Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

A McVittie C 138491 (US 106710)

Explore the wreck of A. McVittie, a wooden steam barge with a rich history in Great Lakes commerce, now resting in deep water after its scuttling in 1925.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: A. McVittie
  • Type: Wooden steam barge; originally a package freighter, later converted to bulk carrier
  • Year Built: 1890
  • Builder: Detroit Dry Dock Co., Wyandotte, Michigan
  • Dimensions: ~240.25 ft LWL × ~36 ft beam × ~19 ft depth
  • Registered Tonnage: 2,046.9 grt / 1,552.88 nrt (package freighter); post-1912: 1,458.51 grt / 945.16 nrt
  • Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
  • Official Number: US 106710; later Canadian registry C 138491
  • Original Owners: Ogdensburg Transportation Co., Ogdensburg Coal & Towing Co., Rutland Transit, Montreal Transportation Co.

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden steam barge originally designed as a package freighter, later converted to a bulk carrier.

Description

The A. McVittie was constructed with a diagonally strapped wooden hull, reinforced with steel arches and ice bows following its conversion in 1912. It featured a fore-and-aft compound steam engine with an output of 825 IHP.

History

Initially owned by the Ogdensburg Transportation Co., the A. McVittie played a significant role in transporting western grain eastward and manufactured goods and quarry stone westward. Throughout its operational history, it experienced several incidents, including grounding and collisions, which led to major repairs and modifications.

Significant Incidents

  • 1893: Grounded at Beaver Island, Lake Michigan ($1,500 damage).
  • 5 May 1895: Went ashore in Hammond’s Bay, Lake Huron; underwent major repairs at Milwaukee.
  • 17 Aug 1915: Collided with tug Dolphin off Dorval in Lac St. Louis.
  • 9 Aug 1918: Aground at Rock Island, towed to Kingston.
  • 15 Nov 1918: Took out lock gate at Welland Canal Lock 12.
  • Oct–Nov 1919: Laid up at Kingston after storm damage; settled to bottom on 21 November.

Final Disposition

After being abandoned to underwriters, the A. McVittie was raised and moved into the inner harbor in May 1922. It was raised again and scuttled in deep water in July 1925, officially removed from the shipping register on 5 November 1925.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the A. McVittie is located in deep water, with its condition largely undocumented since its scuttling.

Resources & Links

The A. McVittie serves as a compelling example of early steel-strapped wooden hull design, adaptive freight functionality, and longevity through changing ownership and vessel roles. Her final abandonment and deep-water scuttling near Kingston highlight both operational wear and evolving regulatory pressures in the post–Panama Canal Act era.