Identification & Site Information

•Vessel Name: BALTIC BELLE (originally THEMIS)

•Type: Powered Wooden Fishing Boat

•Length: 46 feet (14 meters)

•Beam: 18 feet (5.5 meters)

•Depth: 5 feet (1.5 meters)

•Gross Tonnage: 25 tons

•Net Tonnage: 17 tons

•Construction: Wooden Hull, single Deck, single mast

•Year Built: 1918

•Builder: Lysekil, Sweden

•Original Owner: Unknown

•Current Location: Lagoon behind Algonquin Island, Toronto, Lake Ontario

•Coordinates: N43°37’56.7”, W79°21’32.3”

•Depth at Wreck Site: 25 feet (7.6 meters)

•Condition: Partially intact, remnants visible below the surface

•Accessibility: Open to recreational divers, shallow depth suitable for easy exploration

Vessel Type Description

The BALTIC BELLE, originally named THEMIS, was designed as a functional wooden fishing boat. Built with a single mast and powered engine, the vessel was compact and sturdy, ideal for fishing operations in both open and coastal waters. Its simple rigging reflected its utilitarian design. After being brought to Canada, it retained these features but also carried historical significance for its possible role in refugee transport during the 1940s.

History

•Built: 1918 in Lysekil, Sweden, as THEMIS

•Post-War Role: Believed to have transported refugees fleeing Communist regimes in the Baltic states during the 1940s.

•Canadian Chapter: Renamed BALTIC BELLE and operated in Toronto under the ownership of R.G. Turner of Ward’s Island.

The BALTIC BELLE sank in 1956 during a storm in the lagoon behind Algonquin Island, Toronto. Salvage attempts led by local scuba clubs proved unsuccessful. Divers retrieved debris and a small motorboat, but the main vessel, weighing 45 tons, remained on the lagoon floor.

Final Disposition

The BALTIC BELLE was Abandoned in the lagoon, where it remains to this day. Its sinking was an event of local significance, drawing the attention of organizations like the Canadian Red Cross Society for salvage efforts, albeit unsuccessfully. The vessel now lies as a relic of its storied past.

NOTMARs & Advisories

•Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs): None currently associated. The site has previously been considered a navigational hazard but no active warnings exist.

Located By & Date

•The wreck has been known since its sinking in 1956 and gained attention during salvage operations in the late 1950s. It remains a well-documented dive site for local enthusiasts.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The BALTIC BELLE lies submerged at a depth of 25 feet in the lagoon. Though the wooden structure has deteriorated over time, significant elements remain intact, offering recreational divers an opportunity to explore a piece of Lake Ontario’s maritime history.

Resources & Links

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes

•Toronto Island Shipwrecks and History

•Canadian Red Cross Society – Historical Salvage Operations

•Dive Sites of Lake Ontario

Keywords

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