The Storm That Sank the Edmund Fitzgerald | University Place

Steve Ackerman, Professor, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Studies, UW-Madison, analyzes the weather, the storm movement and decisions made by the captains piloting ships on Lake Superior on November 10, 1975, the day the Edmund Fitzgerald sank.

[monicacall]

That was a fascinating talk. Living in the West it’s been difficult to really understand the weather that happened on the day that the Fitzgerald sank because our weather is so different than it is around the Great Lakes area. The speaker made the various aspects that contributed to the terrible winds and weather which in turn helped to sink the ship easy to understand. I’ll listen to Gordon Lightfoot’s ballad about the sinking of the Fitzgerald with new understanding and appreciation for the 29 brave sailors that went down with their ship.

[twowaymuir]

Went to NMU 71-75 and born a Yooper. In Asheville NC now. The Lake can get mean. I actually turned down a job offer to work on the Edmund Fitzgerald about a month before it sank. Instead I moved to Leadville CO the 2 mile high city. If I had accepted the job offer I would be at the bottom of the lake with the rest of the crew.

[JohnnyLaps]

Great presentation!It filled in the blanks of what we knew.thank you for great work

[Idahoguy]

When the ship sank I was 18 and newly in the Navy. The song effects all sailors

[johnkuznickisr.]

Why is the full testimony of the Arthur M. Anderson captain being left out? I saw the video where facts are being left out of this. The captain stated, that when during the storm, there were higher winds along with higher gusts that were reported to receive also his ship was hit by two huge waves from the direction of rear to front. He also stated these wave formations were headed right at the Edmund Fitzgerald. He also stated shortly there after is when contact was lost on radar of the Edmund Fitzgerald. This single one report should have settled along with all the other information what really happened. This fact with taking on water& listing, the upgraded storm evidence, location of the final resting place of the actual cargo/ (came out before the ship hit bottom and spread out) and the final resting place and condition of both parts of the ship suggest a break up at or near the surface. These combined facts Points to weather, along with the two waves mentioned, followed by loss of contact on radar I believe to a reasonable conclusion to the break up of this ship due to conditions listed. I believe it is easier to address blame on the crew rather than have to pay out on what insurance would have to cover. This practice is standard practice in case of airline tragedies, crew first then evidence leads to actual cause. I also believe the reporting authorities cannot prove what really happened/ insurance cannot pay without evidence, so the crew held responsible excuse, ensures no one will have to pay for this tragedy. It is sad to note that a tragedy must take place before better ways come to their proper place. If only a 48 hour better prepared forecast using the same history they had then, what we use today definitely would have changed the route taken and avoided this tragedy. God rest their souls and my prayers to all affected.

[robertperrotto]

at 8:00 - yes - She was headed to Detroit to offload, it was the last run of the season, and she would have then went to drydock in Cleveland. The song is accurate.

[johnolsen]

I believe in Bernie Coopers theory, first of all Captain Ernest McSorley reported at 3:10 that afternoon that he had 2 vent covers missing, a starboard list, and a fence rail down.It was at that same time he passed Caribou Island do the math

[nickshipway]

That was really interesting. Thanks for putting it up!

[justflem]

Steve. Excellent, informative and entertaining talk! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[davidb]

NOAA weather service had 26 foot waves predicted last year for lake Ontario. Big difference these days is that the ships clear the lakes and anchor in safe harbors when the big storms are predicted. Due to the nature of the tragedy and lives lost, a more somber presentation tone may have been more appropriate.

[guymerritt]

I dunno - the Captain of the Arthur M. Anderson said that McSorley (captain of the Fitz) reported a list hours before sinking. Captain Cooper didn't think a leaking, or blown hatch cover, was something that the pumps couldn't handle - in terms of the amount of water that the vessel would have been taking on (from hatch covers). He swears the only two things that would cause the list were (1) a stress fracture in the hull, or, (2) bottoming out on Caribou Island’s Six-Fathom Shoal. Cooper's radar fix on the Fitz appeared, in his mind, to show the Fitz way too close to the shoal - which is only 26-feet deep at points. So, of course it was the weather, but I tend to think that one of Cooper's theories contributed.

[jdearing]

The song is entertainment, and was written like a folk song should be. It commemorates the tragedy in a spooky respectful way.

Now I'm no expert on these things but to me it appears that the wind and the waves battered that ship and actually twisted it half on the surface. It was being rocked back an forth in a twisting motion.

[crooked-halo]

He says there's no evidence of grounding because of no visible damage. Wouldn't it be logical that the grounding & damage occurred where the ship broke in two? Therefore the damage would be in the mess of the destroyed middle of the ship. Just thinking out loud...

[symphonyfarm]

Somewhere on the internet is the rogue wave researchers who have figured out how to find a rogue wave height that occurs in relationship to the wave forecast.

[butchknouse]

The song was written BEFORE the ship was found.

[adidaszero]

After the waves putting a great strain on the ship, it started to break apart at surface? Bow took a nosedive and the stern flipped over and landed about 160 to 170 away from the stern.

[littlebee]

The ship was heading to Zug Island near Detroit, not Sault Ste. Marie...pronounced as SOO, not SALT.

[jasonmariani]

Let’s not forget he’s giving a lecture on this particular subject no matter how tragic!!! He can’t be boring! You’ll go to sleep!!!!

[cgoll]

We just saw this lecture in Pewaukee, WI! It was fascinating and played to a full crowd. But please, and I know it is nitpicking and petty, please correct the spelling on the slide mentioning the type of big wave that may have contributed to the Fitzgerald's demise. It would have been a ROGUE wave. The OCD in me would thank you.

[Imissthepostoffice]

The boat scraped bottom after its radar went out. (In the schoals.) It doesn't take long for a ship be wounded with all that weight. Someone in the comments were correct, about the captain Cooper of the Arther Anderson giving the details of whet he believed happened. I would bet my life that Caption Cooper is correct. That's all there is to say.