Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Helvta US 95213
- Type: Wood-hulled three-masted schooner, later converted into a schooner-barge
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: F. N. Jones
- Dimensions: 204.5 ft (62.3 m); Beam 35.6 ft; Depth of hold 13.8 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 793.15 gross, 753.5 net
- Depth at Wreck Site: 50 m / 165 ft
- Location: ~10 miles northeast of Sheboygan, WI
- Official Number: US 95213
- Original Owners: N.C. Winslow & Sons; Hines Lumber Company
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type
Wood-hulled three-masted schooner, later converted into a schooner-barge.
Description
Description
The Helvetia was built in 1873 and initially served as a coal transport vessel. It was later converted into a tow barge, frequently lashed to various tugs. The vessel was decommissioned and intentionally scuttled in 1921.
History
History
Enrolled at Buffalo on June 9, 1873, the Helvetia initially ran coal between Buffalo and Chicago. It was owned by N.C. Winslow & Sons and later by Hines Lumber Company. The vessel was converted to a bare barge by 1921.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- September 10, 1921: Intentionally set ablaze and scuttled to dispose of the hull about 10 miles northeast of Sheboygan, WI.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
The Helvetia was scuttled after being set ablaze, marking the end of its service. The wreck lies within the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary, where it is monitored and preserved.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility
The lower hull remains intact, as shown by underwater and NOAA Side-Scan imagery from June 2022. The wreck is accessible for diving within the protected waters of the sanctuary.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”helvta-us-95213″ title=”References & Links”]
Summary
The Helvetia, a 793-GRT three-masted schooner built in 1873, was decommissioned and burned before being scuttled in 1921 northeast of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Lying upright in ~165 ft, she remains well-preserved in the protected waters of the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast. Her legacy continues through archaeological surveys, and she offers valuable insight into schooner-barge design and early twentieth-century 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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