Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs

Starting this week, Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs adds a new regular segment: This Week in Shipwrecks. Every Friday Rich will surface the latest headlines from the world of maritime history including fresh shipwreck discoveries, updates on famous wrecks, and other news from the deep — delivered in quick, repackaged nuggets.

Roman shipwreck off Sicily — spearfishers find a 2,000-year-old cargo ship loaded with amphorae

Classical Greek merchant wreck off Andros — 600+ amphorae recovered near the Aegean island

Deepest shipwreck in French waters — 16th-century vessel found by accident off Saint-Tropez, ~2,567m down

Shackleton's Quest & Scott's Terra Nova surveyed — Woods Hole/Alvin expedition documents both polar wrecks, warns of accelerating decay

Two Swedish warships off Rügen — artifacts recovered from Postillion and Cecilie, lost in winter 1714–1715

The Falken identified off Finland — 50-year-old mystery wreck confirmed as the Vasa's "little sister"

Global Mercy launches new mission — hospital ship begins 10-month field service in Ghana

All episodes, show notes, and transcripts can be found at shipwrecksandseadogs.com.

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In February 1963, the SS Marine Sulphur Queen, a converted WWII tanker carrying molten sulphur, disappeared somewhere between Texas and Key West, Florida, taking all 39 crew members with it. There was no distress call, and only a few life jackets and debris were found weeks later. The wreck of the Marine Sulphur Queen has never been found, and no bodies have ever been recovered. The official US Coast Guard investigation report could not establish a cause of the sinking, and only put forth possible reasons for its loss.

This episode, explores the troubled history of the ship, the few details we actually know of its final voyage, the search and rescue operation, the Coast Guard investigation, and finally, the lawsuits filed by the families of the crewmembers.

The cause of the sinking of the Marine Sulphur Queen remains unsolved, and is the focus one of the most debated unsolved mysteries, including theories involving the linked the so-called "Bermuda Triangle." (NOTE: Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs does NOT support the Bermuda Triangle theories.)

** No AI was used to create this video.

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Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes, images, and sources can be found at shipwrecksandseadogs.com.

Original theme music by Sean Sigfried. You can find him at ⁠seansigfried.com.⁠

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As a followup to the last episode in which Rich and guest Ben Railton discuss The Open Boat by Stephen Crane, this is a full reading read by Rich in audiobook style. This story is in the public domain and is not restricted by copyright laws.

American author Stephen Crane survived the real shipwreck of SS Commodore in 1897 off the coast of Florida. Just a few days later, he wrote The Open Boat, a fictional account of four men surviving in a small dinghy following being shipwrecked. It is a semi-autobiographical account of Crane's actual experience.

Presented without any mid-episode ads or interruptions.

Story written by Stephen Crane. Narrated, produced, and edited by Rich Napolitano. All episodes, show notes, transcripts, and merchandise can be found at shipwrecksandseadogs.com.

Original theme music by Sean Sigfried. you can find him at seansigfried.com.

** No AI was used to create this video.

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👉Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is part of the Into History podcast channel — subscribe here: https://www.intohistory.com/shipwreckspod

👉Get exclusive bonus episodes and merch on Patreon: https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/patreon

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In 1897, journalist and novelist Stephen Crane boarded the SS Commodore, a gunrunning ship bound for Cuba, and nearly didn't survive the trip. When the ship sank off the coast of Florida, Crane spent over 30 hours adrift in a small dinghy with three other men, an ordeal that became the basis for one of the greatest short stories in American literature: "The Open Boat."

In this episode, Rich speaks with Professor of American Studies Ben Railton to explore the true story behind Crane's fiction, from the real-life sinking of the Commodore and the harrowing survival at sea, to how Crane transformed his own near-death experience into a landmark work of literary naturalism.

📚 Ben Railton is a Professor of American Studies at Fitchburg State University. His work explores the intersections of history, literature, and American identity. Read more of Ben's work at https://www.blackwhiteandread.com.

You will hear:

⚓The real history of the SS Commodore shipwreck and Crane's role as a gunrunner-journalist

⚓What actually happened during those 30 hours in the open boat

⚓How "The Open Boat" reflects Crane's philosophy of nature's indifference to human suffering

⚓Why this story remains a cornerstone of American literary naturalism

⚓The blurry line between memoir and fiction in Crane's writing

* No compensation or remuneration was paid by or paid to Nautilus Media LLC, Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs, or Rich Napolitano in exchange for Mr. Railton's particpation in this episode.

** No AI was used to create this video.

**🎧 LISTEN AD-FREE + BONUS EPISODES**

👉Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is part of the Into History podcast channel — subscribe here: https://www.intohistory.com/shipwreckspod

👉Get exclusive bonus episodes and merch on Patreon: https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/patreon

👉Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/apple

👉Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com

👉You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod

#shipwreck #history #maritimehistory #ships #podcast

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes, images, and sources can be found at shipwrecksandseadogs.com.

Original theme music by Sean Sigfried. seansigfried.com

You can also listen to Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. https://www.podfollow.com/shipwreckspod
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In this episode of Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs, host Rich Napolitano sits down with Great Lakes historian Rob Alway to uncover the story of the Pere Marquette 18, the flagship rail car ferry that mysteriously sank in Lake Michigan in 1910.

Rich and Rob explore how the Pere Marquette Railroad helped shape maritime and rail travel across Lake Michigan, why the Pere Marquette 18 was considered the fleet’s most notable ship, and what happened on her final voyage from Ludington to Milwaukee. Rob walks us through the theories behind the sinking, including possible hull damage from its excursion service, the emergency distress call that made Great Lakes history, and the rescue efforts that followed.

You’ll also hear about:
⚓The history of Ludington’s car ferry industry
⚓How railroad ferries helped avoid Chicago rail bottlenecks
⚓The aftermath of the sinking and the changes it inspired
⚓The wreck’s discovery nearly 500 feet down in Lake Michigan
⚓Why the SS Badger remains a living link to this maritime legacy

A perfect episode if you’re interested in Great Lakes history, shipwrecks, rail ferries, maritime disasters, or the hidden stories behind the places we live.

Read more of Rob Alway's work:
⚓Mason County Historical Society | https://masoncountymihistory.org/
⚓Mason County Press | https://masoncountypress.com
⚓Oceana County Press | https://oceanacountypress.com/

Listen now to learn how one shipwreck helped define an entire era of Lake Michigan travel.

#ShipwrecksAndSeaDogs #GreatLakesHistory #PereMarquette18 #Shipwreck #LakeMichigan #MaritimeHistory #Ludington #RobAlway #RailFerry #HistoricShipwreck

**🎧 LISTEN AD-FREE + BONUS EPISODES**

👉Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is part of the Into History podcast channel. Subscribe here: ⁠⁠https://www.intohistory.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠

👉Get exclusive bonus episodes and merch on Patreon: ⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/patreon⁠⁠

👉Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/apple⁠⁠

👉Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available!
⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠

👉You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at:
⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠

*No compensation or remuneration of any kind was paid to or paid by Rich Napolitano, Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs, or Nautilus Media LLC for Mr. Alway's participation in this episode.

** No AI was used to create this episode.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes, images, and sources can be found at shipwrecksandseadogs.com.

Original theme music by Sean Sigfried.
⁠⁠https://www.seansigfried.com⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices