SIMLA C112114

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #

The SIMLA was a wooden bulk freighter, or “canaller,” built in 1903 at Garden Island, Ontario. Designed to carry bulk cargo such as wheat and ore, the vessel was equipped with a three-cylinder triple expansion engine that produced 750 indicated horsepower. The SIMLA was well-regarded in its early years, receiving an A1* rating from Lloyd’s Register in 1906, which was the highest possible classification.

HISTORY #

The SIMLA was launched on May 9, 1903, and began its service on the Great Lakes as a bulk carrier, with a capacity to carry 40,000 bushels of wheat or 1,200 tons on a 14-foot draft. Originally valued at $70,000, the vessel was a significant asset for its owners, Calvin Co., who assigned it to the ore trade between Deseronto and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

The vessel experienced several incidents over its operational life. Notably, it grounded near Longue Pointe, Montreal, in 1911, and was involved in collisions and groundings in 1915 and 1916. Despite these challenges, the SIMLA continued to serve under various owners, including the Montreal Transportation Co. and Canada Steamship Lines.

In 1918, the SIMLA was sold to Angel B. Lagueruela of Havana, Cuba, along with other vessels, but the buyer defaulted on the purchase. The vessel’s career continued under Montreal Transportation Co. and later Canada Steamship Lines, but its use declined, leading to its eventual layup at Portsmouth, Ontario.

On November 18, 1926, the SIMLA was tragically destroyed by fire at its layup berth. The vessel’s engines were salvaged and repurposed for the Canada Steamship Lines freighter MAPLEHEATH. The SIMLA was officially removed from the registry in 1929, and later, on September 6, 1937, it was raised and scuttled in the Wolfe Island Graveyard in Lake Ontario.

FINAL DISPOSITION #

The SIMLA was scuttled in deep water off Kingston, Ontario, in Lake Ontario, at the Wolfe Island Graveyard. The wreck lies at a depth of 98 feet at the provided coordinates.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #

The wreck of the SIMLA is accessible to divers, lying at a depth of 98 feet in the Wolfe Island Graveyard. The site is part of a known area for the scuttling of retired vessels, making it a point of interest for those exploring the maritime history of Lake Ontario. The wooden construction of the SIMLA may have deteriorated over time, but the wreck remains an important part of the underwater landscape.

RESOURCES & LINKS #

• Divehub.ca Dive Site Information: Provides details for divers exploring the Wolfe Island Graveyard, including the wreck of the SIMLA.
• Historical Collections of the Great Lakes (HCGL): Offers historical data and ship histories, including the SIMLA.
• Queens University Video Tape Holdings POW Photo Project 1998: Archival footage and photographs documenting the wrecks in Lake Ontario, including the SIMLA.
• Vlada Dekina Photogallery 2002: Photographs of shipwrecks in the Lake Ontario region, potentially featuring the SIMLA.

KEYWORDS #

• SIMLA
• Wolfe Island Graveyard
• Lake Ontario shipwrecks
• Great Lakes bulk freighter
• Calvin Co.
• Montreal Transportation Co.
• Canada Steamship Lines
• Wooden bulk carrier
• Scuttled vessels

ANALYSIS #

The SIMLA is a significant piece of Great Lakes maritime history, representing the era of wooden bulk carriers that played a crucial role in transporting goods such as wheat and ore. Built in 1903, the vessel had a long and eventful career, marked by several incidents and ownership changes. The SIMLA’s eventual demise through fire and its subsequent scuttling in the Wolfe Island Graveyard reflect the challenges and transitions that many Great Lakes vessels faced as the shipping industry evolved.

The wreck of the SIMLA provides a valuable site for underwater exploration, offering insights into the construction and operation of wooden bulk freighters in the early 20th century. Its resting place in the Wolfe Island Graveyard, along with other scuttled vessels, contributes to the rich maritime heritage of Lake Ontario and the broader Great Lakes region.