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