Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: S.S. Caribou
- Type: Wooden propeller steamer
- Year Built: 1904
- Builder: Not specified
- Dimensions: 145 ft (44.2 m); Beam: 26 ft (7.9 m); Depth of hold: Not specified
- Registered Tonnage: 597 gross tons
- Location: Lake Huron
- Coordinates: Not available
- Official Number: Not available
- Original Owners: Dominion Transportation Company; Owen Sound Transportation Company
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden propeller steamer
Description
The S.S. Caribou was a wooden-hulled, propeller-driven steamer constructed in 1904 in Goderich, Ontario, for the Dominion Transportation Company. Measuring 145 feet (44.2 metres) in length and 26 feet (7.9 metres) in beam, the vessel had a gross tonnage of 597.
History
Commissioned by the Dominion Transportation Company—a Canadian subsidiary of the Booth Fisheries Corporation of Chicago—the S.S. Caribou was designed to serve the commercial and passenger transportation needs along the Georgian Bay and North Channel regions.
In the early 20th century, the Caribou, alongside its sister ship, the S.S. Manitou, played a crucial role in ferrying goods, vehicles, and passengers between various ports, including Owen Sound, Tobermory, and Manitoulin Island.
As transportation demands evolved, the Caribou was integrated into the Owen Sound Transportation Company fleet in the 1930s, continuing its service on the Tobermory-Manitoulin Island route.
In 1946, the vessel underwent a significant transformation, being converted into a floating hotel. However, this venture was short-lived, and the Caribou was eventually abandoned.
Significant Incidents
- 1946: Rebuilt as a floating hotel; subsequently abandoned (exact date unknown).
Final Disposition
After its stint as a floating hotel, the S.S. Caribou was abandoned. The specific details regarding its final location or dismantling remain unclear.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No current obstructions or advisories related to the S.S. Caribou are noted in the latest Notices to Mariners.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”caribou” title=”References & Links”]
The S.S. Caribou serves as a testament to the dynamic history of maritime transportation on the Great Lakes. From its origins as a commercial steamer to its brief reincarnation as a floating hotel, the vessel encapsulates the adaptability and challenges of early 20th-century ship operations in the region.
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
- Name: S.S. Caribou
- Former Names: None recorded
- Registration Number(s): Not available
- Date Built and Launched: 1904
- Measurements: 145 ft (44.2 m) length, 26 ft (7.9 m) beam; 597 gross tons
- Date Lost, Destroyed, Abandoned: Rebuilt as a floating hotel in 1946; subsequently abandoned (exact date unknown)
Vessel Type
Wooden propeller steamer
Description
The S.S. Caribou was a wooden-hulled, propeller-driven steamer constructed in 1904 in Goderich, Ontario, for the Dominion Transportation Company. Measuring 145 feet (44.2 metres) in length and 26 feet (7.9 metres) in beam, the vessel had a gross tonnage of 597.
History
Commissioned by the Dominion Transportation Company—a Canadian subsidiary of the Booth Fisheries Corporation of Chicago—the S.S. Caribou was designed to serve the commercial and passenger transportation needs along the Georgian Bay and North Channel regions.
In the early 20th century, the Caribou, alongside its sister ship, the S.S. Manitou, played a crucial role in ferrying goods, vehicles, and passengers between various ports, including Owen Sound, Tobermory, and Manitoulin Island.
As transportation demands evolved, the Caribou was integrated into the Owen Sound Transportation Company fleet in the 1930s, continuing its service on the Tobermory-Manitoulin Island route.
In 1946, the vessel underwent a significant transformation, being converted into a floating hotel. However, this venture was short-lived, and the Caribou was eventually abandoned.
Final Disposition
After its stint as a floating hotel, the S.S. Caribou was abandoned. The specific details regarding its final location or dismantling remain unclear.
Located By & Date Found
Nil returns
NOTMARs & Advisories
No current obstructions or advisories related to the S.S. Caribou are noted in the latest Notices to Mariners.
Resources & Links
- Georgian Bay Ships: A List,
- Schooners, Barques, Steamers on Georgian Bay – Killarney History,
- [PDF] Georgian Courier – Postal History Society of Canada)
- [PDF] Notices to Mariners 1 to 46 – Annual Edition 2025)
Conclusion
The S.S. Caribou serves as a testament to the dynamic history of maritime transportation on the Great Lakes. From its origins as a commercial steamer to its brief reincarnation as a floating hotel, the vessel encapsulates the adaptability and challenges of early 20th-century ship operations in the region.
Suggested Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms
- Keywords: S.S. Caribou, Dominion Transportation Company, Owen Sound Transportation Company, Georgian Bay maritime history, floating hotel, wooden propeller steamer
- Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Maritime History of Ontario, Abandoned Vessels
- Glossary Terms: Gross Tonnage, Beam, Propeller Steamer, Floating Hotel (Georgian Bay Ships: A List)
Note: Due to the vessel’s abandonment and lack of precise location data, no shore dive information is available for the S.S. Caribou.
caribou 1946-03-25 21:38:00