IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

•Vessel Name: Alfred W.

•Vessel Type: Tugboat (Towboat)

•Build Year: 1905

•Built At: Green Bay, Wisconsin

•Construction: Wooden Hull, Single Deck

•Dimensions:

•Length: 66.16 feet (20.17 meters)

•Beam: 17 feet (5.18 meters)

•Depth: 10.5 feet (3.2 meters)

•Gross Tonnage: 56 tons

•Net Tonnage: 19 tons

•Final Location: Near Pie Island, Lake Superior

•Coordinates: 46.769453, -92.097465

•Status: Abandoned in August 1933

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The Alfred W. was a wooden-hulled Tugboat built to assist with towing and dredging operations on the Great Lakes. Tugboats like the Alfred W. were essential for guiding larger vessels, transporting barges, and aiding in construction and dredging projects. This small but powerful vessel was representative of the early 20th-century maritime industry on the Great Lakes.

HISTORY

The Alfred W. was constructed in 1905 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and immediately entered service for the Duluth-Superior Dredging Co. The Tug played a critical role in assisting dredging and towing operations, primarily in the Lake Superior region.

Notable Events:

•June 27, 1906: While navigating near Pie Island in Lake Superior, the Alfred W. struck a rock, causing the vessel to founder and sink. The nine crew members managed to escape using a small boat and swam to safety.

•Rescue: The Steamer Kaministiqua arrived at the scene and successfully rescued the crew.

•Recovery: Despite the severe damage, the Alfred W. is believed to have been salvaged and returned to service, as it appears in the 1911 Merchant Vessel List.

Later Years:

•The Alfred W. continued its service on the Great Lakes for many years following its recovery. However, by August 1933, the vessel was Abandoned, marking the end of its operational life.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The Alfred W. was Abandoned in 1933 after decades of service. The exact details of its final disposition remain unclear, but it is no longer an active vessel and is presumed to have deteriorated or been scrapped after abandonment.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the Alfred W. wreck. Mariners navigating near Pie Island should exercise caution as the waters are known for rocky obstructions and historical wrecks.

LOCATED BY & DATE

The Alfred W.’s 1906 incident near Pie Island was reported in contemporary news sources, and its coordinates (46.769453, -92.097465) provide a general location near Lake Superior. However, its final resting place following its abandonment in 1933 is undocumented.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

Given the vessel’s abandonment in 1933, it is likely that no substantial remains of the Alfred W. exist today. If any part of the vessel remains, it would likely be in a deteriorated state, scattered, or incorporated into a scrapyard.

RESOURCES & LINKS

•David Swayze Shipwreck File

•Great Lakes Ships

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes

•Mapping the Great Lakes – Jack Globe

CONCLUSION

The Alfred W. was a quintessential example of the hardworking tugboats that supported the infrastructure and commerce of the Great Lakes. Despite its sinking in 1906 and subsequent recovery, the Tug continued its service until its abandonment in 1933. Its story reflects both the resilience and eventual obsolescence of wooden vessels in an era of rapid industrial and technological change.

KEYWORDS

Alfred W. Tugboat, Lake Superior shipwrecks, Great Lakes maritime history, Pie Island wrecks, Duluth-Superior Dredging Co., wooden tugboats, 20th-century shipwrecks, Kaministiqua rescue.