Canada #2 C 111911

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: CANADA #2
• Type: Towbarge
• Year Built:
• Builder: Unknown
• Dimensions: 96 ft (29.3 m); Beam: 18 ft (5.5 m); Depth of hold: Unknown
• Registered Tonnage: Gross – 107 tons; Net – 85 tons
• Location: Approximately three miles east of the entrance to Toronto Harbor, Lake Ontario
• Coordinates: Not precisely recorded
• Official Number: C111911
• Original Owners: Canada Ice Company
• Number of Masts: Unknown

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The CANADA #2 was a typical wooden towbarge, a type of vessel commonly used for transporting goods along the Great Lakes. These barges were often towed by tugboats and were vital in moving bulk materials. The CANADA #2 had a length of 96 feet and a beam of 18 feet, with a gross tonnage of 107 tons. The specific cargo it was carrying at the time of its loss remains unknown.

Description

The CANADA #2 was a towbarge utilized by the Canada Ice Company. It was involved in the transportation of goods on Lake Ontario until its loss in April 1902 during a severe storm. The vessel was cast off by the tug towing it and subsequently ran aground, where it was destroyed by the waves.

History

The construction details of the CANADA #2, including its builder and exact build date, are not documented. It was registered under the official number C111911 and was owned by the Canada Ice Company. The barge was likely built or acquired from foreign sources around 1901, making it a relatively new vessel at the time of its loss.

Significant Incidents

• April 1902: The CANADA #2 encountered a severe storm while being towed on Lake Ontario, leading to its loss.
• The tug towing the barge was forced to cast it off due to large waves, leaving it adrift.
• The barge ran aground approximately three miles east of the entrance to Toronto Harbor and was quickly destroyed by the pounding waves.

Final Disposition

In April 1902, the CANADA #2 encountered a severe storm while being towed on Lake Ontario, near Toronto. The tug that was towing the barge was forced to cast it off in large waves, leaving the barge adrift. The barge ran aground approximately three miles east of the entrance to Toronto Harbor. The pounding waves quickly broke the vessel apart, leaving it in pieces. The specific details regarding any cargo it may have been carrying or whether there was any loss of life are not available.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The CANADA #2 was destroyed by the storm that led to its grounding. The wreck is not accessible to divers or researchers, as it was likely reduced to debris and scattered along the lakebed.

Resources & Links

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The wreck of the CANADA #2 serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by vessels on the Great Lakes. As divers, it is important to respect these historical sites and engage in no-touch documentation methods, leaving only bubbles and taking only memories.