- Freighter
- 65ffw
- 343f Length
- Chrysler Shoal, St. Lawrence River
- N44 55 4630 W75 06 0270
On July 14, 1970, the freighter EASTCLIFFE HALL met with a tragic accident in the St. Lawrence River near Crystal Shoal, resulting in the loss of the ship and the lives of nine individuals. The vessel, constructed in Montreal, Canada, in 1954, was a steel-hulled propeller bulk freighter with a gross tonnage of 3,335. It measured 343.33 feet in length, 43.66 feet in width, and 22.66 feet in depth.
The cause of the accident was determined to be a navigational error. The EASTCLIFFE HALL was approximately 100 feet off course and out of the designated channel when it first grounded. About 40 minutes later, it struck another rock, causing a significant rupture in its bottom and sinking within three minutes. At the time of the incident, the ship was carrying a cargo of 4,000 tons of pig iron.
Investigations revealed that the captain of the EASTCLIFFE HALL, Albert Groulx, was intoxicated, as confirmed by blood alcohol analysis conducted on his body. The court concluded that his state of drunkenness rendered him incapable of steering the vessel, making it the primary cause of the grounding, subsequent collision with the submerged pier, and the eventual sinking of the ship.
The tragic event claimed the lives of Captain Albert Groulx, his son Alain Groulx, Chief Engineer William Demers, his wife Jacqueline Demers, their daughter Natalie Demers, and four crew members. Nine individuals perished, while twelve crew members survived the ordeal. The survivors, including first mate Julien Marchand, were rescued by Provincial Police Officers after clinging to floating debris.
Divers conducted recovery operations to retrieve the bodies of the victims. Five bodies, including Captain Groulx’s, were recovered by the O. P. P. detachment divers, while others remained trapped in the cabins below deck. Salvage operations were set to commence once all the bodies were recovered.
The sinking of the EASTCLIFFE HALL was the first major incident of its kind in that part of the St. Lawrence Seaway system. The joint investigation team consisting of the Board of Transport Commissioners and the U.S. Coast Guard examined the circumstances surrounding the accident. The ship, owned by the Hall Corporation of Canada based in Montreal, quickly submerged, leaving only its masts and rigging visible above the waterline.
Survivors recounted their experiences, with crew member Patrick Tollins describing the initial grounding and subsequent sinking. Another survivor, Samuel Youngs, mentioned that he had been at the wheel during the first grounding and was below deck conducting tank inspections when the ship struck the rock. Mr. Youngs denied any mechanical difficulties with the steering mechanism and expressed uncertainty about why the vessel had veered off course.
The tragic sinking of the EASTCLIFFE HALL prompted the resumption of navigation through the channel after a temporary closure. Authorities confirmed that the shipping channel would be closed again at 7 a.m., and investigations continued into the incident. Survivors received medical attention for their injuries, with Samuel Youngs requiring 12 stitches to close a wound on his leg.
The sinking of the EASTCLIFFE HALL marked the fourth ship owned by the Hall Corporation of Canada to sink in the St. Lawrence Seaway system or its extensions within a span of six years. The LEACLIFFE HALL sank in a collision with a Greek freighter in 1964, the LAWRENCECLIFFE HALL sank after colliding with a British ship in 1965, and the STONEFAX sank in the Welland Canal in 1966. These incidents raised concerns about the safety and operational practices of the Hall Corporation’s vessels.
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