Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Catherine C.
- Type: Tugboat
- Year Built:
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Approximately 50-100 ft (15-30 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Approximately 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) offshore from Port Hope, Ontario
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Tugboat
Description
The Catherine C. was a tug operating on the northern shores of Lake Ontario. Typical for the era, this class of tug would likely have been a steam-driven vessel ranging between 50 and 100 feet (15 to 30 metres) in length, serving local port duties such as hauling barges, supporting harbour dredging, or providing towing services for larger craft.
History
In May 1911, the Catherine C. encountered a critical leak while navigating Lake Ontario, roughly 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) from the Port Hope shoreline. Tug operations at that time were fundamental to maintaining port functions along Lake Ontario, especially in towns like Port Hope that supported both industrial and agricultural shipping.
The leak was severe enough to threaten the vessel’s buoyancy, prompting the crew to take emergency action. The tug was intentionally beached to prevent complete loss and potential casualties. There are no contemporary reports of injuries or cargo loss, suggesting the crew’s actions were effective in preserving both life and property.
No follow-up records currently confirm whether the vessel was successfully refloated, scrapped in situ, or left to deteriorate on the shore.
Significant Incidents
- May 1911: The Catherine C. suffered a critical leak and was intentionally beached to prevent sinking.
Final Disposition
The final disposition of the Catherine C. is not recorded in available maritime registries or wreck databases. The vessel may have been refloated and repaired, or dismantled where it was beached, as was common practice for damaged wooden or iron-hulled vessels of the time.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern rediscovery or archaeological recording of the Catherine C.‘s beaching site has been made public. The event is recorded as a loss in 1911 but not as a formal wreck.
There are no current Notices to Mariners or navigational hazards recorded in the vicinity related to the Catherine C.. The beaching location is presumed to no longer pose a hazard to navigation.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”catherine-c” title=”References & Links”]
The beaching of the Catherine C. reflects a common yet under-documented aspect of Great Lakes maritime history—everyday vessels facing mechanical failure in an era where emergency response was limited to crew skill and shore proximity. While the vessel did not become a formal shipwreck, the incident still stands as a reminder of the persistent dangers that mariners faced on Lake Ontario in the early 20th century.
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.
Catherine C. – Tugboat Beaching near Port Hope (1911)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Catherine C.
- Former Names: None known
- Registration Number(s): Not available
- Date Built and Launched: Not recorded
- Measurements: Not available
- Date Lost: May 1911
- Location: Approximately 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) offshore from Port Hope, Ontario
Vessel Type
Tugboat
Description
The Catherine C. was a tug operating on the northern shores of Lake Ontario. Typical for the era, this class of tug would likely have been a steam-driven vessel ranging between 50 and 100 feet (15 to 30 metres) in length, serving local port duties such as hauling barges, supporting harbour dredging, or providing towing services for larger craft.
History
In May 1911, the Catherine C. encountered a critical leak while navigating Lake Ontario, roughly 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) from the Port Hope shoreline. Tug operations at that time were fundamental to maintaining port functions along Lake Ontario, especially in towns like Port Hope that supported both industrial and agricultural shipping.
The leak was severe enough to threaten the vessel’s buoyancy, prompting the crew to take emergency action. The tug was intentionally beached to prevent complete loss and potential casualties. There are no contemporary reports of injuries or cargo loss, suggesting the crew’s actions were effective in preserving both life and property.
No follow-up records currently confirm whether the vessel was successfully refloated, scrapped in situ, or left to deteriorate on the shore.
Final Disposition
The final disposition of the Catherine C. is not recorded in available maritime registries or wreck databases. The vessel may have been refloated and repaired, or dismantled where it was beached, as was common practice for damaged wooden or iron-hulled vessels of the time.
Located By & Date Found
No modern rediscovery or archaeological recording of the Catherine C.‘s beaching site has been made public. The event is recorded as a loss in 1911 but not as a formal wreck.
Notmars & Advisories
There are no current Notices to Mariners or navigational hazards recorded in the vicinity related to the Catherine C.. The beaching location is presumed to no longer pose a hazard to navigation.
Resources & Links
- Port Hope Harbour History – General context on regional port operations
- Library and Archives Canada – Potential source for crew or registry data (not confirmed)
The vessel is not found in the following key sources:
- Great Lakes Vessels Online Index – BGSU
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- 3D Shipwrecks
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Save Ontario Shipwrecks
Conclusion
The beaching of the Catherine C. reflects a common yet under-documented aspect of Great Lakes maritime history—everyday vessels facing mechanical failure in an era where emergency response was limited to crew skill and shore proximity. While the vessel did not become a formal shipwreck, the incident still stands as a reminder of the persistent dangers that mariners faced on Lake Ontario in the early 20th century.
Keywords and Categories
- Keywords: Catherine C., tugboat, Lake Ontario, Port Hope, beaching, leak, 1911
- Categories: Early 20th Century Tugboats, Maritime Casualties, Lake Ontario Marine Incidents
Glossary Terms
- Beaching: The act of bringing a vessel ashore deliberately or due to emergency, often to prevent sinking.
- Sprung a Leak: A term describing when a vessel’s hull begins to admit water due to structural failure or damage.
- Tugboat: A work vessel used primarily for towing or manoeuvring other ships in port or open water.