Glenorchy

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GLENORCHY - (N43.48.580 W.082.32.721) 100 to 120 Feet Deep.  The Glenorchy is a steel freighter that collided with another ship on October 29th, 1924.  The Glenorchy is 365 feet long and sits "turtle" (upside down) in 120ft of water.  For the properly trained and experienced diver there are penetration opportunities on this wreck.

October 29th, 1924 the steel freighter Glenorchy collided with the Leonard B. Miller in heavy fog on Lake Huron about 6 miles off of of Harbor Beach Michigan. After the impact the Miller came alongside the Glenorchy to take on the crew of the sinking ship. One story from the sinking is that one of the crew members was trapped in his stateroom after the collision. Captain Burke of the Glenorchy realized this as the crew was being transfered to the Miller. Captain Burke then when to the stateroom and used an axe to chop his way into the stateroom and rescue the trapped crewman. Moments after Captain Burke and the crewmen stepped on the deck of the Miller, the Glenorchy turned to its port side, then rolled over and sand to the bottom.

After taking on all 20 crew members, the Miller returned to Port Huron with a badly damaged bow and a large hole in its port side. It was reported that the pumps were barely able to keep up with the incoming water from the damage.

Chris Roth inspecting the prop on the shipwreck Glenorchy

The Glenorchy lies upside down on the lake floor.

Debris lies around the shipwreck Glenorchy.

There are openings in the stern hull that lead to a mangled engine room.  Divers need to take care (and properly trained) if penetrating as there are many entanglement hazards inside the wreck.

The propeller is always an amazing site.  The size of the prop is impressive when compared to the diver next to it (Chris Roth)