From 1902 to 1962, Great Lakes Engineering Works in River Rouge, Michigan, built more than 300 ships of many sizes and types, with total tonnage of around 1,000,000, including lake freighters, excursion boats, lake passenger steamers, and tugs, and this work supplied employment for thousands. The 729-foot ore carrier Edmund Fitzgerald was launched sideways in the traditional manner of all lake ships on June 7, 1958. The builder had laid the keel of hull (#301) at the yard on August 7, 1957. It was built for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was operated throughout its career under charter to the Columbia Transportation Division of Oglebay Norton Co. of Cleveland, Ohio. When launched, the Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest bulk carrier on the Lakes. It foundered in heavy weather on Lake Superior on November 19, 1975, with 29 hands lost at 47 north lattitude, 85 7' west longitude, 17.5 miles from Whitefish Point. The broken hull lies in 530 feet of water, with the bow and stern sections close together.