Nisbet Grammer – Lake Ontario Steamer Shipwreck (1926)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Nisbet Grammer
• Type: steel-hulled steamship
• Year Built:
• Builder: United Kingdom
• Dimensions: 253 ft (77.1 m) X 43.1 ft (13.1 m); Depth of hold: 17.9 ft (5.5 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 1,725 GRT / 1,110 NRT
• Depth at Wreck Site: 152.4 m / 500 ft
• Location: Approximately 30 miles east of Niagara, New York, Lake Ontario
• Coordinates: Undisclosed to protect the site
• Official Number: Not recorded
• Original Owners: Canadian Steamship Lines (CSL)

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Nisbet Grammer was a steel-hulled steamship constructed in Britain and operated on the Great Lakes.
At the time of its loss, it was the largest steel vessel ever lost in Lake Ontario.
It was designed for the grain trade, moving bulk cargo between key ports across the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River.

Description

The Nisbet Grammer served the vital grain shipping trade between Port Colborne and Montreal, connecting the agricultural heartlands of the Great Lakes with eastern Canadian markets.
Her efficient design and modern steel hull represented the pinnacle of early 20th-century lake freighter construction.

History

On May 31, 1926, while en route from Port Colborne to Montreal, dense fog blanketed the eastern end of Lake Ontario.
The Nisbet Grammer collided with the steamship Dalwarnic approximately 30 miles east of Niagara, New York.
The collision inflicted catastrophic structural damage, and despite efforts to save the ship, she rapidly foundered.

Significant Incidents

• May 31, 1926: Collision with the steamship Dalwarnic in fog, resulting in the sinking of the Nisbet Grammer.
• All crew were rescued by the Dalwarnic, averting loss of life.

Final Disposition

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is in deep, cold, oxygen-poor freshwater that has significantly slowed corrosion.
Structural integrity appears high, with the hull largely intact and upright.
Exploration has been conducted exclusively via ROV and sonar, with no artifact removal or penetration dives permitted.

Resources & Links

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The loss of the Nisbet Grammer on May 31, 1926, remains one of Lake Ontario’s most significant maritime events.
As the largest steel vessel ever lost in the lake, it serves as a poignant reminder of the hazards that persisted despite modern technology.
Thanks to the 2014 discovery by dedicated explorers, the ship’s legacy endures—preserved deep beneath the surface, a testament to the industrial age of Great Lakes shipping.