Identification & Site Information

• Other Names: None
• Official Number: C122553
• Vessel Type: Steel passenger Steamer
• Builder: Collingwood Shipbuilding, Collingwood, Ontario
• Hull Number: 22
• Year Built: 1909
• Specifications: 350 ft x 50 ft x 24 ft (107 m x 15.2 m x 7.3 m), 5,265 gross tons, 3,295 net tons
• Date Lost: July 17, 1945
• Location: CSL dock at Point Edward, near Sarnia, Ontario
• Lake: Huron
• Cause of Loss: Fire
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo: None
• Final Fate: Destroyed by fire; remains sold for scrap in Windsor

Vessel Description

The Hamonic was a luxury steel-hulled passenger Steamer, part of the Canada Steamship Lines (CSL) Great Lakes fleet. Built in 1909 by Collingwood Shipbuilding, she was one of the renowned “Northern Navigation Company” cruise ships, offering scenic voyages on the Great Lakes.

At 350 feet (107 metres) long, the Hamonic was an imposing and elegant vessel, designed to provide comfortable and stylish travel for passengers enjoying excursions between Toronto, Sarnia, and other destinations along the Great Lakes. She was known for her first-class accommodations, including grand lounges, dining halls, and private cabins.

History & Service

For 36 years, the Hamonic served as one of the most popular cruise ships in the CSL fleet. Alongside her sister ships, she carried thousands of passengers each season, offering relaxing summer voyages and vacation cruises along the Great Lakes and Georgian Bay.

Final Disposition – The Fire of 1945

On July 17, 1945, while docked at the Canada Steamship Lines (CSL) terminal in Point Edward, near Sarnia, the Hamonic was set ablaze by a fire originating from the dock. The fire spread rapidly, engulfing the Steamer in flames.

Heroically, Captain Frederick Burke made a desperate effort to save the ship. He ordered the mooring lines cut and had the vessel moved away from the dock in hopes of preventing the fire from reaching her Hull. Unfortunately, the blaze had already taken hold, and despite his efforts, the ship was completely destroyed.

Rescue Efforts

Miraculously, no lives were lost in the disaster.

• Passengers and crew were rescued one by one using a dockside crane, which lifted them to safety as the fire raged.
• The intense flames made it impossible to control the fire, and the Hamonic was reduced to a burning hulk within hours.

Aftermath & Scrapping

Following the fire, the remains of the Hamonic were deemed unsalvageable. Her wreckage was sold for scrap and dismantled in Windsor, Ontario.

The loss of the Hamonic marked the end of an era for Great Lakes passenger cruising, as the demand for Steamship travel declined in the post-war years.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil return

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Maritime History
• Great Lakes Ships – BGSU
• Save Ontario Shipwrecks
• David Swayze Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The Hamonic was one of the most elegant and well-known passenger ships of her time. Her sudden and dramatic loss in 1945 ended her nearly four decades of service, but her legacy as a grand Great Lakes cruise ship remains. Today, she is remembered as a symbol of an era when travel by Steamship was a luxurious and sought-after experience.

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