IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

•Vessel Name: GLM 507 (“Dooner’s Barge”)

•Type: Steel Barge

•Year Built: 1963

•Builder: Mobile, Alabama, USA

•Dimensions:

•Length: 240 feet (73.2 meters)

•Beam (Width): 50 feet (15.2 meters)

•Depth: 11 feet (3.35 meters)

•Tonnage:

•Gross: 1,100 tons

•Net: 1,100 tons

•Owner: John “Dooner” Misner, Great Lakes Marine Contracting, Ltd., Port Dover, Ontario

•Power: Towed vessel

•Official Number: Former US# 291051

•Cargo at Time of Loss: 1,600 tons of Pig Iron

•Final Location:

•Coordinates: N42° 36.497’, W79° 54.443’

•Depth: 165 feet (53 meters)

•Bothttps://shotlinediving.com/wp-content/uploads/52895851813_b64678c0f7_c.jpg Composition: Mud

•Location: Long Point, Lake Erie

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The GLM 507 was a steel Barge built in 1963, designed for towing operations. It had a robust construction suitable for carrying heavy cargoes, such as Pig Iron, across the Great Lakes. The Barge’s large size and durable structure reflected the industrial demands of the mid-20th century shipping industry. It served primarily under the ownership of Great Lakes Marine Contracting, Ltd., Port Dover, Ontario.

HISTORY & FINAL VOYAGE

The GLM 507, known colloquially as “Dooner’s Barge,” was actively used for transporting bulk cargoes across the Great Lakes. Its ownership by John “Dooner” Misner, a prominent figure in the regional marine contracting business, highlights its role in supporting industrial operations along the lakes.

On November 18, 1981, the GLM 507 met its demise. While details regarding the cause of its foundering are unclear, the Barge sank near Long Point, Lake Erie. At the time of the incident, it was loaded with 1,600 tons of Pig Iron, which now lies scattered around the wreck on a mud bothttps://shotlinediving.com/wp-content/uploads/52895851813_b64678c0f7_c.jpg. The loss of the Barge added to the rich history of shipwrecks in the challenging waters of Lake Erie, where unpredictable weather and navigational hazards have claimed many vessels.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The wreck of the GLM 507 is located at a depth of 165 feet (53 meters) near Long Point, Lake Erie. The Barge lies broken and scattered, with remnants of its steel structure and cargo visible on the lakebed. The site provides a unique glimpse into the Barge’s final moments, with the scattered Pig Iron cargo serving as a reminder of its operational history.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

The wreck site is of interest to advanced divers due to its depth and the scattered remains of the Barge and its cargo. The mud bothttps://shotlinediving.com/wp-content/uploads/52895851813_b64678c0f7_c.jpgaround the wreck site may pose Visibility challenges, particularly during disturbances. Artifacts from the Barge, including sections of its steel Hull and the Pig Iron cargo, are prominent features of the site.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

•No specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are associated with the wreck of the GLM 507, but mariners and divers should exercise caution due to the depth and debris field around the wreck.

RESOURCES & LINKS

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes

•David Swayze Shipwreck File

•Great Lakes Shipwreck Research Archives

•Save Ontario Shipwrecks

KEYWORDS

GLM 507, Dooner’s Barge, Long Point Shipwreck, Lake Erie Wrecks, Steel Barge, Pig Iron Cargo, Great Lakes Marine Contracting, John Dooner Misner, 1981 Shipwreck.

CONCLUSION

The GLM 507, or “Dooner’s Barge,” represents the industrial maritime activity that characterized the Great Lakes in the 20th century. Its loss in 1981 near Long Point, Lake Erie, is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by vessels operating in the region. The wreck’s scattered remains and cargo field provide an intriguing site for exploration and study, highlighting the vessel’s legacy as a workhorse of Great Lakes shipping.