Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Captain K
- Type: Steel-hulled fishing trawler, stern-trawler rig
- Year Built: 1936
- Builder: Port Dover, Ontario
- Dimensions: 60 ft (18.3 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 11.97 GT
- Depth at Wreck Site: 42 m / 130 ft
- Location: Long Point Bay, Lake Erie
- Coordinates: Approx. 42°36'57" N, 80°02'53" W
- Official Number: 158606
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Captain K was a Canadian steel fishing trawler built for Great Lakes fisheries. Equipped for stern net trawling, it had single-chine hull lines, a working deck enclosed beneath a partially covered superstructure, and a wheelhouse located forward.
Description
- Hull & Superstructure: Steel, stern-trawling configuration with enclosed wheelhouse. Crew quarter bunks were located immediately below deck, amidships.
- Safety Features: Notably absent were an escape hatch in the wheelhouse and any means of emergency exit above bunks; windows were non-escape-sized.
History
- Built: 1936 (rebuilt date) at Port Dover, Ontario.
- Incident Occurrence: On 18 March 1991 at approximately 13:20, the vessel departed Port Dover to set nets in Long Point Bay (Lake Erie) amid dense fog.
- Collision: It was rammed in the fog by Canadian Coast Guard Cutter Griffon as the Griffon steamed outbound at full speed without fog signals. The Captain K lacked radar.
- Immediate Outcome: The Captain K sank almost instantly, in approximately 42 m (130 ft) of water, off the coast of Long Point Bay.
- Casualties: All three crew members aboard were lost; their bodies were recovered during an ROV-assisted salvage operation on 23 March 1991.
Significant Incidents
- Collision with CCGS Griffon: The Captain K was struck by the Griffon in dense fog, leading to its sinking.
- Loss of Life: All three crew members were lost in the incident.
Final Disposition
Declared a constructive total loss—destroyed in the collision and subsequent sinking.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- Depth: ~42 m (130 ft); technical diving depth.
- Condition: Post-salvage images show structural collapse, cabin destruction; the vessel remains fragmented.
- Dive Site Status: Not a recreational dive due to commercial trawler nature, depth, and hazard residuals. ROV/video viewing possible under coordination with local authorities.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”f-v-captain-k-c-158606″ title=”References & Links”]
The Captain K tragedy exemplifies multiple safety failures: fog navigation by the Griffon at full speed without signalling and the absence of radar on the fishing trawler. It stands as a sobering case study in collision-avoidance responsibilities and maritime operational safety across civilian and government fleets.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Captain K
- Official number: 158606
- Flag / Port of registry: Canada, Nanticoke, Ontario
- Type: Steel-hulled fishing trawler, stern-trawler rig
- Length: 18.3 m (60 ft); Gross tons: 11.97 GT (Transportation Safety Board of Canada)
Vessel Type
The Captain K was a Canadian steel fishing trawler built for Great Lakes fisheries. Equipped for stern net trawling, it had single-chine hull lines, a working deck enclosed beneath a partially covered superstructure, and a wheelhouse located forward (The Scuba News).
Description
- Hull & Superstructure: Steel, stern-trawling configuration with enclosed wheelhouse. Crew quarter bunks were located immediately below deck, amidships (The Scuba News).
- Safety Features: Notably absent were an escape hatch in the wheelhouse and any means of emergency exit above bunks; windows were non-escape-sized (The Scuba News).
History & Chronology
- Built: 1936 (rebuilt date) at Port Dover, Ontario (Transportation Safety Board of Canada).
- Incident Occurrence: On 18 March 1991 at approximately 13:20, the vessel departed Port Dover to set nets in Long Point Bay (Lake Erie) amid dense fog (Transportation Safety Board of Canada).
- Collision: It was rammed in the fog by Canadian Coast Guard Cutter Griffon as the Griffon steamed outbound at full speed without fog signals. The Captain K lacked radar (Transportation Safety Board of Canada).
- Immediate Outcome: The Captain K sank almost instantly, in approximately 42 m (130 ft) of water, off the coast of Long Point Bay (Transportation Safety Board of Canada).
- Casualties: All three crew members aboard were lost; their bodies were recovered during an ROV-assisted salvage operation on 23 March 1991 (The Scuba News).
Final Disposition
Declared a constructive total loss—destroyed in the collision and subsequent sinking (Transportation Safety Board of Canada).
Located By & Date Found
- Discovery: Salvaged from Lake Erie on 23 March 1991 using divers and an ROV (The Scuba News).
- Coordinates: Approx. 42°36′57″ N, 80°02′53″ W .
Investigation & Findings
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada concluded:
- Griffon was operating at full speed in dense fog, failed to use fog signals, and did not detect and avoid the Captain K in time (Wikipedia, Transportation Safety Board of Canada).
- Contributing factor: the Captain K was operating without a functioning radar (Transportation Safety Board of Canada).
Notmars & Advisories
No long-term navigational warnings remain; however, this incident informed later safety protocols regarding fog operation and radar use.
Resources & Links
- TSB Marine Investigation Report M91C2004 – Official collision report (Transportation Safety Board of Canada)
- CCGS Griffon history & details – Wikipedia (Wikipedia)
- Incident overview – The Scuba News retrospective (The Scuba News)
- UPI archive – Initial sinking report
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (Captain K entry) (alcheminc.com)
Shore Dive & Wreck Condition
- Depth: ~42 m (130 ft); technical diving depth.
- Condition: Post-salvage images show structural collapse, cabin destruction; the vessel remains fragmented.
- Dive Site Status: Not a recreational dive due to commercial trawler nature, depth, and hazard residuals. ROV/video viewing possible under coordination with local authorities.
Conclusion
The Captain K tragedy exemplifies multiple safety failures: fog navigation by the Griffon at full speed without signalling and the absence of radar on the fishing trawler. It stands as a sobering case study in collision-avoidance responsibilities and maritime operational safety across civilian and government fleets.
Keywords & Glossary
- Collision avoidance | Fog navigation | Radar failure | TSB Canada | CCGS Griffon | Fishing trawler | Lake Erie wreck | Technical diving depth | Maritime safety protocols