1897
1897: PERE MARQUETTE [Built-1897 by Weller F.W. & Co, West Bay, Michigan US-150740] Made maiden voyage, Ludington-Manitowoc, on February 17, 1897. Scrapped at Manitowoc, WI, in winter, 1935-1936.
1916
1916: PAVLOE Built-1889 US-106645 as A.G. LINDSAY by Detroit Dry Dock Co. at Detroit, Michigan. Renamed: PAVLOE-1915 US-106645] As PAVLOE stranded on Little Tugidak Island, Alaska, on February 17, 1916; no lives lost. Final enrollment surrendered at Seattle, WA, March 10, 1916.
1917
1917: GEORGETOWN was built at Buffalo in 1900 and sank on this day enroute from New York to Le Havre in heavy weather while carrying barreled oil. The ship went down as b) ETRETAT off Ile D’Yeu, Bay of Biscay, and there was lingering suspicion of enemy action being involved.
1942
1942: LAKE OSWEYA [Built 1918 By Saginaw Shipbuilding Co. US-216914] Departed New York on February 17, 1942, bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia and Reykjavik, Iceland, but never arrived at former. Presumed torpedoed by German submarine on February 19, 1942, off Halifax.
1944
1944: USCG BLACKHAW [Built-1944 By-Marine Iron & Shipbuilding Corp., Duluth, Minnesota] Was Commissioned on February 17, 1944.Buoy Tender.
1964
1964: POLARIS [Built as: LST-1063 by Bethlehem Ship Building Co, Hingham, MA. 1945 Other Name: POLARIS-1949 ] As POLARIS: Ran aground on bar off Two Rivers, WI, Lake Michigan, February 17, 1964. Released by U.S.C.G., MESQUITE, on February 19th.
1967
1967: ARNO [Built-1943 US-169665 as GURDEN GATES by Walter Butler Shipbuilders Inc. at Superior, Wisconsin. Renamed: BALTIC QUEEN-1949 US-169655, CESARE CARSINI-1950 Italy, ARNO-1953-Italy, IRIDA-1964-Greece, O. KALOS SAMARITIS-1965-Greece, and THREE SISTERS-1966-Greece] As ARNO abandoned by crew after fire in engine room, February 17, 1967, off Cape Gata, Cyprus, on voyage Tripoli, Lebanon, for Tripoli, Libya. Beached on south coast of Cyprus, off Akrotiri Peninsula, a constructive total loss
1977
1977: February 17, 1977 – The CITY OF MIDLAND 41 shortly after departing Ludington encountered a heavy ridge of ice that snapped all the blades off her starboard propeller. One of the blades ripped a hole two feet long by three inches wide which caused the 41 to take on water, but pumps were able to keep her afloat. SPARTAN came out to free her but also became mired in the ice. On February 18 the cutter MACKINAW freed them.
1981
1981: WITSUPPLY [Built-1935 as TRANSITER by Northern Iron Works LTD at Fort Erie, Ontario. Renamed: TRANSTREAM-1942 C-158633, WITSUPPLY-1969 Bermuda, and WITSUPPLY-1974 Panama] As WITSUPPLY sank off Cabo de la Vela, Colombia, Caribbean Sea, on February 17, 1981, in heavy weather; bound for Cartagena, Colombia. She was on her way to be scrapped. Was under tow and sank in position 12.12N x 72.11W.
2019
2019: On February 17, 2019, ALGOMA CONVEYOR departed the shipyard in Jiangsu, China enroute to Canada on its delivery trip
2024
2024: Algoma Endeavour launched in Croatia. A 225-metre-long ship for the transport of bulk cargo, commissioned by Canada’s Algoma Central Corporation, was launched Feb. 17 at Rijeka’s 3.maj shipyard.
Data from: Max Hanley, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series.
