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SS Edmund Fitzgerald
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The Symposia will report on the latest research and understanding of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
The Great Lakes Iron Ore Carrier Edmund Fitzgerald broke up and sank November 10th, 1975 in a severe storm on Lake Superior taking 29 souls with her. No bodies were ever recovered. A forensic reconstruction of the weather by scientists from the National Weather Service showed Hurricane force winds and a 7.9 meter significant wave height at that location at the time of the sinking. The Wreck lies in three major pieces on the bottom in 520 feet of water. The bow lies upright, the middle 200 feet exists only as a mangled group of pieces of scrap metal. The stern lies upside down.
There have been many theories proposed by various authors and on many Television specials. Many of these theories lack basic credibility in many key details.
The Symposium will describe the results of an investigation conducted by members of the SNAME Marine Forensics Committee that proposes a failure sequence that is consistent with all available facts. These experienced Naval Architects and Hydrodynamicists use the latest professional grade tools to analyze the wave and wind induced forces acting on the hull and the way that the hull most probably failed as a result.
Researchers at the Webb Institute of Naval Architecture and at the CSC Advanced Marine Center are continuing to probe the causes and consequences of marine casualties on this and other historic vessels.
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