Crane & Front Loader Debris Field
Gallery
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Front End Loader laying on its Side
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Divers Swim Up to the Crane
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A Diver Inspects the Crane
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View along Crane
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Divers Swim Up to the Front End Loader
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Divers Swim Over the Crane
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3d Photogrammetry Model of the Crane by Zach Whitrock, 3d Model can be viewed here: https://skfb.ly/oAKrV
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3d Photogrammetry Model of the Front End Loader by Zach Whitrock, 3d Model can be viewed here: https://skfb.ly/oAKrV
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3d Photogrammetry Model of the Crane & Front End Loader Site by Zach Whitrock, 3d Model can be viewed here: https://skfb.ly/oAKrV
By The Numbers
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Built
Sank
0
Lives Lost
0
Depth (ft)
 
 
Final Voyage

Although not a shipwreck, this crane, caterpillar front end loader and debris field are cargo that ended up on the bottom of Lake Michigan as result of a maritime mishap sometime in the 1980s. It is still common practice to use barges, cranes, and front end loaders for harbor improvements and that this debris field is the result of that. It is theorized that this site was created when a barge carrying the cargo had flipped over during heavy seas dumping its contents. Or that that the barge had encountered seas so heavy that the cargo shifted and fell over the side. Or finally, that the debris field was dumped into the lake intentionally.
Today

The crane and front loader debris field is a popular dive site with the crane sitting upright and the Caterpillar front end loader laying on its side on a pile of slag and rip rap in 130 feet of water. There are many tools and other objects interspersed between the rock pile.
 
Map
Confirmed Location     Unconfirmed location
 
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