Shipwreck Report: Dredge #8 (1888)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Dredge #8
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: C116384
• Type at Loss: Dredge Barge
• Date Built and Launched: 1888
• Builder: Duluth, Minnesota
• Measurements: 96 ft (29.3 m) length, 36 ft (11 m) beam, 10 ft (3 m) depth
• Tonnage: 415 gross tons, 415 net tons
• Date Lost: December 9, 1909
• Place of Loss: East of Hatton Island, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Lake Superior

Vessel Type

Dredge Barge (Non-Self-Propelled)

Description

The Dredge #8 was a wooden-hulled Dredge Barge, built in 1888 in Duluth, Minnesota. She was designed to excavate and maintain harbors, rivers, and shipping channels, playing a vital role in port development in the Great Lakes region.

Originally U.S.-owned, the vessel was sold to Canadian owners in 1904 and was later registered in Port Arthur, Ontario.

By 1909, Dredge #8 was stationed near Thunder Bay, Ontario, performing dredging operations in the region.

Final Voyage & Loss

On December 9, 1909, Dredge #8 was working near Hatton Island, Thunder Bay, Lake Superior, when she was caught in a severe storm. The vessel Foundered and sank, resulting in the tragic loss of six crew members.

Despite being declared a Total Loss, the wreck was later recovered, and her registry remained open until 1942, suggesting that some parts of the vessel may have been salvaged and repurposed.

Final Disposition

Foundered in a storm near East Hatton Island, Thunder Bay, Ontario, on December 9, 1909.

• Crew casualties: 6 lives lost
• Declared a Total Loss but later recovered
• Registry officially closed in 1942

Located By & Date Found

Nil—there are no confirmed reports of Dredge #8‘s wreck being found. However, parts of the vessel were likely salvaged, as her registry remained open until 1942.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil—no known navigational advisories related to Dredge #8.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Thunder Bay Marine Heritage Center

Conclusion

The loss of Dredge #8 in 1909 is a reminder of the dangers faced by industrial vessels, even those not traditionally designed for open-water navigation. Despite her relatively shallow Draft, the harsh conditions of Lake Superior proved too much for the vessel, leading to her tragic sinking and the loss of six lives.

The fact that the vessel was later recovered and remained on registry until 1942 suggests that at least parts of the Dredge were salvaged or repurposed, though details of this process remain unclear.

The exact location of the wreck remains unknown, making Dredge #8 a potential discovery site for maritime archaeologists and wreck divers exploring the Thunder Bay region of Lake Superior.

Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

• Keywords: Dredge #8 shipwreck, Hatton Island wreck, Thunder Bay dredging history, Lake Superior storm loss, Canadian dredging operations
• Categories: Lake Superior Shipwrecks, Dredging Vessels, Industrial Maritime Losses, Storm-Related Shipwrecks, Early 20th Century Marine Disasters
• Glossary Terms:
• Dredge Barge: A non-self-propelled vessel equipped with dredging machinery, used for deepening harbors and waterways.
• Foundered: A vessel that sank due to rough conditions, Hull failure, or water ingress.
• Port Arthur, Ontario: A historic Great Lakes port, now part of Thunder Bay, Ontario, known for its major shipping and industrial activity.