History Launching the Edmund Fitzgerald It puts into perspective the sheer power of the wind and waves of Lake Superior. When one looks at a photograph of the ship, it is hard to imagine how a ship of such size and strength could sink in the waves of a Great Lake. A total of 29 lives lost no bodies were ever recovered. The Edmund Fitzgerald remains the largest ship to have ever sunk in Lake Superior still to this day. It lies 17 miles (27 km) northwest of Whitefish Point, Michigan in Canadian waters 37 miles (60 km) north of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. The Edmund Fitzgerald is arguably the most famous Lake Superior shipwreck of them all. Wiper - The wiper on the Edmund Fitzgerald was in charge of keeping the engine room clean and 'wiped' of oil at all times.There are an estimated 550 shipwrecks laying beneath the surface of Lake Superior. Shoal- Very shallow place in a body of water.

Salvage- The act of saving or rescuing a ship or its cargo. Radio- The wireless transmission and reception of electric impulses or signals by means of electromagnetic waves. Radar- Device or system consisting usually of a synchronized radio transmitter and receiver that emits radio waves and processes their reflections for display. Porter- A person who does routine cleaning. Port- The left side of a ship or aircraft looking forward - also called larboard. Ore- A mineral containing a valuable constituent (as metal) for which it is mined and worked. Mate- A deck officer on a merchant ship ranking below the captain. Maintenance Man- One that is in charge of the maintenance on a vessel. Lock- An enclosure (as in a canal) with gates at each end used in raising or lowering boats as they pass from level to level. Lifeboat- A sturdy buoyant boat (as one carried by a ship) for use in an emergency and especially in saving lives at sea. Knot- Any of various units of distance used for sea and air navigation based on the length of a minute of arc of a great circle of the earth and differing because the earth is not a perfect sphere. Hatch- a: an opening in the deck of a ship or in the floor or roof of a building b: the covering for such an opening. Hard-water Captain- A captain who would sail a ship no matter how dangerous.a so-called 'fearless captain.' Many called Ernest McSorley a hard-water captain.

EDMUND FITZGERALD LIFEBOAT MANUAL

b. A large, open pleasure boat used for parties, pageants, or formal ceremonies.īeacon- A signaling or guiding device, such as a lighthouse, located on a coast.īottom-out- The contact of a ship and the sea bottom, often resulting in the sinking of a ship.īroad-side- Side of the vessel above the waterline.īulkhead- Upright partition in a vessel separating compartments.īuoy- Warning float moored on a dangerous rock, shoal, or edge of a channel.Ĭadet- One in training for a military or naval commission.Ĭargo- Merchandise conveyed on a ship, airplane, or vehicle.ĭeckhand- Seaman who performs manual duties.Įxpedition- Journey made for a specific purpose.įreighter- Ship used chiefly to carry freight. Aft- At, in, toward, or close to the stern of a vessel or the rear of an aircraft or a spacecraft.Īground- Onto or on a shore, reef, or the bottom of a body of water: a ship that ran aground a ship aground offshore.Īnderson- Freighter which was following behind the Edmund Fitzgerald by about 10 miles for most of its journey.Īnemometer- An instrument for indicating and measuring wind force and velocity.īallast- Heavy material that is placed in the hold of a ship or the gondola of a balloon to enhance stability.īarge- a. A long, large, usually flat-bottomed boat for transporting freight that is generally un-powered and towed or pushed by other craft.

Edmund fitzgerald lifeboat