Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: C. J. G. Munro
- Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
- Year Built: 1876
- Builder: George Garner, Merritton, Ontario
- Dimensions: 55 ft × 15 ft × 7 ft (16.8 m × 4.6 m × 2.1 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 43 GRT / 31 NRT
- Location: Port Colborne, Ontario
- Official Number: C73955
- Original Owners: Not specified; presumed local Port Colborne tug operators
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The C. J. G. Munro was classified as a wooden propeller steam tug, primarily used for towing and docking duties in harbor settings.
Description
The C. J. G. Munro was a modest-sized, wooden-hulled steam tug constructed in 1876 by George Garner of Merritton, Ontario. Propelled by a screw propeller, she measured approximately 55 ft in length with a beam of 15 ft and a depth of 7 ft, displacing around 43 gross tons and 31 net tons. As a harbor tug, she fulfilled essential towing and docking duties in Port Colborne on Lake Ontario.
Source: Great Lakes Shipwreck Files
History
From her commissioning in 1876, the C. J. G. Munro operated locally out of Port Colborne, assisting larger vessels through towing and maneuvering within harbor confines. Due to limited surviving documentation, further details—such as ownership transitions or modifications—remain to be uncovered in regional registry records or local maritime museum archives.
Significant Incidents
- On 16 November 1892, while moored in Port Colborne, an explosion caused by a lamp igniting likely kerosene oil triggered a fire that quickly consumed the wooden vessel.
- Declared a total loss, her engine and boiler were salvaged post-incident, while the hull remained a wreck. No casualties were reported.
Final Disposition
On 16 November 1892, while moored in Port Colborne, an explosion caused by a lamp igniting likely kerosene oil triggered a fire that quickly consumed the wooden vessel. Declared a total loss, her engine and boiler were salvaged post-incident, while the hull remained a wreck. No casualties were reported.
Source: Great Lakes Shipwreck Files
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no recorded archaeological surveys or modern discovery efforts for the C. J. G. Munro. Given the nature of her loss and subsequent salvaging, any physical remains are likely dismantled, removed, or too degraded to trace.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”c-j-g-munro-c-73955″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
No crew names or memorials have been located. Notably, a namesake on Find A Grave via the given memorial appears unaffiliated with the vessel. Further research may uncover crew logs or personal memorials in local archives, such as the Port Colborne Historical & Marine Society.
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)
Other Names: None recorded
Official Number: C73955
Registry: Canada (Port Colborne registry)
Vessel Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
Builder: George Garner, Merritton, Ontario
Year Built: 1876
Dimensions: 55 ft × 15 ft × 7 ft (16.8 m × 4.6 m × 2.1 m)
Tonnage: 43 GRT / 31 NRT
Cargo on Final Voyage: None
Date of Loss: 16 November 1892
Location: Port Colborne, Ontario, Lake Ontario
Coordinates: Not recorded
Depth: Not recorded (fire loss likely near shore)
Home Port: Port Colborne, Ontario
Owners: Not specified in current sources; presumed local Port Colborne tug operators
Crew: Not recorded; no casualties reported
Casualties: None reported
Description
The C. J. G. Munro was a modest-sized, wooden-hulled steam tug constructed in 1876 by George Garner of Merritton, Ontario. Propelled by a screw propeller, she measured approximately 55 ft in length with a beam of 15 ft and a depth of 7 ft, displacing around 43 gross tons and 31 net tons. As a harbor tug, she fulfilled essential towing and docking duties in Port Colborne on Lake Ontario.
Source: Great Lakes Shipwreck Files
History
From her commissioning in 1876, the C. J. G. Munro operated locally out of Port Colborne, assisting larger vessels through towing and maneuvering within harbor confines. Due to limited surviving documentation, further details—such as ownership transitions or modifications—remain to be uncovered in regional registry records or local maritime museum archives.
Final Dispositions
On 16 November 1892, while moored in Port Colborne, an explosion caused by a lamp igniting likely kerosene oil triggered a fire that quickly consumed the wooden vessel. Declared a total loss, her engine and boiler were salvaged post-incident, while the hull remained a wreck. No casualties were reported.
Source: Great Lakes Shipwreck Files
Located By & Date Found
There are no recorded archaeological surveys or modern discovery efforts for the C. J. G. Munro. Given the nature of her loss and subsequent salvaging, any physical remains are likely dismantled, removed, or too degraded to trace.
Notmars & Advisories
No navigational warnings or notices (“Notmar”) appear in official records relating to the vessel’s loss. The site has not been noted as a hazard to navigation.
Dive Information
Access: Not applicable—wreck likely removed or fragmented and not diveable.
Entry Point: Port Colborne Harbour (if remnants exist, which is uncertain).
Conditions: Unknown.
Depth: Unknown; likely very shallow.
Emergency Contacts: Canadian Coast Guard, marine unit of Ontario Provincial Police.
Permits: Likely none required due to absence of documented site; consult heritage or local authorities if investigating.
Dive Support: Local dive charters or maritime operators in Port Colborne may assist, though feasibility is low.
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No crew names or memorials have been located. Notably, a namesake on Find A Grave via the given memorial appears unaffiliated with the vessel. Further research may uncover crew logs or personal memorials in local archives, such as the Port Colborne Historical & Marine Society.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“A lamp exploded aboard the tug C. J. G. Munro, set her ablaze, and the engine and boiler were salvaged—rest declared a total loss.” — Great Lakes Shipwreck Files
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Current online sources cite loss details but not registry status, ownership, or insurance disposition. These records likely exist in maritime registry archives—potentially at Library and Archives Canada or local Port Colborne registry offices.
Site Documentation & Imaging
No virtual reconstructions, 3D models, museum images, or diving photographs have been located. The only known image appears to be a pre-loss historic shot possibly referenced in the original user post.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – C. J. G. Munro
- Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
- Find A Grave
References
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – Entry for C. J. G. Munro, including build, loss, cause, salvage, and fate.
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None
Official Number: C73955
Coordinates: Not recorded
Depth: Not recorded
Location Description: Port Colborne, Ontario, Lake Ontario
Vessel Type: Wooden steam tug
Material: Wood (likely oak or fir)
Dimensions: 55 ft × 15 ft × 7 ft; ~43 GRT / 31 NRT
Condition: Burnt wreck; engine and boiler salvaged
Cause of Loss: Fire from lamp explosion
Discovery Date: N/A
Discovered By: N/A
Method: N/A
Legal Notes: Documentation surrendered in April 1893 (as per Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Hazards: Not noted
Permits Required: Likely not applicable