Quick Facts
Vessel Name: Edward E. Gillen
Type: Tug
Specs: 56ft (L) × 15ft (B) × 8ft (D)
Construction: Steel
Year Built: 1908
Home Port: Milwaukee, WI
General Era: Late industrial–early modern maritime era
Vessel Service: Harbor & industrial towing
Date of Loss: June 4, 1981
Cause of Loss: Capsized during towing operations
Location: Lake Michigan, ~4 miles E of Milwaukee
Coordinates: 43° 01.653′ N, 87° 49.122′ W
Depth Range: 60 to 70ft (18.3 to 21.3m)
History & Story
Steam-Powered Beginnings (1908–1917)
Built in 1908, the steel tug Erastus C. Knight began her life as a compact but powerful 56-foot steam tug working out of Erie, Pennsylvania. Designed for industrial harbor work, she was sturdy, practical, and built for long days of towing and construction support. Like many vessels of her era, she was powered by machinery repurposed from an older ship — a common and economical practice at the time, reflecting the gritty, resourceful spirit of early 20th-century Great Lakes industry.
A New Name and the Diesel Age (1917–1928)
During World War I, the tug was renamed Aubrey and transferred to new ownership in Cleveland, Ohio. By 1928 she underwent a major transformation: the steam engine was removed and replaced with a six-cylinder Winton diesel engine. This marked her transition from the steam era into the diesel age — improving reliability, efficiency, and extending her working life by decades.
Milwaukee Years (1958–1981)
After passing through several owners and a mid-century rebuild, the tug was purchased in 1958 by the Edward E. Gillen Company of Milwaukee. In 1964, she was renamed Edward E. Gillen, carrying forward the name of an earlier company tug. For more than twenty years, she worked steadily in Milwaukee Harbor — assisting with construction, towing, and marine operations. She wasn’t glamorous. She was dependable — a true harbor boat.
Final Voyage – June 3, 1981
The tug’s career ended not in a storm, but during a controlled cable-testing exercise with the Coast Guard icebreaker USCGC Westwind.
A heavy cable was stretched between the two vessels, and a critical misunderstanding occurred regarding the proper attachment point. The cable was secured to the tug’s stern rather than the bow. When the icebreaker began moving, tension rapidly pulled the stern downward. Water poured over the back deck, and within moments the tug capsized and sank in 48-degree water. All four crew members entered the lake and were rescued within minutes.
The investigation that followed revealed disagreement over procedure and positioning. It was not age or weather that sank her — it was miscommunication, amplified by force and leverage.
Historic View
Photo by Milwaukee Public Library
Photo Highlights
Present-Day Dive Overview
Dive Type: Recreational
Depth Range: 60 to 70ft (18.3 to 21.3m)
Certification: This site is suitable for divers with training and scuba certification(s) appropriate for the planned depth and conditions.
Depths are approximate and may vary with lake level, seasonal and weather conditions.
The Edward E. Gillen rests upright and largely intact in approximately 70 feet of water, about 4 miles offshore east of the Hoan Bridge in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At just 56 feet in length, the tug is compact and easy to survey in a single dive, yet substantial enough to reward slow exploration.
The pilot house, engine room, and major structural components remain in place, offering a clear look into a working Great Lakes tug. Her proportions and layout make her especially approachable for advanced recreational divers, while still holding interest for those who appreciate maritime engineering.
The wreck lies within a half-mile of the Prins Willem V, making it an excellent second dive on a charter. Divers occasionally swim inside and leave beverages in the ship’s refrigerator for others to discover later — perfectly chilled by Lake Michigan’s cold water.
More than four decades after her sinking, the Gillen remains a time capsule of Milwaukee’s working waterfront. From steam beginnings to diesel modernization, her long service life is preserved in steel beneath the lake — a reminder that even routine harbor operations on the Great Lakes demand precision and respect.
3D Interactive Model
Click the image or follow this link to explore it. 3D model by Andrew Goodman and Kendra Kennedy (3DShipwrecks.org), in collaboration with the Wisconsin Historical Society — CC BY-ND.