Identification & Site Information

• Name: U.S. 104
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: 167719
• Date Built & Launched: 1919
• Builder: Unknown, Detroit, Michigan
• Specifications: 150 ft x 21 ft x 10 ft (45.7 m x 6.4 m x 3.0 m), 306 tons
• Vessel Type: Ferro-concrete bulk freight Barge
• Date Lost: July 15, 1921
• Place of Loss: Buffalo, New York, Lake Erie
• Cause of Loss: Collision with a rock in the Black Rock Canal
• Loss of Life: None (1 crew member aboard at the time)
• Cargo: 416 tons of oats
• Service History: Part of an experimental reinforced concrete Hull shipbuilding program

Vessel Type

The U.S. 104 was an experimental reinforced concrete Barge, part of a post-World War I effort to build low-cost, durable vessels. These concrete-hulled ships were designed to conserve steel, which was in short supply after the war. The U.S. Shipping Board and various private firms experimented with ferrocement construction to determine if concrete could be a viable alternative for shipbuilding.

Description & History

Built in 1919 in Detroit, Michigan, the U.S. 104 was one of a small fleet of concrete-hulled barges constructed during and after World War I. Concrete vessels were designed for bulk cargo transport, but they were heavier than steel ships and often difficult to maneuver.

On July 15, 1921, the U.S. 104 was one of five barges being towed from Buffalo to Troy, New York, carrying 416 tons of oats. As the tow passed Bird Island, near the entrance to the Black Rock Canal, the U.S. 104 struck a rock and Foundered. The Barge sank where it went down, and its wreck remains in place to this day.

Final Disposition

The wreck of the U.S. 104 still lies at the site of its sinking, near Bird Island in the Black Rock Canal. Given its concrete construction, the Hull is likely still intact, though heavily submerged in sediment.

Located By & Date Found

The wreck has not been formally documented, but it is known to remain where it sank in Buffalo’s waterways.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Bird Island and the Black Rock Canal have undergone significant dredging and waterway modifications, meaning parts of the wreck may be buried or obstructed.

Concrete shipwrecks are rare, and the U.S. 104 is one of the few ferrocement vessels lost in the Great Lakes.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• NOAA Great Lakes Shipwrecks

Conclusion

The U.S. 104 was an unusual and historically significant vessel, being one of the few concrete-hulled ships ever built for Great Lakes service. Its sinking in 1921 near Buffalo highlights the challenges of experimental shipbuilding materials and the dangers of navigating the Black Rock Canal. The wreck remains an intriguing but little-known site, offering insight into early 20th-century naval engineering.

Keywords & Categories

Keywords: Great Lakes concrete ships, Black Rock Canal shipwrecks, Lake Erie shipwrecks, ferrocement hulls, experimental shipbuilding

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Erie, 20th-century shipwrecks, reinforced concrete vessels, collision-related losses

Glossary Terms: Concrete Ship, Bulk Cargo Barge, Ferrocement Hull, Black Rock Canal Navigation