Theories about the Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald

There are several theories behind the sinking of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald. Since there were no survivors to provide eyewitness accounts, the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald remains a mystery to many. This page lists the most common theories.

• A wave engulfed the ship, pushing the front of the ship underwater. The ship then hit ground, and broke in two.

• Waves lifted both ends of the ship (bow and stern), but the center of the ship containing the cargo was not held by a wave, so the overload forced the center downward, sinking and/or breaking the ship in two.

• Bottoming out/grounding. This could have very well happened near Six Fathom Shoal.

• Faulty hatch covers *this theory has been disproven by research and expeditions

• Previous structural damage may have caused the sinking.

• Huge waves swamped the ship and it sank. Many people call these huge waves (so big they are detected by radar) the Three Sisters.

• A huge wave rode up between two swells and the ship snapped in half.