Shipwreck Report: Dredge #1 (1932)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Dredge #1 (also called Government Dredge No. 1)
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: C122174
• Type at Loss: Dredge Scow/Barge
• Date Built and Launched: 1903 (Port Arthur, Ontario)
• Builder: Unknown
• Measurements: 65 ft (19.8 m) length, 24 ft (7.3 m) beam, 8 ft (2.4 m) depth
• Tonnage: 176 tons
• Date Lost: June 1932
• Place of Loss: Off Bayfield, Ontario, Lake Huron

Vessel Type

Dredge Scow/Barge (Non-Self-Propelled)

Description

The Dredge #1 was a Dredge scow or Barge, a government-owned, used for harbour and channel deepening projects. Built in 1903 in Port Arthur, Ontario, the vessel was towed between work locations and played a critical role in maintaining Great Lakes navigation routes.

Unlike self-propelled dredgers, Dredge scows required tugboats for movement, making them vulnerable in severe weather conditions.

By 1932, the vessel was en route to Kincardine for dredging work but never arrived.

Final Voyage & Loss

In June 1932, Dredge #1 was under tow by the Tug MAX L, traveling from Sarnia to Kincardine on Lake Huron.

While in transit, the vessel encountered a storm, causing her Towline to snap. With no means of propulsion, Dredge #1 was helpless in the waves. The storm’s force caused the vessel to break in two, leading to her rapid sinking.

The 12 crew members aboard managed to swim to the Tug MAX L and were successfully rescued.

Some reports suggest that if this was the same vessel listed in some records, it may have been later recovered, though details remain unclear.

Final Disposition

Broke in two and sank off Bayfield, Ontario, during a storm in June 1932.

• Crew rescued: 12 men swam to safety
• Declared a Total Loss
• Possible later recovery

Located By & Date Found

Nil—there are no confirmed reports of Dredge #1‘s wreck being located.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil—no known navigational advisories related to the wreck.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Ontario Shipwreck Research

Conclusion

The Dredge #1 was a vital part of early 20th-century harbor maintenance but was no match for Lake Huron’s unpredictable storms. Her sudden loss in 1932 underscores the vulnerability of towed vessels, which often relied entirely on their escorting tugboats for survival.

Though her entire crew miraculously survived, the wreck itself remains undiscovered, and some sources suggest it may have been salvaged at a later date.

With dredging equipment and government projects often under-documented, this shipwreck remains an intriguing mystery in Great Lakes maritime history.

Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

• Keywords: Dredge #1 shipwreck, Government Dredge loss, Lake Huron dredging history, Bayfield Ontario shipwreck, Tug MAX L rescue
• Categories: Lake Huron Shipwrecks, Dredging & Industrial Vessels, Storm-Related Shipwrecks, 20th Century Maritime Losses, Canadian Government Vessels
• Glossary Terms:
• Dredge Scow: A flat-bottomed Barge equipped for dredging operations, often used in shallow waterways and harbors.
• Towline Failure: A common cause of shipwrecks where a towed vessel becomes disconnected from its Tug, leaving it adrift and vulnerable.
• Port Arthur, Ontario: A historic shipping and industrial center, now part of Thunder Bay, Ontario.