GLSA & WUAA SELF-SUPPORTING SUMMER FIELDWORK:
2026 UNIDENTIFIED STEAM TUG SURVEY PROJECT
Report by: Peter Kastella
Fieldwork Date: Thursday, July 30, 2026
Meeting Place: Jerry’s Silo Marina
Meeting Time: Arrival 4:00 PM Departure 5:00 PM
Survey Team Members Attending: John Tindall
Volunteers Attending:
Peter Kastella, Richard Tessell, Joe Schuller and Erik Davis divers, John Tindall, surface support
Volunteers in waiting should someone cancel.
A number of volunteers were on the call list
Vessels Being Used: Sandy Ann
Objectives for the Survey:
1. Survey and draw stern of the wreck
2. Survey and draw bow of the wreck
Teams:
Team 1 Joe and Richard, (Objective #1)
Team 2. Erik and Pete (Objective #2)
Equipment Needed:
Team 1 – Survey kit
Team 2 – Survey kit
Future dates for the next dive: August 6
Review of the dive and findings:
Lake Michigan was a bit choppy with an ESE wind. Waves were nearly 2 feet. The air temperature was near 90 degrees so to avoid overheating the divers delayed suiting up until the last minute. The Sandy Ann was moored to the wreck via the bow. We had 4 survey divers and John chose to stay aboard the Sandy Ann to assist the divers. Richard and Joe were assigned to work together and survey the stern of the wreck, while Erik and Pete began surveying the bow area of the wreck. Entering the water at the stern, the divers pulled themselves along a line to the bow and downline. The survey work was limited due to suspended particles in the water, cutting visibility down to 5 feet or less. The bottom temperature had also fallen from lasts weeks 63 degrees to about 47 degrees this week. There appeared to be no current. Despite the conditions and the need to work very close to the wreckage, some survey work was completed. All divers got about 30 minutes of down time. The choppy conditions made returning to the boat and exiting the water a challenge, but all returned safely to the Sandy Ann. We ended the night with the “deco session” discussed the plans for the next dive. We can take up to 6 divers, so if you wish to join in the survey, please contact John.
The one tank dives are limited to six divers, with a minimum of five needed to pay for the charter. You can earn a guaranteed spot on a future charter if you serve as surface support for a week. Surface support does not pay a fee. Anyone interested in joining the self-supporting study should contact John to make sure there is space available. You are required to bring your own dive gear.
The Steam Tug Field Project is a GLSA & WUAA self-supporting project. Money received from divers, after paying the charter fees, is used to purchase new and replacement equipment for this and future self-supported projects on Great Lakes shipwrecks. Dive reports are posted at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069646586530
“Preservation Through Documentation” ©Kimm A Stabelfeldt
For those of you who have not paid your annual dues for the WUAA group or need to join the group please go to the web site and do so. https://wuaa.org/index.php/store/WUAA-Yearly-Membership-p447692900