Ark (E.K. Collins)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Ark (E.K. Collins)
• Type: Barge
• Year Built: 1853
• Builder: John Bushnell
• Dimensions: Length: 151 ft (46.0 m); Beam: 32 ft (9.75 m); Depth of hold: 8 ft (2.4 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 268 tons
• Location: Lake Huron, approximately 100 miles north of Goderich, Ontario

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The ARK began its life as the sidewheel passenger steamer E.K. COLLINS, operating on the Detroit River. After a devastating fire in 1854 that claimed 23 lives, the vessel’s hull was repurposed into the barge ARK in 1857. As a barge, the ARK was used primarily for transporting light cargoes across the Great Lakes, often towed in convoys by steam tugs.

Description

The E.K. COLLINS was built as a sidewheel passenger steamer and was one of many vessels providing passenger and freight services in the mid-19th century. It tragically caught fire in 1854, resulting in the deaths of ten passengers and thirteen crew members. The hull was salvaged and later repurposed into the barge ARK in 1857, marking its transition from a passenger vessel to a workhorse of the Great Lakes.

History

The salvaged hull of the E.K. COLLINS was rebuilt into the barge ARK in 1857. Over its operational lifespan, the ARK underwent changes in ownership and rigging to suit its utilitarian role. On October 25, 1866, while part of a tow convoy, the ARK became separated during a storm and disappeared. Wreckage identified as belonging to the ARK began washing ashore about 100 miles north of Goderich, Ontario, confirming its loss. Tragically, all six crew members aboard perished.

Significant Incidents

• October 25, 1866: The ARK was lost during a storm in Lake Huron, resulting in the deaths of six crew members.

Final Disposition

The ARK foundered during a storm on October 25, 1866, in Lake Huron, north of Goderich, Ontario. Wreckage was discovered in late November 1866, confirming the loss of the vessel.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The current condition of the wreck is unknown, and accessibility for divers may vary depending on weather and water conditions.

Resources & Links

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The ARK’s transformation from the ill-fated E.K. COLLINS to a working barge represents the ingenuity and resourcefulness of 19th-century shipbuilding practices. Its sinking underscores the dangers of towing operations on the Great Lakes, particularly during unpredictable storms.