Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Cormorant (formerly Russell 4)
- Type: Oil-Driven Propeller Vessel
- Year Built: 1941
- Builder: Manitowoc, Michigan
- Dimensions: Not documented; Gross tonnage 18 tons
- Registered Tonnage: 18 Gross tons
- Location: Lake Ontario (approx. 43° 30′ 47.9988″ N / 76° 37′ 9.3″ W)
- Coordinates: 43° 30′ 47.9988″ N / 76° 37′ 9.3″ W
- Official Number: 240399
- Original Owners: Not documented
- Number of Masts: Not applicable
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Cormorant was a small, oil-driven propeller vessel representative of the light utility craft constructed on the Great Lakes during World War II. Built for service and adaptability, vessels of this class handled light transport, towing, and general harbor duties. Its 18-ton displacement and compact design made it a practical support vessel for wartime and post-war operations.
Description
The Cormorant was a small, oil-driven propeller vessel representative of the light utility craft constructed on the Great Lakes during World War II. Built for service and adaptability, vessels of this class handled light transport, towing, and general harbor duties. Its 18-ton displacement and compact design made it a practical support vessel for wartime and post-war operations.
History
Constructed in 1941 at Manitowoc, Michigan, the vessel was originally launched as Russell 4. Manitowoc’s shipyards were active in both naval and civilian production during the war, producing smaller craft alongside large shipbuilding contracts. Following the war, in 1952, Russell 4 was renamed Cormorant, entering civilian service for local transport and utility work across the Great Lakes.
Records indicate that the Cormorant continued in operation throughout the early 1950s, although detailed logs of ownership and trade routes are unavailable. Small vessels such as the Cormorant were vital to maintaining inter-port logistics, supporting larger freighters and regional industries.
Significant Incidents
- The Cormorant is listed in historical sources as lost, with no surviving details regarding the circumstances or year of sinking. Its last documented position corresponds to the provided coordinates in Lake Ontario.
- No cause of loss or recovery record exists, suggesting either an unreported incident or gradual abandonment and submergence.
Final Disposition
The Cormorant is listed in historical sources as lost, with no surviving details regarding the circumstances or year of sinking. Its last documented position corresponds to the provided coordinates in Lake Ontario. No cause of loss or recovery record exists, suggesting either an unreported incident or gradual abandonment and submergence. It remains noted in both the Great Lakes Merchant Vessel List of the U.S. (1959) and the Herman Runge List.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Preliminary footage suggests the wreck is intact and lightly silted, preserved by the low-oxygen environment. The depth prevents conventional access; only professional survey teams equipped with ROVs or deep sub-systems can examine the site. The wreck has not been designated an archaeological preserve, and no salvage or disturbance is authorized.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”comorant-us-240399-russell-4″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Cormorant represents one of the numerous small utility vessels that quietly supported Great Lakes commerce and wartime logistics. While its operational record remains incomplete, the recent rediscovery of its wreck by Aaron Newman and Exploring Our Deep World has re-introduced this forgotten vessel to maritime history. Its story underscores the importance of small craft in the broader Great Lakes shipping network — vessels whose contributions, though often unrecorded, were vital to the industrial era.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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