Tampa – Comprehensive Overview

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Vessel Name: Tampa
• Type: Bulk Freighter
• Builder: F.W. Wheeler & Co., West Bay City, Michigan
• Year Built: 1890
• Original Owner: D.C. Whitney Jr., Detroit, Michigan
• Dimensions: Length: 291.6 feet (88.86 meters) Beam: 41 feet (12.5 meters) Depth: 19.8 feet (6.04 meters)
• Gross Tonnage 1,972 tons
• Net Tonnage 1,632 tons
• Capacity: 3,200 tons of cargo
• Propulsion: Triple expansion steam engine (1,000 horsepower) Two Scotch boilers (11 feet by 12 feet, operating at 150 pounds of steam)
• Masts: Three
• Sunk as a Breakwater in Belle River, St. Clair, Michigan, Lake Huron

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The Tampa was a robust wooden-hulled bulk freighter reinforced with steel structural elements, including steel arches, diagonal straps, and a steel boiler house. Designed for Great Lakes commerce, it carried significant cargo loads, such as coal, grain, and other bulk goods, while navigating the often challenging waterways. The vessel’s propulsion system combined high-capacity steam power with durability, enabling efficient and steady voyages.

Construction and Early Service (1890-1897):

The Tampa was launched in 1890, embarking on its maiden voyage to Lake Superior on August 19. It quickly became an integral part of the Great Lakes shipping industry. Early in its career, Tampa faced several operational challenges, including:

• •1891: Damage in a collision with the Whaleback Steamship Bartlett in Duluth, Minnesota.
• •1892: Rudder failure, requiring towing to Keweenaw Bay for repairs.
• •1898: Tampa was heavily involved in towing operations, including the ships Paisley and Amazonas. It also ran aground near Beaver Bay, Lake Superior, requiring extensive repairs.
• Rebuilt in Duluth by J. Davidson of Bay City, the vessel was modernized to extend its operational life.
• July 18, 1911, Tampa collided with the freighter John W. Gates near the Walker Distillery in Walkerville, Ontario, on the Detroit River. The collision caused Tampa to sink, but it was later salvaged and towed to Marine City, Michigan, for dismantling.

End of Service (1923):

In 1923, the dismantled Tampa was deliberately sunk as a Breakwater in Belle River, St. Clair, Michigan, on Lake Huron. It served briefly as a billboard before potentially being burned for scrap later that year.

FINAL DISPOSITION

Date of Sinking as Breakwater: 1923 Purpose: Deliberately sunk to protect the shoreline of Belle River, St. Clair, Michigan.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• David Swayze Shipwreck File. A comprehensive source for shipwrecks in the Great Lakes region.
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes Maritime History of the Great Lakes

Tampa, Bulk Freighter, Lake Huron, Belle River, Maritime History, Great Lakes Shipping, Breakwater Wreck.

ANALYSIS

The Tampa’s story illustrates the dynamic life cycle of Great Lakes freighters, from its construction during the late 19th-century shipping boom to its ultimate use as a Breakwater. Its multiple incidents and final collision underscore the challenges of maritime operations on the Great Lakes, where harsh weather and congested shipping lanes often proved perilous. Its deliberate sinking highlights how aging vessels were often repurposed to serve new roles, contributing to the region’s infrastructure. The Tampa remains a symbolic piece of Great Lakes maritime history, embodying the industrial resilience and adaptability of its era.