- Paddlewheel Steamer
- Depths 151ffw (50m)
- Length 171ft
- Main Duck Island, Lake Ontario, N43 50 753 W76 54 139
Ocean Wave, officially registered under the number 19197, was constructed in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1852 by E.D. Merritt. It was a sidewheel steamer primarily used for transporting wood, passengers, and package freight. The ship had dimensions of 174.2 feet in length, 26 feet in breadth, and 10.6 feet in depth. Its gross tonnage was 241, with a net tonnage of 182.
Ownership of the Ocean Wave was transferred to the Ogdensburg & Boston RR Co in 1857. However, on April 30, 1853, tragedy struck when the ship caught fire near Kingston, Ontario, resulting in a total loss. The cargo on board at the time included flour, pearl ash, seed, hams, butter, and tallow.
There were 13 survivors of the incident, but the number of deaths ranged from 23 to 28. The captain of the ship during the incident was Capt. Kuyer, who played a crucial role in saving lives in 1853.
E.D. Merritt, a skilled shipbuilder from Montreal, completed the construction of the Ocean Wave. The ship was primarily intended for transportation on Lake Ontario. It played a significant role in the economic strategy of New England capitalists aiming to connect the Great Lakes region with Boston.
Despite being built for lake navigation, there were plans to use the ship for routes between Montreal and Quebec. The Ocean Wave’s registry under British ownership allowed it to navigate the St. Lawrence River, which was inaccessible to American vessels at the time.
The ship’s ownership, routes, and fate were intertwined with larger competitions and economic developments in the region. The Ocean Wave had a short-lived career of fewer than six months on the lakes before the devastating fire incident ended its service.
You must be logged in to post a comment.