THUNDER BAY -- When the gales of November come early, ships on Lake Superior are more prepared today than they were 40 years ago the local harbour master says.
Tuesday marks the 40 th anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which went down in a fierce storm near Whitefish Bay in Lake Superior, taking 29 people with her. Thunder Bay Port Authority harbour master Guy Jarvis said the lake's largest shipping disaster is a tragic reminder of how dangerous Superior can be.
"Its weather is unpredictable at times," he said.
But advancements in technology and safety equipment have made the lake a bit more predictable since Nov. 10, 1975. More observation posts on both the U.S. and Canadian sides of the lake, satellites and the internet all make for more accurate weather predictions. Better survival suits and lifeboats also help.
Ships are typically dry docked every five years as well in order to make sure everything is still structurally sound Jarvis said.
