Material Service
Self-Unloading Barge · United States · Lost 1936 · Chicago & Southern Lake Michigan
A Chicago sand and gravel carrier lost in rough water in 1936, a disaster that reshaped American vessel loading rules.
Become Captain of RecordSee Shipwreck on Map
The Vessel and Her Loss
The Material Service was a steel self-unloading vessel built in 1929 to carry sand and gravel into Chicago. In July 1936, deeply laden and taking water in rough weather, she sank quickly off Calumet Harbor with the loss of many of those aboard. The disaster drew wide attention to overloading in the aggregate trade. Her broken hull lies in shallow water and is dived from Chicago.
Vessel
- 1929
- Not established
- Not established
- Steel
- Not established
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- Diesel
- Not established
Loss
- July 29, 1936
- Storm
- Off Calumet Harbor, Lake Michigan, near Chicago
- Lake Michigan
- Not established
- Sand and gravel
- Not established
- Fifteen of those aboard were lost; accounts differ slightly.
- Not established
The Wreck Today
- 35 to 40 feet
- Broken hull on a flat bottom.
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
Position
- 41.71° N 87.50° W
- Approximate position
- Chicago, Illinois
Evidence
Overall confidence: Documented (75/100)
The exact number of lives lost varies between accounts.
United States Coast Guard casualty records
Loss date, location, casualties.
Chicago Maritime Museum
Vessel service and the aftermath of the loss.
