On this day October 14, 1954, the PRINS WILLEM V, affectionately known to divers as the WILLIE, became the only total loss of the year on the Great Lakes. And, she did it off Milwaukee’s harbor.
Photo at top of page: PRINS WILLEM V in Milwaukee
It was early evening and the Oranje Line freighter was less than four miles off Milwaukee’s light when she crossed between the tug SINCLAIR CHICAGO and her barge the SINCLAIR XII not noticing the 800 feet of tow line. When the WILLIE hit the tow line she pulled the fully loaded oil barge into her. This collision cause a large hole in the freighter and she sank in 80 feet of water. The officers and crew, 30 in all, were safely rescued by the Coast Guard Cutter HOLLYHOCK. The tug and barge made it to port on their own.
Sketch of the PRINS WILLEM V by Cal Kothrade
Of course legal actions followed. The Dutch Oranje line filed a two million dollar damage suit against the Sinclair Refining Co. claiming the tug and barge were not properly lighted. The Sinclair Refining Co. filed a $20,000 suit against the Oranje line claiming the tug and barge were properly lighted and even flashed the freighter with their searchlight and blew a series of short blasts on the tug’s whistle.
PRINS WILLEM V in Milwaukee
Underwater photo of the PRINS WILLEM V by Cal Kothrade
The coast guard board of investigation found blame for both captains in the collision. There was doubt that the barge had lights, if any, where the captain claimed they were. The towing lights on the tug were neither far enough apart nor in a vertical line as required. The tug did not sound a whistle signal as it should have. The WILLIE had not maintained a proper lookout on the bridge and had failed to make a proper whistle signal to indicate it was changing course to pass astern of the tug.
Underwater photos of the PRINS WILLEM V by Cal Kothrade
Several attempts were made to raise the PRINS WILLEM V. If you haven’t heard the stories, you should look into them. They are interesting, amusing and much too long to be mentioned here. Spoiler alert, she is still sitting in 80 feet of water but is a popular dive site partly due to the reasonably shallow depth. Now the water is typically clear as you can see by Cal Kothrade’s photos. This was not the case when she sunk as the bottom was basically muck and visibility was bad. This ship has claimed four divers, the last in 1997.
Barge SINCLAIR XII after her collision with the PRINS WILLEM V
The PRINS WILLEM V was built in 1948 in the Netherlands for the Oranje Line. She measured 250.5 feet in length and 42.7 feet in beam. She was a St. Lawrence canal size vessel trading regularly between Northern European ports and the Great Lakes. At the time of her loss, she was on her third round trip voyage for the season. The year before she had made four round trip voyages.
Suzette Lopez
Additional note: The Oranje Line and Lloyds of London abandoned the wreck. The Army Corps of Engineers declared it a menace to navigation. Bids were requested to clear the water over the hull to a depth of 40 feet. Max Nohl’s bid was $50,000. He was given the contract and 180 days to do the job. Max cut away a gangplank and a door and was done in 20 minutes. Corps refused to pay. In the end, Max got paid $46,000 and the WILLIE.
PHOTO CREDIT: Above water – Great Lakes Marine Collection of the Milwaukee Public Library and Wisconsin Marine Historical Society. Below water – Cal Kothrade is the Shipwreck Ambassador of the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society, a diver, a photographer and an artist. His work can be viewed at www.calsworld.net
