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.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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