Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Munroe, Colin
- Type: Wooden screw tugboat
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: J. Allison, Port Stanley, ON
- Dimensions: Length 52 ft (15.9 m); Beam 11 ft (3.35 m); Depth of hold 6 ft (1.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Approx. 40 GT
- Location: Colpoy’s Bay, near Wiarton, Ontario
- Official Number: Not provided
- Original Owners: Elgin Transportation Co.; later owned by individuals such as J. Ellison and Allison & Son
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A compact wooden screw-powered tug, used for towing barges and lighter vessels in harbor and coastal operations, typical of late 19th-century Ontario waterways.
Description
Single-propeller steam tug with a small hull, lacking superstructure aside from a work-boat house. Used primarily in harbour assistance, barge towage, and minor freight tasks.
History
- 1875: Active in Port Stanley Harbor and Lake Erie operations
- 1878–1879: Ownership held within Port Stanley operators including John Ellison, Allison & Son
- 23 Nov 1882: Sank at Baby’s Point in the St. Clair River—later raised and returned to service
- 30 Oct 1883: Burned to the waterline at Colpoy’s Bay—destroyed (no further service)
Significant Incidents
No significant incidents reported aside from the sinking at Baby’s Point and the fire that led to her destruction.
Final Disposition
The vessel burned completely on 30 October 1883 in Colpoy’s Bay, Lake Huron, and was considered a total loss. No salvage actions are recorded post-fire.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No official records indicate salvage or rediscovery of hull remains. After her destruction, the vessel likely sank or was dismantled near the shoreline.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”colin-munroe-1873″ title=”References & Links”]
The Munroe, Colin was emblematic of small, versatile wooden steam tugs afloat during the 1870s–1880s on the Great Lakes. After hardship (sinking at Baby’s Point), she returned to service briefly before her life ended in a destructive fire in Colpoy’s Bay. Her legacy remains in registration documents and local logs—marking the hazards these working vessels routinely faced.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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