Marquette Harbor

[Guest Jon Paul]

Other than a direct East or Southeast wind both the Soo Line dock in the Lower Harbor and the LS&I dock in Presque Isle are fairly well protected. On the other hand the run from Whitefish Point to Marquette could be a real challenge in any type of wind in the Northern quadrant. Experienced some of the biggest rolls we ever encountered off Grand Marias when the 25-30mph NW winds that were forecast became 50+ out of due North and we were rolling the anchors out of the pockets.

[Guest]

Cleveland-Cliffs Steamship Company's J. H. Sheadle had an issue with her steering gear while backing away from the ore dock in Marquette on November 19, 1920. In the process she backed into a reef, damaging her rudder shoe, tearing away the rudder and doing extensive bottom damage. She settled in 21 feet of water, and being fully loaded, was a difficult salvage, but she was released 10 days later. Due to the lateness of the season, the wreckers docked her in Marquette for the Winter until the next Spring when she could be towed for repairs.

The Bethlehem Steel ore carrier, Maryland, was driven ashore 8 miles east of Marquette on September 12, 1953. She was salvaged quickly and was towed to Knudsen Shipbuilding in Superior, Wisconsin. Damage was extensive, so she was abandoned to the underwriters who in turn sold the Maryland to Buckeye Steamship. Repairs were completed over the Winter of 1953/54 and the Maryland was renamed Henry LaLiberte.

Story on the Maryland: https://www.miningjournal.net/news/supe ... t-in-time/

[Guest]

While traveling through Michigan's UP last summer, I passed through Marquette for the first time. From looking at the ore loading dock, the area does not seem very well protected from the weather. Is that true and if so has there ever been any wrecks in the harbor?