Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Unidentified Hull (Nicknamed Empress)
- Type: Steamer (Maple Fleet candidate)
- Year Built: Estimated late 19th century
- Builder: Unknown
- Dimensions: ~240 ft (73 m) length; beam and depth not specified
- Registered Tonnage: Unknown
- Depth at Wreck Site: 18 m / 60 ft
- Location: Amherst Island Graveyard, Lake Ontario
- Coordinates: 44°12.563′ N, 76°31.485′ W
- Official Number: Not applicable
- Original Owners: Likely Canada Steamship Lines (Maple Fleet)
- Number of Masts: Not applicable
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Steamer (Maple Fleet candidate)
Description
The wreck known as Empress is believed to be one of the Maple Fleet steamers retired and scuttled at Amherst Island Graveyard in the early 20th century. Measuring approximately 240 ft (73 m), the vessel’s remains include a prominent boiler confirming its identity as a steamer. The hull lies largely intact, oriented on the lakebed and heavily encrusted with invasive zebra mussels. This site exemplifies transitional Great Lakes ship design during the decline of wood/iron steamers and the rise of steel-hulled vessels.
History
The so-called Maple Fleet comprised Canada Steamship Lines steamers built in the late 19th century, used for grain, coal, and passenger transport across Lake Ontario and the upper Great Lakes. By the 1920s, these vessels had become uneconomical to operate. Obsolete hulls were towed to designated disposal sites, including Amherst Island Graveyard, and scuttled or burned.
The Empress is thought to have been sunk during this period of fleet retirement. While specific registry details are missing, its construction features and surviving boiler indicate a Maple Fleet steamer. Its remains serve as a material record of the technological shift from wooden/iron steamships to modern steel freighters.
Significant Incidents
- No crew or casualty records; vessel scuttled without loss of life.
Final Disposition
Scuttled in Amherst Island Graveyard c. 1920s. The wreck lies upright at 60 ft (18 m) depth with the boiler and structural hull sections visible. It is a representative example of the intentional disposal practices of obsolete steamers on Lake Ontario.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Access: Boat dive from Amherst Island or Kingston
Entry Point: Amherst Island Graveyard mooring (if installed)
Conditions: Variable visibility; currents moderate to strong
Depth Range: ~60 ft (18 m)
Skill Level: Intermediate recreational diver
Emergency Contacts: Kingston General Hospital hyperbaric chamber; Prescott MCTS (VHF 16); Emergency 911 (Canada)
Permits: Ontario Heritage Act applies; artifact removal prohibited
Dive Support: Local charters (e.g., Preserve Our Wrecks affiliates)
Best Time: June to September
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”empress” title=”References & Links”]
Documented by Preserve Our Wrecks and local divers, the Empress wreck offers a unique glimpse into the history of the Maple Fleet and the evolution of Great Lakes shipping.
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.
Lead Image
Identification Card (Site Style)
Other Names: None recorded
Official Number: Not applicable
Registry: Canada
Vessel Type: Steamer (Maple Fleet candidate)
Builder: Unknown
Year Built: Estimated late 19th century
Dimensions: ~240 ft (73 m) length; beam and depth not specified
Tonnage: Unknown
Cargo on Final Voyage: None – scuttled
Date of Loss: c. 1920s
Location: Amherst Island Graveyard, Lake Ontario
Coordinates: 44°12.563′ N, 76°31.485′ W
Depth: ~60 ft (18 m)
Home Port: Not recorded
Owners: Likely Canada Steamship Lines (Maple Fleet)
Crew: None at sinking
Casualties: None
Description
The wreck known as Empress is believed to be one of the Maple Fleet steamers retired and scuttled at Amherst Island Graveyard in the early 20th century. Measuring approximately 240 ft (73 m), the vessel’s remains include a prominent boiler confirming its identity as a steamer. The hull lies largely intact, oriented on the lakebed and heavily encrusted with invasive zebra mussels. This site exemplifies transitional Great Lakes ship design during the decline of wood/iron steamers and the rise of steel-hulled vessels.
History
The so-called Maple Fleet comprised Canada Steamship Lines steamers built in the late 19th century, used for grain, coal, and passenger transport across Lake Ontario and the upper Great Lakes. By the 1920s, these vessels had become uneconomical to operate. Obsolete hulls were towed to designated disposal sites, including Amherst Island Graveyard, and scuttled or burned.
The Empress is thought to have been sunk during this period of fleet retirement. While specific registry details are missing, its construction features and surviving boiler indicate a Maple Fleet steamer. Its remains serve as a material record of the technological shift from wooden/iron steamships to modern steel freighters.
Final Disposition
Scuttled in Amherst Island Graveyard c. 1920s. The wreck lies upright at 60 ft (18 m) depth with the boiler and structural hull sections visible. It is a representative example of the intentional disposal practices of obsolete steamers on Lake Ontario.
Located By & Date Found
Site long known to local divers; documented by Preserve Our Wrecks and featured in dive surveys and media such as YouTube (2023).
Notmars & Advisories
Dive Caution: Strong currents and recreational boat traffic common in the Amherst Island channel. Dive flags and markers required. Consult Canadian NOTMARs before diving.
Dive Information
Access: Boat dive from Amherst Island or Kingston
Entry Point: Amherst Island Graveyard mooring (if installed)
Conditions: Variable visibility; currents moderate to strong
Depth Range: ~60 ft (18 m)
Skill Level: Intermediate recreational diver
Emergency Contacts: Kingston General Hospital hyperbaric chamber; Prescott MCTS (VHF 16); Emergency 911 (Canada)
Permits: Ontario Heritage Act applies; artifact removal prohibited
Dive Support: Local charters (e.g., Preserve Our Wrecks affiliates)
Best Time: June to September
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No crew or casualty records; vessel scuttled without loss of life.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“Boiler remains and hull outline suggest a Maple Fleet steamer, scuttled in the Amherst Island Graveyard during the early 20th century fleet retirements.” — Tom Rutledge, Northern Tech Diver, Kingston
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
No official registry confirmed for this wreck. Likely a Canada Steamship Lines Maple Fleet steamer retired in the 1920s. Archival research at Library and Archives Canada and Canada Steamship Lines records may yield vessel identity.
Site Documentation & Imaging
Documented by Preserve Our Wrecks and local divers. Underwater video footage available: SLD – YouTube dive video. No known NOAA 3D scans.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Preserve Our Wrecks – Kingston
- Wrecksite.eu – Amherst Island Wrecks
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Dive video of the Empress wreck
References
- Preserve Our Wrecks Kingston – Amherst Island wreck records. (Queens U Archives)
- YouTube video of the Empress wreck.
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes – Maple Fleet background.
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: Possible Maple Fleet steamer
Official Number: Not applicable
Coordinates: 44°12.563′ N, 76°31.485′ W
Depth: ~60 ft (18 m)
Location Description: Amherst Island Graveyard, Lake Ontario
Vessel Type: Steamer
Material: Iron/steel
Dimensions: ~240 ft (73 m) length
Tonnage: Unknown
Condition: Partially intact hull; boiler visible
Cause of Loss: Scuttled (retired vessel disposal)
Discovery Date: Known locally since scuttling
Discovered By: Preserve Our Wrecks community
Method: Survey & diving
Legal Notes: Ontario Heritage Act applies
Hazards: Current, boat traffic
Permits Required: Yes (Ontario heritage diving rules)