other Names R.J. Foote / Wilema Jay’s Liner / Ubique III
- Tugboat & Crane
- 150ffw
- Length 160ft
- Location: Lake Ontario, just out of Oakville Harbour, Oakville, Ontario
- GPS: N 43 26.021 W079 36.985
The steel tug known as Ubique III, with registration number C.171934, was registered at Hamilton. It was built at Owen Sound in 1939 and had dimensions of 35 feet 1 inch in length, 10 feet 6 inches in width, and 4 feet 8 inches in depth. The tug had a gross tonnage of 9 and a net tonnage of 8, powered by a 125 horsepower engine. Throughout its history, the vessel underwent several name changes, previously known as Jay’s Liner, Wilema, and R.J. Foote.
In 1942, the tug was sold to the United States and renamed Wilema, remaining under that name until 1946. After the war, it was returned to the Canadian registry and registered as Jay’s Liner from 1946 to 1948, while still owned by Bermingham Construction Ltd. based in Hamilton, Ontario. Finally, in 1948, the tug was given its last name change to Ubique III, which it retained until 1982.
Unfortunately, the tug met its end in Lake Ontario while pushing a barge. The exact circumstances leading to its sinking are not specified, but it likely occurred during the tug’s operational activities. The wreck of the Ubique III remained unidentified until its discovery during recovery operations following an aircraft crash into the harbor during an Airshow at the CNE in Toronto. Subsequent investigations and dives by a team of individuals, including Tom Rutledge and Ian Marshal from the NDA (National Diving Association), confirmed the identity of the tug. The Construction Company that had lost the tug was contacted, revealing its connection to the vessel.
The history of the Ubique III, formerly known as Jay’s Liner, Wilema, and R.J. Foote, highlights its service as a steel tug and its association with Bermingham Construction Co. Ltd. in Hamilton, Ontario. Despite its sinking in Lake Ontario, the discovery and identification of the wreck provided closure to its story and allowed for a better understanding of its place in maritime history.
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