Identification & Site Information

•Wreck Name: Sand Merchant

•Type: Self-Unloading Sandsucker Dredge

•Date of Incident: October 17, 1936

•Location: Avon Point, Lake Erie

•Coordinates: 41° 34.428’ N, 81° 57.524’ W

•Depth: 65 feet (22 meters)

•Condition: Upside down in mud, surrounded by a deep trench. The propeller and rudder point northwest, with a significant debris field to the west.

Vessel Type Description

The Sand Merchant was a self-unloading sandsucker Dredge built in 1927 at Collingwood Shipyards, Collingwood, Ontario, Canada. With a steel Hull and advanced dredging capabilities for its time, it was designed to extract and transport sand efficiently. The vessel featured Screw Propulsion and was an integral part of the Great Lakes dredging fleet during its operational years.

Dimensions:

•Length: 252 feet

•Beam: 43 feet

•Depth: 17 feet

•Gross Tonnage: 1,981 tons

Owned by the International Transportation Co Ltd, the Sand Merchant represented the robust industrial efforts to maintain navigable waterways and support construction industries around the Great Lakes.

History

The Sand Merchant had a relatively short but active career:

•1927: Constructed and launched at Collingwood Shipyards, serving dredging and sand transportation operations across the Great Lakes.

•October 17, 1936: The vessel sank off Avon Point, Lake Erie, under circumstances not fully documented. Its loss marked the end of nearly a decade of service in maintaining and expanding the industrial capacity of the region.

The wreck’s upside-down position and surrounding trench suggest a sudden or catastrophic event, though no loss of life or detailed account of the sinking has been recorded.

Final Disposition

The Sand Merchant lies in 65 feet of water, inverted in the mud, creating a challenging and potentially hazardous dive site. Key features of the wreck include:

•A deep trench surrounding the vessel, likely formed during the sinking.

•The suction pipe and Dredge framework off the starboard side.

•A debris field to the west, containing parts such as the unloading boom, spotlight, whistle, and sand piles.

Despite these hazards, the wreck has become a site of interest for experienced divers and maritime historians.

NOTMARs & Advisories

•No specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are issued for this wreck.

•Diver Advisory: Extreme caution is advised when exploring the wreck due to:

•The unstable trench surrounding the wreck.

•Risks of mud collapse and entanglement within the debris field.

Located By & Date

The wreck of the Sand Merchant was identified shortly after its sinking and remains a well-documented site among local divers and researchers.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is accessible to experienced divers at a depth of 65 feet. The upside-down position and surrounding trench pose significant challenges, while the debris field offers additional exploration opportunities. The site is ideal for divers with expertise in navigating hazardous environments and knowledge of Great Lakes wrecks.

Resources & Links

•Primary Sources: Historical maritime records and vessel documentation.

•Further Reading:

•Ship of the Month 62 (Jan 1977, v9 n4).

•Erie Wrecks: Detailed descriptions of Lake Erie shipwrecks.

•Great Lakes Ships: Archival information on vessels operating in the region.

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Repository of shipwreck records and histories.

Conclusion

The Sand Merchant, built in 1927 and lost in 1936, played a crucial role in industrial operations on the Great Lakes. Its sinking off Avon Point in Lake Erie highlights the dangers faced by dredging vessels, particularly during unpredictable lake conditions. Today, the wreck serves as a historical marker of the region’s industrial past and an intriguing yet hazardous site for underwater exploration.

Tags

#GreatLakes #Shipwrecks #LakeErie #MaritimeHistory #SandMerchant #Dredge #AvonPoint #HistoricalShipwreck #UnderwaterExploration