Coast Guard Boat 56022

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IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

Vessel Name: US Coast Guard Boat 56022
Official Number: 56022
Type: Converted landing craft with an open deck, used as a Coast Guard utility vessel
Tonnage: 50 tons
Length: Not documented
Beam: Not documented
Depth: Not documented
Construction: Likely aluminum or steel hull
Propulsion: Screw propulsion system
Owner & Operator: United States Coast Guard
Location of Wreck: Approximately 1 1/8 miles north of Ontario-on-the-Lake and 2 3/4 miles northwest from Bear Creek launch, Lake Ontario, USA
Depth of Wreck: 70 feet (21 meters)
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 43° 17’48.0012” N / Longitude: -77° 19’32.8188” W
Date of Wreck: December 1, 1977

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #

US Coast Guard Boat 56022 was a converted landing craft, repurposed for use as a utility vessel by the United States Coast Guard. The boat featured an open deck design, which made it vulnerable to taking on water in rough conditions. This type of vessel was likely built from either aluminum or steel, materials chosen for their durability and ability to withstand the rigors of service in the challenging environment of the Great Lakes.

HISTORY #

On December 1, 1977, US Coast Guard Boat 56022 was caught in a violent storm while en route from Oswego to Niagara, New York. The boat, towing another vessel named the American Union, encountered severe weather conditions as it approached Nine Mile Point. The storm brought 6-foot waves and winds of 50 mph, which overwhelmed the vessel’s ability to stay afloat.

The open deck of the converted landing craft allowed massive amounts of water to pour over the gunwale, quickly flooding the boat. Despite the crew’s desperate efforts to pump out the water, the situation became untenable. The crew managed to contact the Charlotte Coast Guard station, which dispatched a motor lifeboat to assist them. By the time help arrived, US Coast Guard Boat 56022 was leaning heavily to port and was soon towed in an attempt to save it. However, a large wave parted the towline, and the boat sank rapidly, disappearing beneath the waves in over 400 feet of water, just east of Nine Mile Point.

Remarkably, the three-man crew was rescued and brought ashore safely by the motor lifeboat, but the vessel was lost. The boat’s loss was a significant event for the Coast Guard, given its critical role in operations on the Great Lakes.

DISCOVERY & CONDITION OF THE WRECK #

In 2007, shipwreck explorers Jim Kennard and Dan Scoville discovered the sunken US Coast Guard Boat 56022 using side-scan sonar. The discovery revealed a surprising aspect of the wreck: the vessel had not fully come to rest on the lake bottom. Due to the significant weight concentrated in the rear of the boat, the vessel remained upright on its stern at a 45-degree angle.

Over the years, the stern of the vessel slowly sank into the soft lake bottom, with 12 feet of the boat buried and surrounded by an 8-foot crater formed by the currents of Lake Ontario. The vessel is now covered in zebra mussels, with some encrustations over 2 inches thick, and serves as a habitat for large quantities of lake bass.

SEARCH AND DISCOVERY DETAILS #

Kennard and Scoville, seasoned shipwreck explorers, initiated their search for the sunken vessel by consulting friends Bob Bristol and Tom Mulhall. Both men had been involved in the search effort for the Coast Guard boat the day after it sank. Bristol, who lived at Ontario-on-the-Lake in 1977, provided valuable information about the area where the boat went down.

Using this information, Kennard and Scoville successfully located the final position of US Coast Guard Boat 56022. The wreck was found 1 1/8 miles north of Ontario-on-the-Lake and 2 3/4 miles northwest from Bear Creek launch, at a depth of 70 feet.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DISCOVERY #

The discovery of US Coast Guard Boat 56022 was part of Kennard and Scoville’s broader efforts to explore and document the shipwrecks of the Great Lakes. Kennard, an accomplished explorer with over 200 shipwreck discoveries to his name, emphasized the importance of finding historically significant and unique wrecks. Scoville, an expert in technical and cave diving, contributed his skills to the exploration and documentation of the wreck.

The history of the Great Lakes, with its many unknowns and mysteries beneath the surface, continues to inspire explorers like Kennard and Scoville. Their discovery of US Coast Guard Boat 56022 adds another chapter to the maritime history of Lake Ontario.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES #

There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) specifically related to the wreck of US Coast Guard Boat 56022. However, the discovery of the wreck highlights the ongoing risks and challenges associated with maritime operations on the Great Lakes.