SUCCESS

5 min read

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #

There are many kinds of great wreck dives in the Great Lakes. Some are ships sitting just beautifully preserved on the bottom waiting for a diver to explore, some are shallow habitats and spawning grounds for sea life. The Success is another type of great shipwreck…a vessel whose remains might lack luster but with such a great story that a diver wants the chance to touch her at least once. This story is the perhaps best on the Inland Seas.
She has the longest and most colorful history of any ship that sailed and sank in the Great Lakes. This unique vessel was built as an armed merchantman, but had many incarnations serving as an immigrant ship, prison, ammunition storehouse, freighter, and museum and exhibit vessel. In the course of her long life she sank 5 times, visited 6 continents, and had her history written and rewritten with many fictitious events included.

Wreck Name: SUCCESS
Type: Wooden Schooner (Former Convict Ship)
Date of Incident: July 4th, (Year unspecified)
Location: Near Port Clinton, Ohio, Lake Erie
Coordinates: 41° 31.321′ N, 82° 54.705′ W
Depth: 15 feet (4.6 meters)
Condition: Wrecked in shallow water; remains scattered, with historical significance outweighing physical preservation

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #

The SUCCESS was originally built in 1790 in Moulmein, Burma, from Burmese teak, known for its exceptional hardness and durability. The vessel measured 135 feet in length and 29 feet in beam, and it was copper-fastened and constructed using treenails. The SUCCESS was initially an East India merchantman, uniquely equipped with its own complement of guns, which set it apart from most vessels of its kind. Over its long and storied history, the ship was repurposed several times, serving as a convict transport, a prison hulk, and later as an exhibit vessel.

HISTORY #

Launched in 1790, the SUCCESS began its life as an East India merchantman, operating in the waters of the Bay of Bengal. The vessel’s hull bore the scars of engagements with a French armed vessel and encounters with pirates. Captured at one point by pirates, it was quickly recaptured by the East India Company’s fleet.

In 1802, the ship was repurposed as a convict transport, carrying prisoners from England to Australia. The conditions on board were notoriously harsh, with the convicts subjected to severe treatment that exceeded even the brutal conditions aboard slave ships. The SUCCESS operated in this role for fifty years, becoming synonymous with the cruelty of the penal transportation system.

After the abolition of convict transportation in 1852, the SUCCESS was converted into a prison hulk and later served as a women’s prison and a storage ship for gunpowder. The vessel was maliciously scuttled in 1885 while being prepared for exhibition in Sydney, but it was salvaged and later became an exhibition ship, touring various ports worldwide.

In its later years, the SUCCESS was exhibited in numerous ports across the Great Lakes, where it became a familiar sight to thousands of Americans. However, the ship’s final chapter came on July 4th, when it sank in Lake Erie near Port Clinton, Ohio. The exact cause of the sinking remains unclear, but the vessel had been stripped of valuable components by salvagers, leading to its eventual demise. The sinking of the SUCCESS coincided with the Day of Freedom, marking a symbolic end to a vessel that had once been a symbol of oppression and punishment.

FINAL DISPOSITION #

The SUCCESS now lies in shallow water near Port Clinton, Ohio, at a depth of 15 feet. The wreckage is scattered on the lakebed, and while the physical remains may not be well-preserved, the site holds immense historical significance. The shallow depth makes the site accessible to divers, who are drawn by the vessel’s unique and colorful past rather than the condition of the wreck itself.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES #

No current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are specifically related to this wreck site. However, divers and boaters should exercise caution due to the shallow depth and scattered debris.

LOCATED BY & DATE #

The wreck of the SUCCESS has been known since its sinking on July 4th, near Port Clinton, Ohio. The site is recognized by local historians and diving communities for its historical significance.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #

The SUCCESS lies in 15 feet of water, making it relatively easy to access for divers. The wreckage is scattered and may be partially buried or deteriorated due to the passage of time. Despite this, the site’s historical value makes it a point of interest for those exploring the maritime history of the Great Lakes. The shallow depth and location near Port Clinton also make it an accessible site for recreational diving.

RESOURCES & LINKS #

Primary Sources: Historical records, maritime logs, and accounts from the vessel’s exhibition tours.
Further Reading:

CONCLUSION #

The sinking of the SUCCESS on July 4th marked the end of an extraordinary vessel that had served in various capacities over more than a century. From an armed merchantman and convict ship to a museum exhibit, the SUCCESS’s history is unmatched by any other shipwreck in the Great Lakes. The wreck, though not well-preserved, continues to attract interest due to its storied past and the unique role it played in maritime and penal history.