Dredge #8 C 116384

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: DREDGE #8
• Type: Dredge Barge
• Year Built: 1888
• Builder: Duluth, Minnesota
• Dimensions: 96 ft (29.3 m); Beam 36 ft (11 m); Depth of hold 10 ft (3 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 415 gross tons; 415 net tons
• Location: East of Hatton Island, Thunder Bay, Ontario
• Official Number: C116384
• Original Owners: Originally U.S.-owned, sold to Canadian owners in 1904

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Dredge Barge (Non-Self-Propelled)

Description

The DREDGE #8 was a wooden-hulled dredge barge, built in 1888 in Duluth, Minnesota. She was designed to excavate and maintain harbors, rivers, and shipping channels, playing a vital role in port development in the Great Lakes region.

Originally U.S.-owned, the vessel was sold to Canadian owners in 1904 and was later registered in Port Arthur, Ontario.

By 1909, DREDGE #8 was stationed near Thunder Bay, Ontario, performing dredging operations in the region.

History

On December 9, 1909, DREDGE #8 was working near Hatton Island, Thunder Bay, Lake Superior, when she was caught in a severe storm. The vessel foundered and sank, resulting in the tragic loss of six crew members.

Despite being declared a total loss, the wreck was later recovered, and her registry remained open until 1942, suggesting that some parts of the vessel may have been salvaged and repurposed.

Significant Incidents

• Crew casualties: 6 lives lost
• Declared a total loss but later recovered
• Registry officially closed in 1942

Final Disposition

Foundered in a storm near East Hatton Island, Thunder Bay, Ontario, on December 9, 1909.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Nil—there are no confirmed reports of DREDGE #8‘s wreck being found. However, parts of the vessel were likely salvaged, as her registry remained open until 1942.

Resources & Links

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The loss of DREDGE #8 in 1909 is a reminder of the dangers faced by industrial vessels, even those not traditionally designed for open-water navigation. Despite her relatively shallow draft, the harsh conditions of Lake Superior proved too much for the vessel, leading to her tragic sinking and the loss of six lives.

The fact that the vessel was later recovered and remained on registry until 1942 suggests that at least parts of the dredge were salvaged or repurposed, though details of this process remain unclear.

The exact location of the wreck remains unknown, making DREDGE #8 a potential discovery site for maritime archaeologists and wreck divers exploring the Thunder Bay region of Lake Superior.