AH-WR-1836

Anabel II

Fish Tug · United States · Lost 1956 · Door County & Lake Michigan

A Burger-built fish tug was destroyed by fire while wintering at Sturgeon Bay’s Roen docks in January 1956.

Become Captain of Record

Artistic recreation based on recorded historical documents. See the documented evidence.

Interpretive Reconstruction, drawn to convey the vessel's era, type and general form. See the documented evidence.

The Vessel and Her Loss

Anabel II was built by Burger Boat Company at Manitowoc in 1928 as an oil-screw fish tug. After an earlier dockside sinking at Manistique, she was acquired by Roen SS Company for intended conversion to towing work. On January 12, 1956, she caught fire and was destroyed while wintering at the company’s Sturgeon Bay docks. The wreck’s current location and condition remain archaeologically unconfirmed.

Vessel

Built: 1928
Registry: US registry no. 228126
Builder: Burger Boat Company
Yard: Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Material: Not established
Length: 58.9 ft
Beam: 15 ft
Tonnage: 62 gross tons
Propulsion: Oil engine, screw
Owners: Acquired by Roen SS Company; ownership at loss internally conflicting.

Loss

Date: January 12, 1956
Cause: Fire
Location: Roen Steamship Company docks, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Water: Lake Michigan
Voyage: Not established
Cargo: Not established
Aboard: Not established
Lives lost: Not established
Master: Not established

The Wreck Today

Depth: Not established
Condition: Not established
Orientation: Not established
Discovered: Not established
Protection: Not established

Position

Coordinates: Not established
Accuracy: Position not established
Nearest: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Region: Door County & Lake Michigan

Historical Sturgeon Bay dock locality fits existing region; institutional account expressly states current wreck location and condition are archaeologically unconfirmed, displayed position omitted.

Evidence

Overall confidence: Documented (80/100)

Hull material, ownership at loss, casualties, depth and the present archaeological location and condition are not securely established.

Wisconsin Historical Society and Wisconsin Sea Grant — Wisconsin Shipwrecks: Anabel II
Full construction/service/final narrative: 1928 Burger at Manitowoc, registry 228126, 58.9 x 15 ft oil screw fish tug, earlier Manistique dock sinking, intended towing conversion, January 12 1956 fire destruction at Roen Sturgeon Bay docks, archaeological location/condition unconfirmed; conflicting owner table disclosed.