With the recent passing of Dennis Hale (September 2, 2015) the sole survivor of this wreck, and the upcoming anniversary of it's loss, I have become somewhat nostalgic. My father Donald Worcester, Oiler from Columbia Falls, Maine was lost on this ship November 29, 1966. Thank you John (and crew) for the outstanding video of both sections of the ship. Your professionalism and final dedication to the crew is greatly appreciated by those of us that this tragedy touched. Fair winds and following seas, Mr. Hale. Give my Love to Dad.
Donna, Very sad that you had lost your Father, I'm sure it was extremely hard on you, especially as each year passes, your deep love for him will always burn bright for him and will never go out.
I heard your Grandpa speak in Oswego, NY many years ago. Great story teller. I got to speak with him for a couple minutes after the talk. A great story.
Hi Cassandra.I never got to meet your grandpa. I read his book & listened to his seminars. I think I remember sending him a letter. He seemed to have some spiritual questions as to all that had happened. I pray he pursued until peace came to him. He seemed like a kind & gentle man.
Jerry Kast he was such an amazing man. He loved telling his story. He did go to church and I do wonder about Doc in his story. I miss him so much. I was pregnant when he passed. It breaks my heart my daughter didn’t get to meet him. Thank you for your kind words.
@@cassandracrislip7594 My prayer is that through faith in Christ you & your daughter will join him on high some sweet day. There definitely was a presence about him. Thanks for getting back. That was very nice of you.
I'm originally from Arena County MI. I was 12 when Edmund Fitzgerald went down. It was a big thing to me as I never really understood that while we were getting "interesting" weather about 20 miles inland from Saginaw Bay there were unholy violent storms out on the lake. I spent 20 years in the US Navy and had plenty of opportunities to sample some of those unholy violent storms in the North Atlantic but it seems the November Witches are even worse. I love the way the divers documented the Daniel J. Morrell in such a serene, peaceful, and respectful way! God bless those from the Morrell who are now forever on watch and Fair winds and following seas to those they left behind.
@Vinyl Junkie Yes, and that the family members of the Big Fitz along with the Canadian government request that people simply leave that ship alone and allow all 29 of her crew to rest in peace. In the middle 90's though, about 1995, they did bring up the ships bell and replaced it with a memorial bell with all 29 names of those guys that perished on her.
@@danbasta3677 I understand the family want the ship left alone but from an archaeological standpoint that's simply not going to happen. The only reason the ship isn't visited more is because the depth that it's at. We can't simply ignore history and expect it to be left in the past we need to learn from it.
bigben028cards1 you’re wrong. The reason is the family and Canadian government. A little bit because of the depth, but far from the main reason. I just watched a seminar I’d never seen and he also, as others, said the Fitzgerald will probably never be visited again because of family and gov.
Dan Basta Actually it was Tom Farnquist The director of the Great Lakes Maritime Museum who pushed to have diving on the wreck of the Fitzgerald illegal. He was the one who took the bell from the ship and put it in his museum and he pushed for diving to stop on the wreck only to protect his interest because he had the bell. Some of the family members who lost a loved one on the Fitzgerald said they didn’t mind people diving on the wreck as long as they respected it.
Excellent video! Having sailed on the Great Lakes freighters for many years and knowing Dennis Hale, I want to commend you all on the incredible job you did and the respectful nature in which you memorialized an important Historical Shipwreck site and the memory of those lost on the Morrell. Well Done!
I know the cold waters of the lake help with preservation, but it's crazy to see first hand video showing just how intact the wreck's interior remains.
WOW! Nice work on video, those inside shots were amazing, the ships telegraph still looked great as well as the gauges, machinery and workbench. all looked pretty clean considering it went down in 1966. The dishes still stacked in galley was quite an image too. Good musical background. Very nice work on this. tnx
It's honestly amazing how people are able to dive down to shipwrecks and just look at them with no fear. In my opinion, looking at one just frightens me... A man-made object, just... destroyed. Abandoned. Left to rot. It takes a lot of courage to sail on the lakes, knowing that if you encounter a gale or storm, she may swallow you up and never take you back.
Chadburns of Liverpool. Made the steering dial. Absolutely wonderful film. Seeing the fire extinguisher, the dials and valves and other stuff in such good condition is amazing. Thanks for the video.
haunting video, especially seeing the fire extinguisher mounted as if it's anticipating another passage and the dishes stacked in the galley sure bring a chilling perspective to the wreck. thanks
The ship went down in a storm as a result of its breaking in half. I suspect it settled slowly once both parts went under the water's surface. The stern was under power still, so it actually kept it moving with some momentum in a relatively straight path and upright under it went under and the engines finally failed.
Unlike the Edmund Fitzgerald which violently slammed itself on the bottom of Superior's black depts, the Morrell's two halfs decended relatively slowly. There they gently came to rest on the bottom of Lake Huron.
There were still dishes in cupboards on the Titanic until the cupboards rotted away. Now they're just piles of dishes in the shape of the cupboards. But they're intact.
I watched an episode of "Dive Detectives" and they speculated that survivors in the stern attempted to beach the back half. There was a lighthouse visible that the ship was travelling toward. The dive detectives said a line from the stern drawn on a map intersected the lighthouse and the discovery that the engineering crew had set the propeller to full astern lent credence to the idea. I'm not qualified to asses this idea but any experts out there, what are your opinions?
If the engineering crew actually did that, then I’m impressed. That would take some serious balls to not just get on a lifeboat, they tried saving the ship with their lives. Huge respect to everyone who sailed and was lost on the lakes, and thank you guys for your service.
@@tonyricebutwithahangover856 I doubt they were worried about saving the ship at that point, it was already ripped in half. They were just trying to stay alive. They still had an engine and part of a ship to cling to which is as good or better than taking your chances in a life raft in that kind of weather.
Wow!!!! What a great video! I understand it’s a grave site. Very moving. Very sad! I know the fitz is in deeper water but I think it would be awesome to document it exactly like this! As many as you can. Outstanding ! Rest in peace sailors!!!
It is amazing that after almost 50 years ago when this video was made that were the hull not broken in two, the ship is in such a state of preservation, especially the engine room, that she looks like she could be raised, cleaned up, given a new coat of paint and she'd be ready to sail again.
One interesting note is that the Morrell's sister ship SS Edward Townsend, launched two days before the Morrell was damaged in the same storm that took the Morrell. The Townsend was found to have a cracked hull, similar to the damage that doomed the Morrell and was subsequently sold for scrap. While being towed to England in 1968 so that she could be scrapped she broke free from the steamer Dolomite and tug Hudson on Oct 1, '68 and sank approx 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland in the same general area as the Titanic.
Was working at Mac Whalens campground in Grindstone city . I think 1978-79 A group of divers were camping & searching for this wreck using a Thompson boat full of gear . I believe they were the ones that located the stern.
Awesome video I wish someday they allow divers to explore the Fitzgerald again . Rest in peace to all the crew members of this ship and the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Well said. I think the Fitzgerald should remain off limits. It's beyond the skill and gear level of 99.99% of divers, which is why the GLSW group wants it left alone. Too risky. It is a shame there isn't more footage of it though.
Agreed Grntlemen. The family members along with yhd Canadian government prefer that the Big Fitz be left alone. Not much to gain going back down there, only to see a dead hulk of a ship which was once termed, The Pride Of The American Side. They did bring up her bell and replaced it with a bell with all 29 names of those guys that perished on her.
Fitz is at 500' not 200' like this wreck. Those kind of dive depths are extremely technical , dangerous and very expensive . This one is too, but all the issues go up further down you go.
Amazing how it is completely upright How incredible is the stern section and especially the engine room Tools on the tool board And screws and bolts in jars on the ceiling 😮
Amazing video. I knew Dennis Hale and this video made me think of.him and what the crew went through on that night so long ago now . Rest In heaven Mariners
Incredible, thank you for sharing this amazing footage. I wonder if Dennis Hale ever saw any of the dive footage posted or would have even wanted to before he passed away last year. Such a history for this ship.
John Janzen Ignore my post above asking the same question. Hale's story was amazing, and to hear him telling it was gripping. I'm glad he was able to eventually get it out and that it helped him come to terms with the whole ordeal. Excellent video sir!
Does the door over the open door at 7:15 say Dunnage Room? I've heard dunnage means a place for stowing personal belongings but seems a strange word to use here. But what do I know? I know this is a great dive video! Its so clear in the engine room and the "General Alarm" bell is seen at about 14:00 and it must have been ringing. Very eerie.
I saw a story of the Daniel J. Morrell on another video. It was very heart breaking to see. My condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones. I can't begin to know but being a sole survivor would be like. Knowing myself, I would more than likely feel very guilty for making it when the others did not. Really good footage of this ship.
Wow ! This is some really great footage - guessing you used rebreathers and not rov ? Or maybe I’m mistaken- this is very clear I kept dreaming of the Edmund Fitzgerald wreck last night and then I watched a documentary on it today and was drawn to the story of this shop Btw I’m a medium There’s always a reason for these things Such a fascinating story and I plan on buying Dennis Hale’s book
+Kelly Lamb I think we did something like a 1 hour bottom times and the deco was around 80 minutes or something like that. It was later in the season, so the water was relatively warm. A great wreck and I'm looking forward to going back.
How does it get so much crustaceans on it from fresh water?What exactly is the material built up on the surface all these years?The Fitz just has rust as you would expect.
I saw Dennis Hale speak once, Sheboygan maybe. Very matter of fact. The Morrell wasn’t supposed to be the boat making the trip. The other boat whose name he told me and I’ve long forgot, had mechanical problems. Fate I guess.
The story behind this is insane, I watched the one by maritime horrors, you should too, it gives even more respect for the ones who died on the ship on sentiment for just how much of the ship is there and bent up
That engine room is amazingly well preserved for being at the bottom of the water for 52 years. Hell, there are rusted out ships in layup that are in worse shape than that.
God bless those who put out to sea. Your courage is incredible. I keep you all in my prayers. I wish you calm seas and good fortune. The floor of the seas, the oceans and the Great Lakes are littered with ships and boats. Be sate! 🌹⚓
great post i live in ashtabula ohio with a port on lake erie. I retired from the cei power plant and you are so right about the zebra mussels ,started to see them in the early 80s by the mid 80s they were a nightmare every system that had lake water in the plant was full of them ,had to inject chemicals in the house water lines to control them.
Wasnt she anchored trying to weather insane wind speed just idling her engines to help her stay in position but the storm just got so violent she got clobberd anyway....
@@danielhowe5435 Yeah, small boat CG stations picked up bodies and I think he CGC Mackinaw picked up a body. I was on the CGC Bramble when we and the Mack and another cutter did a night search. I remember we found a door from the Morrell. The Bramble threw up at least 10000 dollars in night illumination flares along with the other cutters doing the same. johnboy on wives computer.
Fantastic video. Thank you so much for posting. Didn't like the music, had to turn volume down. I used to have a Casio (or some brand keyboard) that played that song on the "demo" and b/c it is just a repeating thing over & over it got old quick...... But it was tolerable to be able to watch so great footage.... Thanks again for posting!
It's sad to know that most of these Freighters were sunk due to them breaking apart in bad weather and the men that lost their lives on them, I just wonder what they were going through when they saw the terror of what nature can do unfolding in front of their eyes and knowing that it was the end for them.
The bodies of the crew in the aft section are entombed in the over turn hull. I don't even like to think about what their end must have been like, shivers!!!
launched the life boat a little late. RIP crew. Anyway nice/beautiful work, wrecks way too spooky for me , especially where people died, besides the obvious skill levels involved
With the recent passing of Dennis Hale (September 2, 2015) the sole survivor of this wreck, and the upcoming anniversary of it's loss, I have become somewhat nostalgic. My father Donald Worcester, Oiler from Columbia Falls, Maine was lost on this ship November 29, 1966. Thank you John (and crew) for the outstanding video of both sections of the ship. Your professionalism and final dedication to the crew is greatly appreciated by those of us that this tragedy touched. Fair winds and following seas, Mr. Hale. Give my Love to Dad.
Beautiful post Donna. So sorry for your loss.
Donna, Very sad that you had lost your Father, I'm sure it was extremely hard on you, especially as each year passes, your deep love for him will always burn bright for him and will never go out.
So sorry for your tragic loss bud. May he rest in peace 🙏
That was touching heaven has a place for sailors.
I am sorry for your loss Donna.
Dennis was my grandpa and I love seeing this video. Thank you
I heard your Grandpa speak in Oswego, NY many years ago. Great story teller. I got to speak with him for a couple minutes after the talk. A great story.
Hi Cassandra.I never got to meet your grandpa. I read his book & listened to his seminars. I think I remember sending him a letter. He seemed to have some spiritual questions as to all that had happened. I pray he pursued until peace came to him. He seemed like a kind & gentle man.
Jerry Kast he was such an amazing man. He loved telling his story. He did go to church and I do wonder about Doc in his story. I miss him so much. I was pregnant when he passed. It breaks my heart my daughter didn’t get to meet him. Thank you for your kind words.
@@cassandracrislip7594 My prayer is that through faith in Christ you & your daughter will join him on high some sweet day. There definitely was a presence about him. Thanks for getting back. That was very nice of you.
Still hard to believe that ship was built before the titanic but it was and according to Dennis it was made from that same brittle steel and rivets
I'm originally from Arena County MI. I was 12 when Edmund Fitzgerald went down. It was a big thing to me as I never really understood that while we were getting "interesting" weather about 20 miles inland from Saginaw Bay there were unholy violent storms out on the lake. I spent 20 years in the US Navy and had plenty of opportunities to sample some of those unholy violent storms in the North Atlantic but it seems the November Witches are even worse. I love the way the divers documented the Daniel J. Morrell in such a serene, peaceful, and respectful way! God bless those from the Morrell who are now forever on watch and Fair winds and following seas to those they left behind.
Fantastic footage!!! Wish we could get shots like that of the Fitz!
@Vinyl Junkie Yes, and that the family members of the Big Fitz along with the Canadian government request that people simply leave that ship alone and allow all 29 of her crew to rest in peace. In the middle 90's though, about 1995, they did bring up the ships bell and replaced it with a memorial bell with all 29 names of those guys that perished on her.
@@danbasta3677 I understand the family want the ship left alone but from an archaeological standpoint that's simply not going to happen. The only reason the ship isn't visited more is because the depth that it's at. We can't simply ignore history and expect it to be left in the past we need to learn from it.
bigben028cards1 you’re wrong. The reason is the family and Canadian government. A little bit because of the depth, but far from the main reason. I just watched a seminar I’d never seen and he also, as others, said the Fitzgerald will probably never be visited again because of family and gov.
Dan Basta Actually it was Tom Farnquist The director of the Great Lakes Maritime Museum who pushed to have diving on the wreck of the Fitzgerald illegal. He was the one who took the bell from the ship and put it in his museum and he pushed for diving to stop on the wreck only to protect his interest because he had the bell. Some of the family members who lost a loved one on the Fitzgerald said they didn’t mind people diving on the wreck as long as they respected it.
@@dwissba68 no families and the Canadian Government,the Fitzgerald's wreck is in Canadian waters
Excellent video! Having sailed on the Great Lakes freighters for many years and knowing Dennis Hale, I want to commend you all on the incredible job you did and the respectful nature in which you memorialized an important Historical Shipwreck site and the memory of those lost on the Morrell. Well Done!
I know the cold waters of the lake help with preservation, but it's crazy to see first hand video showing just how intact the wreck's interior remains.
Its incredible to think after she snapped in half the stern kept going under power for another 5 miles before she sank.
Yep. Hale's recounting of event, when he opens the door to see the stern moving past on its own... just unbelievable.
gravedigr12 I can't believe it either
Like a chicken with its head cut off
GoldSniperz320 that's a funny way of putting it but yes that's basically it
Violent Storm snap the ship in two? I thought it was the Bradley that snapped in two? Maybe both of them met the same fate in the same way?
The visible gauges, porthole signs, made it feel like going back in time and being there-wow. Video music was cool!!
WOW! Nice work on video, those inside shots were amazing, the ships telegraph still looked great as well as the gauges, machinery and workbench. all looked pretty clean considering it went down in 1966. The dishes still stacked in galley was quite an image too. Good musical background. Very nice work on this. tnx
It's honestly amazing how people are able to dive down to shipwrecks and just look at them with no fear. In my opinion, looking at one just frightens me... A man-made object, just... destroyed. Abandoned. Left to rot. It takes a lot of courage to sail on the lakes, knowing that if you encounter a gale or storm, she may swallow you up and never take you back.
You'll get over that as you get older and have Death stare at you a few times.
Because of breathing problems I could never dive so seeing what you guys are doing really means a lot thank you so much ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Chadburns of Liverpool. Made the steering dial. Absolutely wonderful film. Seeing the fire extinguisher, the dials and valves and other stuff in such good condition is amazing. Thanks for the video.
haunting video, especially seeing the fire extinguisher mounted as if it's anticipating another passage and the dishes stacked in the galley sure bring a chilling perspective to the wreck. thanks
Great post! I totally agree!
Unbelieveable footage. The visiblity was surprising good. I don't think I could dive this... I hate big, man made objects underwater.
Dan Vaught look up submechanophobia
that invasive species called zebra mussels do clean up the water somewhat. the boat is covered by millions on them apparently
Crazy how clean that repair/engine room looks. The label on that fire extinguisher is still bright white and looks like it went down yesterday.
Tough dive, well done.
This is one of the best dive films I’ve seen thanks for uploading
One of the best wreck dive video on the net🙌🙌
I can't believe how clean her interior still is after almost 50 years. And dishes still in the cupboard! (How did they make it down intact?)
The ship went down in a storm as a result of its breaking in half. I suspect it settled slowly once both parts went under the water's surface. The stern was under power still, so it actually kept it moving with some momentum in a relatively straight path and upright under it went under and the engines finally failed.
Unlike the Edmund Fitzgerald which violently slammed itself on the bottom of Superior's black depts, the Morrell's two halfs decended relatively slowly. There they gently came to rest on the bottom of Lake Huron.
Yeah, a lot of historians estimate that the Fitz was hitting around 35 mph when she hit the bottom of Lake Superior
@@michaelojeda8338 "black depths"? I love reading comments on shipwreck videos. Something about shipwrecks brings out the melodrama in commenters.
There were still dishes in cupboards on the Titanic until the cupboards rotted away. Now they're just piles of dishes in the shape of the cupboards. But they're intact.
Excellent condition of shipwreck!
Excellent footage!
Excellent soundtrack !
I watched an episode of "Dive Detectives" and they speculated that survivors in the stern attempted to beach the back half. There was a lighthouse visible that the ship was travelling toward. The dive detectives said a line from the stern drawn on a map intersected the lighthouse and the discovery that the engineering crew had set the propeller to full astern lent credence to the idea. I'm not qualified to asses this idea but any experts out there, what are your opinions?
If the engineering crew actually did that, then I’m impressed. That would take some serious balls to not just get on a lifeboat, they tried saving the ship with their lives. Huge respect to everyone who sailed and was lost on the lakes, and thank you guys for your service.
@@tonyricebutwithahangover856 I doubt they were worried about saving the ship at that point, it was already ripped in half. They were just trying to stay alive. They still had an engine and part of a ship to cling to which is as good or better than taking your chances in a life raft in that kind of weather.
Everything is well preserved. Amazing what freshwater and fridge temperatures can do
Truly remarkable. The videography is professional grade. There’s nothing else I can add to the multitude of comments already made other than WOW!
Wow!!!! What a great video! I understand it’s a grave site. Very moving. Very sad! I know the fitz is in deeper water but I think it would be awesome to document it exactly like this! As many as you can. Outstanding ! Rest in peace sailors!!!
Fascinating, yet terrifying and sad loss of life to the men that made a living. This video is haunting and a wonderful tribute. Thank you.
Simply amazing dive footage. What a fascinating and fairly pristine wreck. Thank you for sharing this! ☮️☮️
It is amazing that after almost 50 years ago when this video was made that were the hull not broken in two, the ship is in such a state of preservation, especially the engine room, that she looks like she could be raised, cleaned up, given a new coat of paint and she'd be ready to sail again.
One interesting note is that the Morrell's sister ship SS Edward Townsend, launched two days before the Morrell was damaged in the same storm that took the Morrell. The Townsend was found to have a cracked hull, similar to the damage that doomed the Morrell and was subsequently sold for scrap. While being towed to England in 1968 so that she could be scrapped she broke free from the steamer Dolomite and tug Hudson on Oct 1, '68 and sank approx 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland in the same general area as the Titanic.
Great video! I especially liked the video from inside the stern section. Amazing how clear the water is.
This was the best video I ever saw fantastic details in the inside engine room in everything the best video of all thanks it was a good photograph
What amazing footage my heart goes out to the crew and their families
Was working at Mac Whalens campground in Grindstone city . I think 1978-79 A group of divers were camping & searching for this wreck using a Thompson boat full of gear . I believe they were the ones that located the stern.
Awesome video I wish someday they allow divers to explore the Fitzgerald again . Rest in peace to all the crew members of this ship and the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Well said. I think the Fitzgerald should remain off limits. It's beyond the skill and gear level of 99.99% of divers, which is why the GLSW group wants it left alone. Too risky. It is a shame there isn't more footage of it though.
keith rooney it's at respect for the family's
great gamer right you are sir
Agreed Grntlemen. The family members along with yhd Canadian government prefer that the Big Fitz be left alone. Not much to gain going back down there, only to see a dead hulk of a ship which was once termed, The Pride Of The American Side. They did bring up her bell and replaced it with a bell with all 29 names of those guys that perished on her.
Fitz is at 500' not 200' like this wreck. Those kind of dive depths are extremely technical , dangerous and very expensive . This one is too, but all the issues go up further down you go.
Fantastic as a child I remember reading about this and now to see it amazing thanks for this.
5:03-5:13 That bow shot tho... Stunning!
That was really nice of the zebra muscles to leave a spot uncovered so you can still find the galley if you want some food.
Very cool. My buddy and I did this wreck shortly after this video. Captain Gary is a great person to charter with.
I also have a video of it. Nothing of this quality though. Only done with a hero 3 black.
Wow, thank you for sharing. What an experience!
I watched a video from several years earlier and I notice small things missing! Very sad Great video! I've watched several times
Strieter Marine Survey hello! Do you mean missing as I’m stolen? I sincerely hope not. 😢
Amazing how it is completely upright
How incredible is the stern section and especially the engine room
Tools on the tool board
And screws and bolts in jars on the ceiling 😮
Tragic story! Amazing footage...nice video, thanks!
The best details video I ever saw inside the ship the other ones always outside the ship nothing else
Great video! Awesome shots!
Amazing video. I knew Dennis Hale and this video made me think of.him and what the crew went through on that night so long ago now . Rest In heaven Mariners
Super job excellent video, well done.
14:12 is pretty spooky...tools.and a jar of lube or something still on the table..17:22 dishes still stacked in their place
superb video.... and I enjoyed the background music :) Thanks for sharing !
Incredible, thank you for sharing this amazing footage. I wonder if Dennis Hale ever saw any of the dive footage posted or would have even wanted to before he passed away last year. Such a history for this ship.
I knew Dennis and he did see some of the video. I sure miss him.
John Janzen Ignore my post above asking the same question. Hale's story was amazing, and to hear him telling it was gripping. I'm glad he was able to eventually get it out and that it helped him come to terms with the whole ordeal. Excellent video sir!
Does the door over the open door at 7:15 say Dunnage Room? I've heard dunnage means a place for stowing personal belongings but seems a strange word to use here. But what do I know? I know this is a great dive video! Its so clear in the engine room and the "General Alarm" bell is seen at about 14:00 and it must have been ringing. Very eerie.
in this sense it just means blocks of wood and other stuff used to secure cargo.
Very neat! I have always wanted to dive on a shipwreck but I think I am too young to do it. But great shots too!
What movie was it where these guys dove to a ship, looked in a porthole window and found people living inside. Freaked me out as a kid
Goliath Awaits. A ridiculous movie but yeah, when I was a kid it was spooky.
Very cool like that wide shot of the bow...nice photo
I saw a story of the Daniel J. Morrell on another video. It was very heart breaking to see. My condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones. I can't begin to know but being a sole survivor would be like. Knowing myself, I would more than likely feel very guilty for making it when the others did not. Really good footage of this ship.
Wow ! This is some really great footage - guessing you used rebreathers and not rov ? Or maybe I’m mistaken- this is very clear I kept dreaming of the Edmund Fitzgerald wreck last night and then I watched a documentary on it today and was drawn to the story of this shop
Btw I’m a medium
There’s always a reason for these things
Such a fascinating story and I plan on buying Dennis Hale’s book
Thank u for bring plenty of light i know how important it is clear water too helpfull
What happened to all of the glass windows and the hatch covers? Seems odd that they are all gone. Were they removed from a salvage operation?
They shattered during the sinking due to the barometric pressure changes because of the water depth.
Those dam zebra mussels make a mess out of this beautiful old girl
The ship was 603 feet, not 586.
Amazing video! Thank you for sharing!
the machinery is stll in good shape despite the rusticles forming on the gauge panel (same as titanic)
the ship was built in 1906 most of the gauges were made of brass they will last for ever .
I wonder how long of a decompression time they had to endure on there way back up as seen when they were hanging onto that rope at certain depths
+Kelly Lamb I can ask him if you would like to know.
+Kelly Lamb I think we did something like a 1 hour bottom times and the deco was around 80 minutes or something like that. It was later in the season, so the water was relatively warm. A great wreck and I'm looking forward to going back.
@@4JohnJ How deep is the wreck?
Diving a wreck at 200 feet? Dang, that's a dangerous and technical dive. Just look at how remarkably clear the water is. Wow
Awesome video! Great wreck.
How does it get so much crustaceans on it from fresh water?What exactly is the material built up on the surface all these years?The Fitz just has rust as you would expect.
Quagga mussels. Invasive species. Fitz is 300+ feet deeper and colder so they may not grow at that depth.
You can visit every wreck in the great lakes except the fitz , makes sence
I saw Dennis Hale speak once, Sheboygan maybe. Very matter of fact. The Morrell wasn’t supposed to be the boat making the trip. The other boat whose name he told me and I’ve long forgot, had mechanical problems. Fate I guess.
Did they also find the stern?
I heard it went another five miles before it sank.
40intrepid yes
40intrepid 10:37 onward is the Stern
The story behind this is insane, I watched the one by maritime horrors, you should too, it gives even more respect for the ones who died on the ship on sentiment for just how much of the ship is there and bent up
That engine room is amazingly well preserved for being at the bottom of the water for 52 years. Hell, there are rusted out ships in layup that are in worse shape than that.
Like the Sherwin
Those zebra mussels are everywhere
Been there (bow and stern), done that; only it was almost pitch black, and no zebra mussels. (7/19 to 7/22/1978)
great and nice video i didn't know this music but it's cygnus or angel by lang ?
Why are the drums not in time with rest of the music? Good video though.
God bless those who put out to sea. Your courage is incredible. I keep you all in my prayers. I wish you calm seas and good fortune. The floor of the seas, the oceans and the Great Lakes are littered with ships and boats. Be sate! 🌹⚓
Thanks for sharing the video!
I’m confused, I thought the lakes didn’t get this sort of marine life on the shipwrecks
It looks like there were Zebra mussels attaching to it , invasive species, newer to the great Lakes
Quagga mussels. Invasive species.
Amazing!!! What is covering the ship???
great post i live in ashtabula ohio with a port on lake erie. I retired from the cei power plant and you are so right about the zebra mussels ,started to see them in the early 80s by the mid 80s they were a nightmare every system that had lake water in the plant was full of them ,had to inject chemicals in the house water lines to control them.
Zebra mussels.
can't believe there are still dishes sitting on the shelves... i would have thought ppl would have taken those.
It's like a giant zebra mussel colony in the shape of a ship. My toes are bleeding watching this.
Torn in half like a wet napkin. Incredible 9:12
Very cool video!
Wasnt she anchored trying to weather insane wind speed just idling her engines to help her stay in position but the storm just got so violent she got clobberd anyway....
From certain photographic angles, she appears to be sailing through a fog.
Excellent video very good details that's what I like
Thank you for sharing that with me
Just wondering will that chain not damage that mast over time?
Oh ok thanks for clarification on that..
Why do you list the length of the Morrell at 586 feet? Everything I have read and heard says she was over 600 feet long.
with it being accessible, were the bodies recovered?
If I remember right there was 1 survivor (Dennis Hale) and I think 27 bodies recovered only 1 man was not found.
@@danielhowe5435 Yeah, small boat CG stations picked up bodies and I think he CGC Mackinaw picked up a body. I was on the CGC Bramble when we and the Mack and another cutter did a night search. I remember we found a door from the Morrell. The Bramble threw up at least 10000 dollars in night illumination flares along with the other cutters doing the same. johnboy on wives computer.
Fantastic video. Thank you so much for posting. Didn't like the music, had to turn volume down. I used to have a Casio (or some brand keyboard) that played that song on the "demo" and b/c it is just a repeating thing over & over it got old quick...... But it was tolerable to be able to watch so great footage.... Thanks again for posting!
13:33 - Wow, that looks dangerous.....
80 years on the bottom 1940ish...or was it 1913 i forget
Nice footage, but it’s a gravesite of 28 men, and music is light and happy ?
Most or all the sailors died in the lake after abandoning ship, not in the vessel itself.
@drforjc There was 1 Survivor, and 27 of 28 Bodies of deceased crew from the wreck were recovered. They all had life jackets and died of hypothermia.
It's sad to know that most of these Freighters were sunk due to them breaking apart in bad weather and the men that lost their lives on them, I just wonder what they were going through when they saw the terror of what nature can do unfolding in front of their eyes and knowing that it was the end for them.
So why are all these other ships ok to dive on, but the family of the Fitzgerald crew can stop people from diving on it?
Political pressure from family members that are still alive. I don't agree with it.
My guess is that the bodies are still on site, unlike others?
The bodies of the crew in the aft section are entombed in the over turn hull. I don't even like to think about what their end must have been like, shivers!!!
@@stantaylor3350 they knew. They had time to know the ship was done.
@@johnboehmer6683 I don't think this ship has anyone in it. I think they all got out and drowned away from it.
The ship was so. Old that's why I. Sank that day
Wrong
launched the life boat a little late. RIP crew. Anyway nice/beautiful work, wrecks way too spooky for me , especially where people died, besides the obvious skill levels involved
john i have a question
fire away
What a small pilot house for a 600foot ship...nothing fancy
how deep it is?
no puedo creerlo son los restos del ss daniel j morrell un barco que me gustaría bucear
Stunning. Haunting.