IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
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VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
This unnamed vessel, part of the “Maplenamed” series and nicknamed the “Queen Mary,” was a steamer with a bulk propeller, most likely used for transporting goods across the Great Lakes. The vessel’s significant length of 220 feet suggests it was a large and important part of the maritime operations in the region. As with other vessels in the “Maplenamed” series, it likely served under the ownership of Canada Steamship Lines.
HISTORY #
The “Queen Mary” was one of several vessels scuttled as part of the 1925 clean-up of Kingston’s Inner Harbour. While detailed records of this specific vessel are sparse, its inclusion in the Amherst Island Graveyard indicates it was retired and deliberately sunk along with other obsolete ships during this period. The nickname “Queen Mary” suggests that the vessel may have been particularly notable, either for its size or the role it played in the fleet.
These “Maplenamed” vessels, commonly renamed with the “Maple” prefix when incorporated into Canada Steamship Lines, were workhorses of the Great Lakes, transporting various goods including coal, grain, and other bulk materials. The scuttling of such vessels was a common practice in the early 20th century, as newer, more efficient ships replaced older ones that had outlived their economic usefulness.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
The “Queen Mary” was scuttled at the provided coordinates within the Amherst Island Graveyard. This graveyard is a known site for the deliberate sinking of vessels that were no longer in use, providing a final resting place for these historical ships.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #
The condition of the “Queen Mary” wreck is not specifically documented, but like other wrecks in the Amherst Island Graveyard, it is likely to be accessible to divers. The site may contain debris and offer limited visibility, common challenges when exploring graveyard wrecks. Divers should be prepared for potential hazards such as entanglement in leftover materials from the scuttling process.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
- Divehub.ca Dive Site Information: Provides information for divers exploring the Amherst Island Graveyard and its wrecks.
- Historical Collections of the Great Lakes (HCGL): Offers historical data and ship histories, including potential details on vessels like the “Queen Mary.”
- Queens University Video Tape Holdings POW Photo Project 1998: Archival footage and photographs documenting the wrecks in the Amherst Island Graveyard.
- Vlada Dekina Photogallery 2002: A photographic collection that may include images of the “Queen Mary” wreck.
KEYWORDS #
- Queen Mary
- Maplenamed Vessel
- Amherst Island Graveyard
- Kingston Harbour clean-up
- Great Lakes shipwrecks
- Lake Ontario diving
- Scuttled vessels
- Canada Steamship Lines
ANALYSIS #
The “Queen Mary” represents a significant piece of maritime history, embodying the practice of scuttling obsolete vessels to make way for new shipping technologies. As part of the Amherst Island Graveyard, the “Queen Mary” is one of many vessels that illustrate the evolution of Great Lakes shipping during the early 20th century.
The nickname “Queen Mary” might reflect the vessel’s prominence within its fleet, drawing a parallel to the more famous ocean liner of the same name. While its specific operational history may be lost to time, the wreck serves as a historical artifact, offering insights into the shipbuilding practices and maritime economy of the era. For divers and historians alike, the “Queen Mary” is a notable site within the Amherst Island Graveyard, contributing to the broader understanding of the region’s maritime legacy.
