MV Nordmeer sinking in Lake Huron 21 November 1966

[Randy S]

Well Brent, I'll take your word for it - I was never aboard. The closest I got was maybe 70-100 yards. However I had heard that she was briefly used by the military as a target.

[Brent]

Who would have shot at her? I have been on it numerous times and don't recall any holes in the superstructure until it was so far gone that the deck house was in the water and damaged by ice.

[Randy S]

From what I remember, there seemed to be a lot of holes in the superstructure - Was she ever used for military target practice?

[djmiller777]

I was on the USCGC ACACIA WLB-406 when the Nordmeer ran aground. We stopped a few days after the last of the crew were taken off and went on board. It was a bit eerie, coffee cups on tables (our first class engineman collected a souvenir or two) It looked like folks had got up from a card game and just left as is. After that first winter on our spring buoy run, the storms had really done a lot of damage to it. Shifting ice etc., had really pushed it around.

[Dave F]

From the article "Great Lakes Calendar" by Greg Rudnick in the Fall 2010 issue of "Inland Seas," published by the Great Lakes Historical Society:

"June 26: The wreck of the Nordmeer has disappeared beneath the surface of Lake Huron off Alpena. Until recently the remains of the Nordmeer have been visible. The German freighter was wrecked in 1966 when she ran aground in a storm and broke her back."
This item is accompanied by photos of the wreck taken in 1974, 1977, and 1988.

[Poseidon]

Thanks for the informations. If I hear same news I inform you.
Poseidon Greatins from Germany to the lakes.

[Boatkitten]

This has been very interesting to read. Thanks for putting it on here.

[Timerover51]

Thanks for the information, gentlemen, I appreciate it.

[tug589]

What was the cargo of the Nordmeer, and was any attempt made to salvage it? Is the wreck in Canadian or US waters?

The cargo of coiled steel was salvaged by Malcolm Marine during the winter and spring of 1967. The barge that is still there was lost during a later operation to salvage either the oil onboard or some of the machinery I am not sure exactly which.

[Dave F]

The wreck is in US waters and the cargo of stainless steel wire was salvaged. It is a popular dive site as it is only 40 feet deep and relatively easy for beginners.
I see from dive websites there is a sunken barge next to the Nordmeer, was that lost during salvage operations?

[Timerover51]

What was the cargo of the Nordmeer, and was any attempt made to salvage it? Is the wreck in Canadian or US waters?

[Dave F]

Poseidon, please keep us updated on your friend's history of the Nordmeer. I know I would like to read it. Is it possible that he can find surviving crew members to interview?
Thanks,
Dave

[Brendan]

"The West German motor vessel Nordmeer was heading up Lake Huron shortly after 8:00pm on Nov. 19, 1966; the weather was clear and high and the 14-knot wind from the north produced seas only a foot high. Aboard the Nordmeer was Canadian Great Lakes pilot J. L. McGowan. The bridge watch consisted of Chief Mate Karl Wolfgang Kerlen and the wheelsman. When Kerlen came on watch at 8, the ship's master, Captain Steinbeck, and McGowan were on the bridge. A Radar fix at 8 PM located the position of the ship. On McGowan's advice, Captain Steinbeck ordered a course that would bring the ship more nearly on the usual steamer track, and Kerlen set the change on the automatic pilot. About 8:15 the master left the bridge with the understanding that the course would be changed again after the vessel had passed the buoy on Thunder Bay Island shoal.

About 8:20 the ship passed Thunder Bay Island to port and at the same time overhauled the lake freighter Samuel Mather, which was about half a mile to starboard. To avoid crossing ahead of the Mather, the pilot advised a change of course, which the mate applied to the automatic pilot. After 3 or 4 minutes the pilot recommended resuming the usual course taken while passing the shoal, and again the mate applied the change. Soon they passed the buoy and McGowan gave a change of course to 324 degrees true, the heading the captain had ordered. He then left the bridge, leaving instructions to call him later.

Kerlen applied the change in course to the autopilot, evidently rather suddenly. The ship was moving at her full speed of about 14 knots; she swung to port, being carried momentarily beyond the intended course as the result of her speed and the abruptness of the change. Two minutes later she struck the reef on her port side and bounced along for several seconds before coming to a stop. Kerlen stopped the engine and sounded the general alarm. Air could be heard rushing out of the double bottom and out of the cargo hold vents on deck, and the hatches of two of the cargo holds burst open.

The feeling of those aboard on hearing a ship take the ground has been described by Joseph Conrad. "It is a sound, for its size, far more terrific to you soul than that of a world violently coming to an end." For, as he says,"the only mission of a seaman's calling is to keep ship's keels off the ground."

The captain and pilot arrived on he bridge immediately. McGowan called the Samuel Mather by radio telephone and asked her to stand by, while Steinbeck and Kerlen fired red distress flares. Within 5 minutes the engine room was flooded. About 9PM the Nordmeer's lifeboats were launched and most of the crew were transferred to the Mather. The captain, two mates, the chief engineer, boatswain and carpenter remained aboard the wrecked Nordmeer.

About 6:20 next morning the US Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw arrived on the scene and took aboard the men who had sheltered on the Mather; the lake freighter proceeded on her way. The master and seven crew members remained on the Nordmeer. The Coast Guard put out temporary navigation lights to mark the wreck.

During the following days the eight men remained aboard the stranded vessel while efforts were made to salvage her and her cargo, but on November 29 the wreck began to break up in heavy seas. Captain Steinbeck sent out a distress signal and all eight were removed successfully by Coast Guard helicopter. On Dec. 1, 1966 the owners of the vessel - through their American agents - officially abandoned the hull.

The Coast Guard investigation put primary blame for the wreck on 'the mate's incautious course change of 17 degrees toward the shoals on the left abruptly applied to the automatic pilot with the vessel making full speed through the water, causing the heading of the vessel to slew past the intended course.'"

Wrecks and Rescues of the Great Lakes, by James P. Barry. p 89-91.
1981 Thunder Bay Press

[Poseidon]

This is very nice,
Thank for your help
Poseidon (Peter Jensen)

[Brendan]

There's a section on her in the book Wrecks and Rescues of the Great Lakes, which i have.

If you want, i can transcribe it and email or post it here, with the proper info for citations.

[Guest]

Ok go to this website TheAlpenanews.com you should be able to get your info from there B&C

[Guest]

Thanks Brent for reply, but I live in Germany and have no chance to come to the lakes for study.
Greetings from Germany

[Brent]

The best place to start would be the Alpena Michigan News Papers and also the Coast Guard Marine Casualty Report. There is also some information in Skip Gillham's book Seaway Era Shipwrecks.

[Poseidon]

Does anyone have information about the grounding of the MV Nordmeer in Lake Huron?
Old Newspaper articles, pictures etc. A friend of mine is working on the history of the Nordmeer.