Identification & Site Information

•Original Name: Cantin

•Later Names: East, Kent (U 47123)

•Type: Wooden Propeller/Package Freighter (later converted to Coal Barge)

•Dimensions:

•Length: 137.08 feet (41.8 meters)

•Gross Tonnage: 347 tons

•Net Tonnage: 218.9 tons

•Build Information: May 1864, Montreal by A. Cantin

•Final Location: Near Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence River

•Final Disposition: Foundered and was blown up on June 2, 1906

Vessel Type Description

The Cantin, later known as East and ultimately renamed Kent, was a wooden propeller/package freighter originally built for carrying diverse cargoes on the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. It was later converted into a coal Barge. The vessel’s robust construction included a round Stern and a single mast, with an engine salvaged from the wrecked ship OSHAWA. The East epihttps://shotlinediving.com/wp-content/uploads/52895851813_b64678c0f7_c.jpgized mid-19th-century freighter design, adapted over decades to meet changing maritime needs.

History

Early Service and Ownership

Launched in 1864, the vessel was initially valued at $24,000 and enrolled under J.F.D. Black and I. Bonner of Montreal. Shortly thereafter, it was renamed East. Some sources speculate its involvement as a blockade runner during the American Civil War, though this claim remains unverified. The vessel passed through several owners and served various purposes, primarily transporting bulk cargo.

Major Incidents

The East experienced numerous accidents throughout its career:

•1867: Broke two Lock gates in the Welland Canal and collided with the American ship Congress off Port Dalhousie, sustaining $300 in damages.

•1868: Struck a pier in Port Stanley and was scuttled for the winter.

•1869: Broke its shaft in Lake Erie.

•1870: Lost two propeller blades in the Detroit River.

Collision with Joe Mac

In 1875, near Cole’s Light on the St. Lawrence River, the East collided with the Tugboat Joe Mac, sinking the latter. The Tug’s crew was rescued, and the East sustained significant damage but was later repaired.

Legal Troubles and Conversion

In 1876, the East was seized by U.S. authorities, marking a turning point in its operational life. The following year, it was sold and converted into a coal Barge, renamed Kent, and used for transporting bulk coal. This Conversion marked its decline from a self-propelled freighter to a towed Barge.

Final Disposition

By 1885, the Kent had Foundered on a bar near Ogdensburg in the St. Lawrence River. On June 2, 1906, the vessel was deliberately destroyed using explosives, likely to eliminate it as a navigation hazard.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The remains of the vessel, if any, are presumed to have been obliterated by the 1906 explosion. No known wreckage has been documented, and the site no longer poses a navigation hazard.

Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) & Advisories

No active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are associated with the Kent wreck site. The deliberate destruction of the vessel likely left no significant underwater features.

Resources & Links

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Maritime History of the Great Lakes Database

•Marine Museum of the Great Lakes: Canadian Ship Registers Online

•David Swayze Shipwreck Database: Comprehensive records of Great Lakes shipwrecks

•Lytle Holdcamper List: Merchant Steam Vessels of the United States

Analysis

The Cantin/East/Kent demonstrates the adaptability and resilience of 19th-century Great Lakes vessels. Originally a state-of-the-art package freighter, it faced numerous challenges and was repurposed multiple times before its eventual scuttling. The vessel’s long history, marked by legal battles, collisions, and structural modifications, reflects the demanding nature of Great Lakes shipping during this era.

Keywords

•Cantin

•East

•Kent

•Wooden Freighter

•Great Lakes Maritime History

•St. Lawrence River

•Shipwreck

•Coal Barge Conversion

•19th-Century Freighters