William P. Rend
Wooden Bulk Freight Barge · Lost 1917 · Thunder Bay & Lake Huron
William P. Rend — Sprang a leak carrying crushed limestone and sank rapidly near Alpena.
Become Captain of RecordSee Shipwreck on Map
The Vessel and Her Loss
William P. Rend was launched at West Bay City in 1888 by James Davidson. The wooden bulk carrier hauled coal, iron and limestone. It sprang a leak carrying crushed limestone and sank near Alpena on September 22, 1917. No lives were lost, and refloating attempts failed.
Vessel
- 1888
- James Davidson
- West Bay City, Michigan
- Wood
- Not established
- 40 ft
- 2323 gross tons
- Not established
- Not established
Loss
- September 22, 1917
- Not established
- Approximately 1.5 miles north of the Thunder Bay River mouth
- Lake Huron
- Not established
- Crushed limestone
- Not established
- 0
- Not established
The Wreck Today
- 17 ft
- Nearly intact reinforced wooden hull with cargo remaining, iron reinforcement bands and machinery near the stern.
- Not established
- Not established
- Within Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Position
- 45.062° N 83.393° W
- Surveyed position
- Alpena, Michigan
NOAA published GPS: N45° 03.742’ W83° 23.555’. Converted to decimal degrees; represents wreck position, including relocation where documented.
Evidence
Overall confidence: Well documented (90/100)
Ownership, unverified configuration details, original vessel length remain unknown. Illustrations are interpretive reconstructions.
NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary — W.P. Rend
Construction, bulk freight service, beam, gross tonnage, dated leak and sinking, crushed limestone cargo, failed refloating, published GPS, depth and explicit zero fatalities.
