Missing for well over a century Barge 129 has been found in the Graveyard of the Great Lakes.
This “Graveyard” also known as Shipwreck Alley lies between Whitefish Point and Grand Marais.
Barge 129, hauling a load of iron ore, was in tow of the Maunaloa. When the two ships came upon a raging storm snapping the towline between them.
Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society located the vessel using a scan sonar just 35 miles off of Vermillion Point.
Corey Adkins contact Communications Director for the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, “650 feet of water which is really deep, I mean divers can’t even go that deep so to see that 120 years later was just amazing to finally find that shipwreck.”
Barge 129 hauling a load of iron ore was in tow of the Maunaloa when the two ships came upon a raging storm snapping the towline between them.
The Maunaloa turned back to reconnecting the line and the storm surged colliding the two ships and the Maunaloa’s anchor ripped a hole into Barge 129.
Corey Adkins, “So, all the crew of 129 thankfully got off alive so there was no loss of life there but there was a loss of a 60-thousand-dollar vessel and back then that was a lot of money.”
The depth of the ship is too far for scuba divers to investigate, requiring the use of an underwater drone. The underwater drone fortunately was able to find distinguishing features of Barge 129 to make their discovery in leu of the rusted ship.
Corey Adkins, “The three rings on the bow stand out kind of like a crown. Back then they used to call them pig noses, but when we saw that on the video it was just like yup that’s Barge 129 for sure so.”
Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society has made it their mission to interpret Great Lakes History, because all the stories deserve to be remembered.
