Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Philip Becker
- Type: Wooden steam tug (screw-propelled)
- Year Built: 1876
- Builder: J. LeRock, Buffalo, NY
- Dimensions: 51 ft × 13.3 ft × 6.4 ft (15.5 m × 4.1 m × 1.95 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 28 tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 90 m / 295 ft
- Location: Approx. 10 miles off Oswego, Lake Ontario
- Coordinates: Unknown (within NOAA’s Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary)
- Official Number: 74214
- Original Owners: William McRae (Montreal, original); Hickler Bros. (Buffalo, 1879)
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Philip Becker was a wooden steam-powered tugboat designed for towing operations in the Great Lakes. It featured a single screw propulsion system.
Description
The Philip Becker was built in 1876 by J. LeRock in Buffalo, NY. It measured 51 ft in length and had a gross tonnage of 28. The wreck site is located in deep water, upright and largely intact, with the pilot house collapsed and the ship’s wheel lying on the main deck, indicating prolonged preservation in cold water.
History
Originally owned by William McRae of Montreal, the tug was transferred in 1879 to Hickler Brothers of Buffalo. On 16 November 1879, the Philip Becker assisted the tug Seymour in towing dredges and scows. During a severe storm, it struck the stern of the dredge Gordon, taking on water. The crew evacuated to the Gordon, which later sank, resulting in the loss of all three crew members from the Becker.
Significant Incidents
- 16 November 1879: The Philip Becker struck the dredge Gordon during a storm.
- 17 November 1879: The Philip Becker sank after taking on water, followed by the Gordon sinking hours later.
Final Disposition
The Philip Becker foundered amid gale conditions during the storm of 16–17 November 1879. It now lies upright on the lakebed of Lake Ontario, approximately 10 miles off Oswego, preserved in cold freshwater.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is largely intact, with structural integrity except for the collapsed pilot house. It is located in deep water, making it a technical dive site.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”philip-becker-us-74212″ title=”References & Links”]
The Philip Becker serves as a significant historical site, with ongoing documentation and research efforts to understand its history and the events surrounding its loss.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Identification Card (Site Style)
Type: Wooden steam tug (screw-propelled)
Builder: J. LeRock, Buffalo, NY
Year Built: 1876
Construction Location: Buffalo, New York, USA
Dimensions: ~51 ft × 13.3 ft × 6.4 ft (15.5 m × 4.1 m × 1.95 m)
Gross Tonnage: 28 tons
Cargo on Final Voyage: Assisting in tow of dredge barges and scows
Date of Loss: 17 November 1879
Location: Approx. 10 miles off Oswego, Lake Ontario
Coordinates: Unknown (within NOAA’s Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary)
Depth: Estimated 90+ m (295+ ft)
Owners: William McRae (Montreal, original); Hickler Bros. (Buffalo, 1879)
Home Port: Buffalo, New York
Description
The Philip Becker was a wooden steam-powered tugboat, 51 ft long with a gross tonnage of 28. Built in 1876 by J. LeRock in Buffalo, NY, it featured a single screw propulsion system and was designed for towing operations in Great Lakes conditions. The wreck site, located in deep water, is upright and largely intact, with the pilot house collapsed and the ship’s wheel lying on the main deck—conditions consistent with prolonged cold-water preservation.
History
Originally owned by William McRae of Montreal, the tug was transferred in 1879 to Hickler Brothers of Buffalo. On 16 November 1879, the Philip Becker was one of four tugs assisting the Seymour in towing three dredges and ten scows belonging to Hickler & Arnold. As the convoy encountered a severe storm, Becker struck the stern of the dredge Gordon, causing damage to both vessels. Taking on water, the Becker evacuated its crew to the Gordon, and sank at approximately 1:30 a.m. on 17 November 1879. The Gordon sank hours later, drowning all on board, including the Becker‘s three-man crew.
Final Disposition
The tug foundered amid gale conditions during the storm of 16–17 November 1879. The vessel now lies upright on the lakebed of Lake Ontario, roughly 10 miles off Oswego, preserved in cold freshwater. The wreck shows structural integrity except for the collapsed pilot house.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck was first located on 14 June 2022 by Sonarguy using sidescan and ROV imaging. It was subsequently documented in May 2025 by NOAA, the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute (OECI), and the University of Rhode Island using the ROV “Rhody” and advanced photogrammetry.
Notmars & Advisories
No active navigation or hazard advisories noted. Site is within a federally protected sanctuary and considered a technical dive site due to depth.
Dive Information
Access Type: Boat
Entry Point: Oswego, New York
Conditions: Deep freshwater; low temperatures and visibility; no current reported
Depth Range: Approx. 90+ meters (295+ ft)
Emergency Contacts: USCG Oswego Station; Lake Ontario Sanctuary Office
Permits & Rules: Dive and documentation require NOAA Sanctuary permits
Local Dive Support: Technical dive operations available in Oswego and Rochester areas
Crew & Casualty Memorials
All three crew members of the Philip Becker perished after transferring to the dredge Gordon, which also sank. Their names are not definitively identified in available records. Suggested sources for research include:
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The tug Becker came alongside the dredge Gordon about 1:30 A.M., half full of water. George Palmer, Samuel Logan and William Logan jumped aboard the dredge. Immediately thereafter the tug plunged and was seen no more.” — Oswego Palladium, 19 Nov 1879
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
- U.S. Official Number: 74214
- Enrolled at Buffalo, New York
- Powerplant: Engine 14×16 by J.B. Sutton, Buffalo
- Registry records may be searched via HCGL and Marine Archives
Site Documentation & Imaging
The wreck was extensively documented in 2025 by NOAA/OECI/URI using ROV “Rhody” and Voyis stereo imaging, resulting in high-fidelity photogrammetry. Initial sonar contact and imaging were performed by Sonarguy in 2022.
Resources & Links
- Sonarguy 2022 Discovery Log
- Sketchfab 3D Model (Philip Becker)
- NOAA/URI ROV Survey (2025)
- Shipwreckworld: Becker & Gordon Loss
3D Models
References
- Shipwreckworld: Becker & Gordon Loss
- Sonarguy 2022 Report
- Sketchfab Model
- NOAA/URI ROV Documentation
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None Known
Coordinates: Approx. 10 miles offshore Oswego, NY (Exact: Unknown)
Depth: Estimated 90+ meters (Technical Diving Range)
Location Description: Lake Ontario, US waters, near Oswego
Vessel Type: Wooden Steam Tug
Material: Wood
Dimensions: ~15.5 m × 4.1 m × 1.95 m (51 ft × 13.3 ft × 6.4 ft)
Condition: Upright, largely intact; collapsed pilot house; wheel on deck
Cause of Loss: Foundered during storm while in tow
Discovery Date: 14 June 2022 (initial); 2025 (confirmed ROV documentation)
Discovered By: Sonarguy (initial), NOAA/OECI/URI expedition (confirmation)
Method: Side-scan sonar and remotely operated vehicle (ROV)
Legal Notes: Within Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary; subject to federal protection
Hazards: None noted officially; deep cold water
Permits Required: Yes — Sanctuary authorization for documentation or dive