Aimee (Aimie, Aime) US 105856

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: AIMEE
• Type: Propeller Tug (originally built as a yacht)
• Year Built: 1879
• Builder: Ahnapee, Wisconsin
• Dimensions: Exact dimensions not recorded
• Registered Tonnage: 10 tons
• Location: Off Thunder Bay Island
• Coordinates: Not specified
• Official Number: US 105856
• Original Owners: Thunder Bay Boom Co.
• Number of Masts: Not specified

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The AIMEE was a small wooden-hulled vessel, originally designed as a yacht in 1879. It was later converted into a tugboat, reflecting the flexibility and practicality of maritime operations during the late 19th century. With its modest 10-ton tonnage, the vessel was primarily used for localized towing and transport missions. Despite its size, the AIMEE played an important role in servicing the logging and maritime industries around Lake Huron.

Description

The AIMEE began its life as a private yacht built in Ahnapee, Wisconsin. It was later repurposed as a tugboat under the ownership of the Thunder Bay Boom Co., which operated primarily in the Thunder Bay region of Lake Huron. The vessel’s duties included towing, delivering supplies, and assisting with various local operations.

History

In November 1880, the AIMEE embarked on a mission to deliver supplies to a light station near Thunder Bay Island. The voyage also carried an unusual cargo—a pet deer intended for delivery to President-elect James A. Garfield in Ohio. After completing its first stop at Thunder Bay Island, the AIMEE faced growing difficulties due to the onset of severe weather and ice accumulation.

Significant Incidents

The Incident:

• The vessel became trapped by ice near Thunder Bay Island, sustaining rudder damage that left it nearly impossible to navigate.
• On November 20, 1880, worsening conditions caused the AIMEE to break free from its moorings and drift uncontrollably into open water.
• Unable to withstand the violent waves and sub-zero temperatures, the AIMEE was wrecked. Its wooden hull succumbed to the harsh conditions, and the vessel, along with its supplies and the pet deer, was lost to Lake Huron.

Final Disposition

The AIMEE was lost off Thunder Bay Island after being trapped in ice and rendered unmanageable by rudder damage. It eventually broke free and was destroyed by the severe weather conditions. No lives were reported lost, but the wreck was declared a total loss, along with its cargo.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Current Status: The exact location of the wreck has not been documented, and the remains of the vessel are presumed scattered or buried.

Advisories: No current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are issued for the area, though divers and mariners should exercise caution near Thunder Bay Island due to underwater hazards and historical wreckage.

Resources & Links

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The AIMEE‘s story is emblematic of the challenges faced by small vessels operating on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. From its origins as a private yacht to its conversion into a hardworking tug, the AIMEE exemplified the adaptability of Great Lakes vessels. Its loss in 1880 is a poignant reminder of the dangers of ice, storms, and mechanical failure in these unforgiving waters.

While the wreck remains undiscovered, the AIMEE continues to hold historical significance, offering insights into the maritime culture and industrial activity of its time.