North Colborne Island Barge

3 min read

Barge
20ft 7m Depths
North Colborne Island
St. Lawrence River
N 44° 15.492′ W 76° 3.96

In the heyday of maritime trade along the St. Lawrence River, a peculiar tradition emerged among barge owners and operators: purposely sinking their vessels for winter storage. This seemingly counterintuitive practice was born out of necessity and practicality, offering a solution to the challenges posed by harsh winter conditions.

The story goes back to the era when the St. Lawrence Seaway was a bustling thoroughfare for shipping goods between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. As the frigid grip of winter tightened its hold on the region, the threat of ice damage loomed large for vessels left exposed on the water’s surface. Barges, in particular, were vulnerable to the relentless advance of ice floes, risking costly repairs or even total loss.

To mitigate this risk, savvy barge owners devised a novel solution: sinking their vessels in strategic locations for the duration of the winter months. One such spot was the area near North Colborne Island, marked by the Seaway Green Buoy 221. Here, nestled in the embrace of the riverbed, these sunken barges found refuge from the icy onslaught above.

The process of intentionally sinking a barge for winter storage was a carefully orchestrated affair. Owners would meticulously seal off openings and hatches to prevent water ingress, ensuring the vessel remained watertight. Once the preparations were complete, the barge would be slowly lowered into the depths, settling on the riverbed below.

Years passed, and the practice became a common sight along the St. Lawrence River, with sunken barges serving as silent sentinels of a bygone era. Over time, nature reclaimed these submerged relics, their hulls becoming encrusted with algae and barnacles, blending seamlessly into the underwater landscape.

Sitemap by Tom Rutledge/Shotline Diving CCND$ 2023

For divers brave enough to explore these underwater time capsules, the experience is nothing short of mesmerizing. Descending into the depths off North Colborne Island, they are greeted by the eerie silhouette of a sunken barge, its weathered hull a testament to years of service. Amidst the rocky bottom and swaying weeds, a sense of tranquility pervades, punctuated only by the occasional glimpse of aquatic life darting through the shadows.

Navigating through the ghostly corridors of the barge’s interior, divers are transported back in time, imagining the bustling activity that once filled these now silent chambers. Rusting machinery and remnants of cargo serve as reminders of the vessel’s former life, while schools of fish dart in and out of hidden recesses, adding a touch of life to this underwater museum.

As divers surface from their expedition, they carry with them not only memories of a unique underwater adventure but also a newfound appreciation for the ingenuity of those who came before them. In the depths of the St. Lawrence River, the sunken barges stand as monuments to a bygone era, their story waiting to be discovered by those brave enough to explore.