Known as the “Dredge No. 6,” this crane dredge barge is one of Milwaukee’s most notable wrecks and a favorite among Great Lakes divers. She lies upside down in about 70 to 75 feet of water southeast of Milwaukee. Divers can still see parts of the crane boom, dredging machinery, and crew quarters, making it an exciting and historical dive site.

Built in 1912 by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company of Manitowoc, Wisconsin for the Fitz Simons & Connell Dredge & Dock Company, later part of Merritt-Chapman & Scott Corporation. The dredge was a large steel-hulled crane vessel used primarily for harbor construction and dredging operations, not designed for open-lake towing.

On May 23rd, 1956, Dredge No. 6 was being towed by the tug E. James Fucik from a work site near Oak Creek to Milwaukee Harbor to seek shelter from approaching bad weather. Winds reached up to 55 mph, causing the dredge to take on water and list heavily. During the tow, a critical guy-wire holding the crane boom snapped, shifting the boom’s weight and causing the vessel to capsize and sink about 6–11 miles southeast of Milwaukee. Of the 19 men aboard, 9 lost their lives, while 10 survived the cold waters of Lake Michigan.

Today, the wreck of Dredge No. 6 rests inverted and mostly intact, offering divers a fascinating glimpse of early 20th-century industrial equipment and Great Lakes maritime history.