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”]
As a reminder, Shotline Diving encourages divers to respect maritime heritage by documenting sites without disturbing them. Remember to leave only bubbles and take only memories.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
Other Names: None known
Official Number: 71611
Registry: Canada
Vessel Type: Screw-propelled wooden tugboat
Builder: A. Cantin, Montreal, Quebec
Year Built: 1875
Dimensions: Length 96 ft (29.3 m); Beam 18.6 ft (5.7 m); Depth 8.2 ft (2.5 m)
Tonnage: 74 gross tons / 50 net tons
Cargo on Final Voyage: None (moored)
Date of Loss: 19 September 1878
Location: Ile Perrot, Quebec, Canada
Coordinates: Unknown
Depth: Presumed destroyed
Home Port: Montreal, Quebec
Owners: J.B. Blanchard (as of 1877)
Crew: Unknown
Casualties: None reported
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.
Final Dispositions
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.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck is presumed completely destroyed. No physical remains have been located or documented in archaeological surveys.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Dive Information
Access: N/A (no wreck remains)
Entry Point: N/A
Conditions: N/A
Depth Range: N/A
Emergency Contacts: Canadian Coast Guard (Quebec); Sûreté du Québec
Permits: Not applicable
Dive Support: Not applicable
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No known memorials. No fatalities reported.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The Cantin met a tragic end when a fire broke out aboard the vessel while it was docked at Ile Perrot, Quebec. The fire consumed the wooden tugboat entirely, leaving no salvageable remains.” — Summary based on regional maritime records.
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Official number 71611. Listed as a screw-propelled tug with 74 gross tons. Registered to J.B. Blanchard, Montreal. No insurance claims or enrollment transfers have been documented in accessible archives.
Site Documentation & Imaging
No physical site has been located. No imagery exists of the vessel or wreck. Archival research continues.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Library and Archives Canada – Ship Registrations
- BAnQ – Quebec Archives
- Lovell’s Montreal Directory, 1878–79
References
- Lovell’s Montreal Directory, 1878–79.
- Summary record, Ship Registry Index (Canada), Library & Archives Canada.
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None known
Official Number: 71611
Coordinates: Unknown
Depth: None – total burn
Location Description: Moored at Ile Perrot, Quebec
Vessel Type: Wooden screw tug
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 96 × 18.6 × 8.2 ft (29.3 × 5.7 × 2.5 m), 74 gross tons
Condition: Destroyed
Cause of Loss: Fire
Discovery Date: N/A
Discovered By: N/A
Method: N/A
Legal Notes: Registry lapsed post-destruction
Hazards: None
Permits Required: N/A