Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: DREDGE #1
- Type: Dredge Scow/Barge
- Year Built: 1903
- Builder: Unknown
- Dimensions: 65 ft (19.8 m); Beam 24 ft (7.3 m); Depth of hold 8 ft (2.4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 176 tons
- Location: Off Bayfield, Ontario, Lake Huron
- Official Number: C122174
- Original Owners: Government
- Number of Masts: None
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Dredge Scow/Barge (Non-Self-Propelled)Description
The DREDGE #1 was a dredge scow or barge, a government-owned vessel used for harbour and channel deepening projects. Built in 1903 in Port Arthur, Ontario, the vessel was towed between work locations and played a critical role in maintaining Great Lakes navigation routes.
Unlike self-propelled dredgers, dredge scows required tugboats for movement, making them vulnerable in severe weather conditions.
By 1932, the vessel was en route to Kincardine for dredging work but never arrived.
History
In June 1932, DREDGE #1 was under tow by the tug MAX L, traveling from Sarnia to Kincardine on Lake Huron.
While in transit, the vessel encountered a storm, causing her towline to snap. With no means of propulsion, DREDGE #1 was helpless in the waves. The storm’s force caused the vessel to break in two, leading to her rapid sinking.
The 12 crew members aboard managed to swim to the tug MAX L and were successfully rescued.
Some reports suggest that if this was the same vessel listed in some records, it may have been later recovered, though details remain unclear.
Significant Incidents
- Crew rescued: 12 men swam to safety
- Declared a total loss
- Possible later recovery
Final Disposition
Broke in two and sank off Bayfield, Ontario, during a storm in June 1932.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Nil—there are no confirmed reports of DREDGE #1‘s wreck being located.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”dredge-1-c-122174″ title=”References & Links”]
The DREDGE #1 was a vital part of early 20th-century harbor maintenance but was no match for Lake Huron’s unpredictable storms. Her sudden loss in 1932 underscores the vulnerability of towed vessels, which often relied entirely on their escorting tugboats for survival.
Though her entire crew miraculously survived, the wreck itself remains undiscovered, and some sources suggest it may have been salvaged at a later date.
With dredging equipment and government projects often under-documented, this shipwreck remains an intriguing mystery in Great Lakes maritime history.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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