Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Cartierdoc
- Type: Steel lake bulk freighter
- Year Built: 1928
- Builder: Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend, England
- Dimensions: 253 ft × 43 ft × ~18 ft draft
- Registered Tonnage: 1,919 gross tons
- Location: Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 149455
- Original Owners: N. M. Paterson & Sons, Ltd.
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type
Steel lake bulk freighter.
Description
Description
The Cartierdoc was a steel lake bulk freighter built in 1928. It had an initial capacity of 1,919 gross tons and was later deepened to enhance its capacity to 2,209 gross tons.
History
History
Owned by N. M. Paterson & Sons, Ltd. from launch onward, the Cartierdoc served as a cargo freighter through the 1950s and early 1960s. It was converted to a barge named Point Edward in 1962.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- Winter 1948–49: Hull deepened by 4 ft in Montreal.
- 1962: Converted to a barge named Point Edward.
- 1967: Deliberately sunk in Lake Michigan to form part of a breakwater structure.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
The Cartierdoc was scuttled in 1967 in Lake Michigan to serve as a breakwater. The hull remained in place until it was dismantled around 1970.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Cartierdoc is confirmed to be in Lake Michigan, but specific dive conditions and accessibility details are not provided.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”cartierdoc-us-149455″ title=”References & Links”]
Closing Summary
The Cartierdoc served nearly four decades before its repurposing and deliberate sinking. Its remains were cut up by around 1970, marking the end of its service life.
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 & Build Details
- Name: Cartierdoc
- Official Number: 149455
- Year Built: 1928
- Shipyard: Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend, England
- Type: Steel lake bulk freighter
- Initial Dimensions/Tonnage: 253 ft × 43 ft × ~18 ft draft, 1,919 gross tons
- Propulsion: Single-screw steam engine
Major Rebuild
- Winter 1948–49: Hull deepened by 4 ft in Montreal, enhancing capacity to 2,209 gross tons
- Post-rebuild registration: Maintained Official No. 149455
Ownership & Service History
- Owned by N. M. Paterson & Sons, Ltd. from launch onward
- Rebuilt in Montreal, then continued to serve as a cargo freighter through the 1950s and early 1960s
- Converted to a barge named Point Edward in 1962
Final Disposition: Scuttled as Breakwater
- Date: 1967
- Location: Deliberately sunk in Lake Michigan to form part of a breakwater structure at a construction site
- Aftermath: Hull remained in place until it was dismantled/cut up around 1970
(Facebook)
Sources & Corroboration
- A maritime historian recounts: “Cartierdoc (I) … was used as a breakwater hull on Lake Michigan” after scrapping (Facebook)
Historical Summary
The Cartierdoc served nearly four decades under N. M. Paterson before being repurposed in the early 1960s as the barge Point Edward. Her deliberate sinking in Lake Michigan in 1967 for breakwater use typifies mid-20th-century vessel disposal strategies. The remains were cut up by around 1970, indicating she served her final purpose for roughly three years in situ.
Next Research Steps
- Locate company records from N. M. Paterson & Sons detailing barge conversion and sale for breakwater use.
- Investigate U.S. Corps of Engineers or local municipal archives for procurement and sinking contracts (1967).
- Explore satellite imagery or marine charts from the 1960s/70s to pinpoint likely breakwater locations.