Revision 9/09/2009 9:31 AM
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Material Service Barge
 Calumet Harbor, IN
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Max Depth: 31-35ft/9-11m
Average Viz: 5-10ft/2-3m
Entry Type: Boat
Bottom Composition: Clay/Muck
Aquatic Life: Might See Something
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Summer: 71-75°F/22-24°C
Fall: 66-70°F/19-21°C
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A sand and gravel barge that sank near Calumet Harbor in 1936 with a loss of 15 of 22 crew members. Very intact steel vessel. Depth 22 to 38 feet. Sometimes there is a current. Look for the bathtub!
The 240-foot-long Material Service, a unique innovation in motorized barges, was built in 1929 and worked along Chicago rivers and canals for seven years. It could haul heavy, bulky construction materials such as sand and gravel without the need to raise bridges between work sites, because of its low freeboard design. Tragically, the ship sank due to the captain’s negligence in the wilder waters of Lake Michigan just off Calumet Harbor on July 29, 1936, with the loss of 15 of her 22 crew. Several salvage attempts failed, so it remains at only 30 feet, making it very popular among scuba divers. Attractions include eight open hatches, which allow visitors to view the self-unloading mechanism in the hull, the twin rudders and propellers.
http://www.materialservicebarge.com/ http://www.windycitydiving.net/wrecks.htm http://www.nedivenews.com/?q=node/255 The 240-foot-long Material Service, a unique innovation in motorized barges, was built in 1929 and worked along Chicago rivers and canals for seven years. It could haul heavy, bulky construction materials such as sand and gravel without the need to raise bridges between work sites, because of its low freeboard design. Tragically, the ship sank due to the captain’s negligence in the wilder waters of Lake Michigan just off Calumet Harbor on July 29, 1936, with the loss of 15 of her 22 crew. Several salvage attempts failed, so it remains at only 30 feet, making it very popular among scuba divers. Attractions include eight open hatches, which allow visitors to view the self-unloading mechanism in the hull, the twin rudders and propellers.http://www.materialservicebarge.com/
http://www.windycitydiving.net/wrecks.htm
http://www.nedivenews.com/?q=node/255