Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Cantin
- Type: Screw-propelled wooden tugboat
- Year Built: 1875
- Builder: A. Cantin, Montreal, Quebec
- Dimensions: Length 96 ft (29.3 m); Beam 18.6 ft (5.7 m); Depth 8.2 ft (2.5 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 74 gross tons / 50 net tons
- Location: Ile Perrot, Quebec, Canada
- Coordinates: Unknown
- Official Number: 71611
- Original Owners: J.B. Blanchard (as of 1877)
- Number of Masts: N/A
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Cantin was a screw-propelled wooden tugboat designed for utility on inland waters, primarily operating on the Ottawa River.
Description
The Cantin was a single-deck, wooden-hulled screw tug built in 1875 by A. Cantin in Montreal, Quebec. Designed for utility on inland waters, she measured 96 feet in length and was powered by a screw propulsion system suitable for towing and maneuvering river vessels along the Ottawa and St. Lawrence waterways.
History
Owned by J.B. Blanchard of Montreal by 1877, Cantin served as a tugboat on the Ottawa River. Her duties likely included towing barges, assisting steamers in confined or swift-current sections, and supporting dock operations. Tugboats such as Cantin were essential to maintaining safe and efficient inland navigation during the late 19th century.
Significant Incidents
- On 19 September 1878, the Cantin was destroyed by fire while moored at Ile Perrot, Quebec. The wooden vessel burned entirely, and no salvage was recorded. The cause of the fire remains undocumented, but no fatalities were reported.
Final Disposition
The wreck is presumed completely destroyed. No physical remains have been located or documented in archaeological surveys.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No physical site has been located. No imagery exists of the vessel or wreck. Archival research continues.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”cantin-c-71611″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
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