aka Skerkston Shores Wreck
- Bulk Freighter
- 346ft Length
- 0 – 10ft 3m Depth
- Point Abino, On
- Lake Erie
Chronological History #
The Venus, also known as Steel Products, was a bulk freighter built in 1901 by the American Shipbuilding Co. in Lorain, Ohio, United States. It had a steel hull and was originally owned by the Gilchrist Transportation Co. The vessel had a length of 346 feet, a beam of 48 feet, and a depth of 28 feet. Its gross tonnage was 3719 tons, with a net tonnage of 2766 tons.
The Venus was propelled by a triple expansion engine with dimensions of 22 inches, 35 inches, and 58 inches, and a stroke of 40 inches. It had two Scotch boilers measuring 13 feet 2 inches by 11 feet 6 inches. The engine and boilers, producing 1480 horsepower, were built by the vessel builder in 1901.
Throughout its history, the ownership of the Venus changed several times. In 1913, it came under the ownership of the Interlake Steamship Co., which was operated by Pickands, Mather & Co. In 1927, the vessel underwent reconstruction by the Toledo Shipbuilding Co. in Ohio. It was converted into a crane ship, equipped with two revolving cranes. In 1950, ownership transferred to the Ore Navigation Co., a subsidiary of Bethlehem Steel Corp. In 1958, it was owned by the Steel Products Steamship Corp. and renamed Steel Products.
Unfortunately, in 1961, while being towed to Port Colborne, Ontario, the Venus stranded and was abandoned in Lake Erie near Point Abino, Ontario. It was later sold to Marine Salvage, Ltd. for scrap. The vessel partially sank at Point Abino, and the scrapping process was carried out by Harry Gamble of Port Dover, Ontario, starting in the winter of 1961-1962.
Note: The information provided here is based on available historical records and may not be exhaustive.
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