North Riverfront Park in Alpena in Alpena County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Nordmeer
| | Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Trail | |
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 23, 2023
1. Nordmeer Marker
On Saturday night, November 19, 1966, the Nordmeer was traveling to Chicago from Hamburg, Germany, with a cargo of 990 coils of steel destined for Milwaukee. It was the ocean-going vessels first freshwater voyage. The night was clear. About 7 miles north of Thunder Bay Island, the salty turned inside the flashing buoy marking Thunder Bay Shoal. With a shudder, its steel hull bumped to a stop, caught by the unforgiving rocks. Within seconds, all five of the cargo holds and the engine room flooded. The ship quickly settled to the bottom.
The captain and seven crewmembers remained on the Nordmeer to supervise salvage operations. A week later, as the ship was battered by 50-mile-per-hour winds and 22-foot waves, a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter team pulled the crew from the sinking ship.
Area divers salvaged the valuable cargo and removed the fuel from the deteriorating ship, Much of the Nordmeer remained above water for decades before waves and ice finally ripped the steel ship apart.
The red and white vent seen on this side of the river is one of many pieces salvaged from
this page online
Erected by Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Trail.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is November 19, 1966.
Location. 45° 3.796′ N, 83° 25.759′ W. Marker is in Alpena, Michigan, in Alpena County. It is in North Riverfront Park. It is on East Fletcher Street near Ford Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Alpena MI 49707, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Michigan Lower Peninsula and in one of the Lake Huron Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (a few steps from this marker); Montana (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to the Alpena Water Level Station (within shouting distance of this marker); Abbys Story (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas Stafford Dog Park (within shouting distance of this
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 23, 2023
2. Nordmeer Marker
Another marker is no longer nearby. Winter Layups (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
More about this marker. This interpretive panel is illustrated with a black-and-white photograph of the Nordmeer wrecked on the shoals but still upright, as the main illustration over which the inscription has been printed. It is captioned,
Nordmeer Location: N45° 08.163' W83° 09.514' Depth: 37' Built: 1954 Lost: 1966 Length: 471'In addition, there are five small photographs stacked on the right side, one picturing the Nordmeer in better days and the others of the underwater wreck.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 18, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2023, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 205 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 12, 2023, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. a photo of the red and white vent. • Can you help?
