The article discusses the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, a Great Lakes freighter that sank in a storm on November 10, 1975. The ship was carrying iron ore from Superior, Wisconsin to Detroit, Michigan when it sank in Lake Superior, resulting in the loss of all 29 crew members.
The investigation into the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald was led by the U.S. Coast Guard and concluded that the probable cause of the disaster was a combination of factors, including:
1. Excessive speed: The ship was traveling at a high speed in heavy weather conditions, which made it difficult to control.
2. Poor visibility: The stormy weather reduced visibility to near zero, making it difficult for the crew to navigate.
3. Inadequate communication: There were reports of poor communication between the crew and the shore-based personnel, which may have contributed to the delay in responding to the emergency.
The article also discusses the controversy surrounding the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, including:
1. The role of the ship's captain, Ernest McSorley: Some argue that Captain McSorley was too confident in his ability to navigate the ship in heavy weather conditions.
2. The quality of the ship's equipment: There were reports of inadequate maintenance and poor-quality equipment on board the ship, which may have contributed to the disaster.
The article also includes quotes from crew members' families and historians, who offer a more nuanced understanding of the events leading up to the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Some key points from the article include:
* The ship was traveling at a speed of 15 knots (17 mph) in heavy weather conditions.
* There were reports of poor communication between the crew and shore-based personnel.
* The captain's log entries indicate that the crew was aware of the deteriorating weather conditions, but they did not take adequate action to slow down the ship or alter course.
* The investigation found that there was a lack of coordination between the Coast Guard and other authorities in responding to the emergency.
Overall, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, including the circumstances surrounding the disaster and the controversy surrounding its causes.
The investigation into the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald was led by the U.S. Coast Guard and concluded that the probable cause of the disaster was a combination of factors, including:
1. Excessive speed: The ship was traveling at a high speed in heavy weather conditions, which made it difficult to control.
2. Poor visibility: The stormy weather reduced visibility to near zero, making it difficult for the crew to navigate.
3. Inadequate communication: There were reports of poor communication between the crew and the shore-based personnel, which may have contributed to the delay in responding to the emergency.
The article also discusses the controversy surrounding the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, including:
1. The role of the ship's captain, Ernest McSorley: Some argue that Captain McSorley was too confident in his ability to navigate the ship in heavy weather conditions.
2. The quality of the ship's equipment: There were reports of inadequate maintenance and poor-quality equipment on board the ship, which may have contributed to the disaster.
The article also includes quotes from crew members' families and historians, who offer a more nuanced understanding of the events leading up to the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Some key points from the article include:
* The ship was traveling at a speed of 15 knots (17 mph) in heavy weather conditions.
* There were reports of poor communication between the crew and shore-based personnel.
* The captain's log entries indicate that the crew was aware of the deteriorating weather conditions, but they did not take adequate action to slow down the ship or alter course.
* The investigation found that there was a lack of coordination between the Coast Guard and other authorities in responding to the emergency.
Overall, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, including the circumstances surrounding the disaster and the controversy surrounding its causes.
... I mean, 29 people lost their lives in that storm. It's crazy to think about how fast they were going when it sank, 15 knots is like, super fast even for the Great Lakes 
... and then there's all these questions about communication and maintenance... I don't know man, it just seems like a combination of things went wrong, you feel? The captain was known to be confident, but maybe that wasn't the best approach in that situation 
... anyway, it's wild to see how much research has gone into figuring out what happened all those years ago 
. It's wild to think that the Edmund Fitzgerald was basically doing some basic safety checks and they still lost 29 lives over it... like what even is the point of having a ship with experienced crew if you're just gonna be reckless with it? 
And can we talk about how important proper communication and equipment maintenance are in situations like this? 
Like, I get that the weather was pretty bad, but still, there were some serious red flags here that shouldn't have been ignored.
I still remember hearing about this tragedy as a young adult. It's crazy how much we've learned since then about weather forecasting and maritime safety. I think it's really interesting that the captain was traveling at 15 knots in those conditions - it just doesn't seem right to me, like he knew something was off but didn't want to slow down or seek shelter.
anyway i was reading about the SS Edmund Fitzgerald and it's wild to think that they were going super fast in those bad weather conditions i get it ships need to move but 15 knots is a lot for a freighter lol i also saw some vids of the lake superior storm and it looks intense 
like no wonder the crew couldn't see what was happening. my aunt used to live in detroit and she always said how rough that lake is 
I mean, can you even imagine bein' on that ship? 29 crew members lost in one second. It's crazy thinkin' about how fast they were goin' too - 17 mph? That's like, way too fast for a stormy night. And poor communication? Yeah, that's gotta make things way harder for the crew. I feel bad for 'em. The captain's log entries are pretty tellin', though... it's clear they knew somethin' was up but didn't do much about it. It's like, hindsight is 20/20, right? 
anyway, I'm wondering why no one mentions that the ship was carrying way more iron ore than usual... like, what were they thinking? 
was it a mistake or was it some kinda cargo hold issue? also, can someone explain to me how the Coast Guard couldn't coordinate with each other better during an emergency? 
. It's funny, back in my day we had to deal with weather forecasts that were way more basic, no fancy radar or GPS... it was all about reading the signs and trusting your instincts 
.
. I guess back then, speed was just king, no matter what the weather threw at you.
. But one thing that never changes is how much we admire those brave sailors who risk their lives on the water 
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. He knew the weather was bad, but he also had experience navigating those waters, right? And as for the equipment, come on, it's not like they were sailing in ancient times 
. The Coast Guard investigation said it was a combo of factors, and I think that's a fair assessment. It's easy to second-guess what should've been done from the outside looking in 
. But what about the captain's own judgment? Shouldn't we be giving him more credit for trying to do his job on one of the toughest routes on the Great Lakes 
?
. And what's with all the blame on Captain McSorley? He'd been on that ship before and knew those waters, maybe he was just being overcautious?
. 29 lives lost at sea, it's just heartbreaking. I can imagine how tough it must've been for the families of those who went missing. The investigation revealed some pretty concerning things - excessive speed, poor visibility, and communication issues... it's like they were setting themselves up for disaster 
. I mean, I get it, they were carrying iron ore and had to make a deadline but come on! 
And poor visibility too... I'd be freaking out if I was stuck on that ship with no idea what was going on outside