Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Henry C. Daryaw
- Type: Steel-hulled package and bulk freighter
- Year Built: 1919
- Builder: G.D. Quevilly shipyard, Grand-Quevilly, France
- Dimensions: 219 ft × 35 ft × 13 ft (66.8 m × 10.7 m × 4.0 m); 1,265 GRT
- Registered Tonnage: 1,265 GRT
- Depth at Wreck Site: 27 m / 90 ft
- Location: On a shoal between American and Canadian Channels, near Cole Shoal, approximately 6 mi west of Brockville, Ontario
- Coordinates: N44° 31′ 33″ W75° 45′ 46″
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Steel-hulled package and bulk freighter, later retrofitted with deck crane; used to transport coal and general cargo.
Description
Constructed as Mainier in 1919, she was converted in Montreal in 1923 to carry a mix of packaged goods and bulk cargoes. In 1935, equipped with a heavy-lift crane, and renamed Henry C. Daryaw in honour of Kingston mariner Henry Daryaw. A reverse-beamed freighter-design, powered by twin screws and moderate draft, she was well-suited for Seaway routes.
History
Operated chiefly on the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes, hauling coal, grain, packaged goods, steel, and hardware. On November 21, 1941, she departed Sodus Bay, NY laden with coal bound for Dalhousie, NB via the Seaway. In dense fog near Cole Shoal, her navigator missed the submerged hazards. The bow struck a shoal at speed, breaching the hull. She capsized and sank rapidly, rolling upside-down in approximately 90 ft (27 m) of water. Eighteen of nineteen crew made it to shore in lifeboats; only the ship’s mechanic was lost.
Significant Incidents
- November 21, 1941: The Henry C. Daryaw struck a shoal in dense fog, leading to a rapid capsize and sinking.
Final Disposition
The wreck lies inverted with stern and twin props upward, along the channel wall. Her orientation stabilizes amidst moderate-current conditions (~2–3 knots). Cargo and salvage efforts were abandoned; the site was later buoyed and charted.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Divers documented the wreck post-1941. Save Ontario Shipwrecks registered it in 2018 at coordinates N44° 31′ 33″ W75° 45′ 46″, approximately 0.25 mi from shore.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”henry-c-daryaw-oakbay-mainier” title=”References & Links”]
Today, the Henry C. Daryaw is among the most accessible and captivating wrecks in the Thousand Islands, offering divers a glimpse into maritime history while requiring caution due to strong currents and underwater hazards.
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