Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: EMPRESS
- Type: Sailing Ship
- Year Built: 1876
- Builder: David James Ainslie
- Dimensions: 84.00 ft (25.6 m); Beam: 19.30 ft (5.9 m); Depth of hold: 5.30 ft (1.6 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 70.70 tons
- Location: Seeley's Bay, Ontario, Canada
- Official Number: 72576
- Number of Masts: 1
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The EMPRESS was a carvel-built sailing ship constructed primarily of wood, with a single deck and a square stern. It was powered solely by sails and featured one mast, rigged as a sloop, a common configuration for smaller cargo vessels of that time. The ship’s design was straightforward, lacking both a gallery and a figurehead, which indicates its utilitarian purpose in the transportation of goods across the waters of Lake Ontario and possibly other connected waterways.
Description
The EMPRESS was built and launched in 1876 at Seeley’s Bay, Ontario, by David James Ainslie, a notable shipbuilder of the era. Upon completion, the vessel was registered in Kingston, Ontario, and served as a cargo transporter for various goods. The EMPRESS represents a period in Canadian maritime history where wooden sailing ships were a vital part of commerce, navigating the vast network of rivers and lakes in the region.
Over its years of service, the EMPRESS operated mainly around Kingston, Ontario, carrying goods and possibly passengers across Lake Ontario. Its sloop rigging would have made it relatively nimble and easy to handle for its size, suitable for the variable conditions on the lake.
History
The official registration of the EMPRESS was closed on April 4, 1917. This closure was due to the ship sinking and being subsequently abandoned, marking the end of its service. The exact circumstances surrounding the sinking are not detailed in the available records, but like many ships of its era, it likely faced the cumulative wear and tear of years of service, perhaps exacerbated by a severe weather event or structural failure.
Significant Incidents
- Built and launched in 1876 at Seeley’s Bay, Ontario.
- Registered in Kingston, Ontario.
- Closed registration on April 4, 1917, due to sinking.
Final Disposition
The official registration of the EMPRESS was closed on April 4, 1917, due to the ship sinking and being subsequently abandoned. This event marked the end of its service, highlighting the risks faced by wooden ships as they aged.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the EMPRESS wreck is not detailed in the available records. Divers are encouraged to practice responsible diving, respecting the site and leaving only bubbles while taking only memories.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”empress-c-72576″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The EMPRESS serves as a representative example of the small to medium-sized cargo vessels that were essential to trade in the Great Lakes region during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its story reflects the broader maritime history of the Great Lakes, where many similar vessels met their end due to the relentless forces of nature.
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.
IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
| Vessel Name: EMPRESS Registry: Canadian Official Number: 72576 Built By: David James Ainslie Place of Construction: Seeley’s Bay, Ontario, Canada Year Built: 1876 Launch Date: May 4, 1876 Length: 84.00 feet (25.6 meters) Beam: 19.30 feet (5.9 meters) Depth: 5.30 feet (1.6 meters) Gross Tonnage: 70.70 tons Net Tonnage: 61.77 ton |
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The EMPRESS was a carvel-built sailing ship constructed primarily of wood, with a single deck and a square stern. It was powered solely by sails and featured one mast, rigged as a sloop, a common configuration for smaller cargo vessels of that time. The ship’s design was straightforward, lacking both a gallery and a figurehead, which indicates its utilitarian purpose in the transportation of goods across the waters of Lake Ontario and possibly other connected waterways.
HISTORY
The EMPRESS was built and launched in 1876 at Seeley’s Bay, Ontario, by David James Ainslie, a notable shipbuilder of the era. Upon completion, the vessel was registered in Kingston, Ontario, and served as a cargo transporter for various goods. The EMPRESS represents a period in Canadian maritime history where wooden sailing ships were a vital part of commerce, navigating the vast network of rivers and lakes in the region.
Over its years of service, the EMPRESS operated mainly around Kingston, Ontario, carrying goods and possibly passengers across Lake Ontario. Its sloop rigging would have made it relatively nimble and easy to handle for its size, suitable for the variable conditions on the lake.
FINAL DISPOSITION
The official registration of the EMPRESS was closed on April 4, 1917. This closure was due to the ship sinking and being subsequently abandoned, marking the end of its service. The exact circumstances surrounding the sinking are not detailed in the available records, but like many ships of its era, it likely faced the cumulative wear and tear of years of service, perhaps exacerbated by a severe weather event or structural failure.
RESOURCES & LINKS
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Kingston Shipwreck Database
- National Archives of Canada (N.A.C.), RG-42, C-2473, VOL. 233 Records
KEYWORDS
EMPRESS, Sailing Ship, Sloop, Kingston, Seeley’s Bay, Great Lakes, Shipwreck, Maritime History, 19th Century, Wooden Ship
ANALYSIS
The EMPRESS serves as a representative example of the small to medium-sized cargo vessels that were essential to trade in the Great Lakes region during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its relatively modest size and simple rigging made it an economical choice for shipping goods across the challenging and sometimes treacherous waters of Lake Ontario. The closure of its registration in 1917, due to sinking, underscores the risks faced by these wooden ships as they aged, particularly in an era that saw the transition to steel-hulled steamships. The story of the EMPRESS is a microcosm of the broader maritime history of the Great Lakes, where hundreds of similar vessels met their end, often due to the relentless forces of nature and the limitations of wooden ship construction.
empress-c-72576 1917-04-04 07:47:00