Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Krenzer Marine Hopper Barge Wreck (Unidentified Barge)
- Type: Hooper Barge (unidentified)
- Year Built:
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Unknown (dimensions not yet measured; likely work barge under ~40–45 m / 130–150 ft)
- Registered Tonnage:
- Depth at Wreck Site: 3 m / 10 ft
- Location: Southern part of Krenzer Marine basin, inner Sodus Bay
- Coordinates: 43°16’05″N, 76°58’57″W (≈ 43.2681° N, -76.9825° W)
Vessel Type
Type: Wooden hopper / work barge (unidentified)
Lengths: Unknown (dimensions not yet measured; likely work barge under ~40–45 m / 130–150 ft)
Deaths: None known associated with final disposition
Location: Southern part of Krenzer Marine basin, inner Sodus Bay
Depth: Approx. 1–3 m (3–10 ft)
Description
The Krenzer Marine Hopper Barge Wreck is the southernmost (“bottom”) hull in the Krenzer cluster, lying just inside the Krenzer Marine docks in Sodus Bay. Side-scan sonar and imagery show:
- A broad, shallow-draft rectangular hull form.
- Apparent internal framing and possible hopper or hold structure.
- Proximity to ore dock posts and fill material.
Deep World describes it simply as a “hopper barge” – a work barge type typically used for dredge spoil, bulk material or harbour construction.
As with the tug, there is no confirmed registry or name for this hull. It is therefore treated as “Krenzer Marine Hopper Barge – Unidentified” in the Shotline system.
History
From Deep World’s description and site context:
- Material: Wood.
- Era: Likely pre-1900 (all three Krenzer hulls are wooden, in contrast to later steel barges).
- Role: Local harbour barge, possibly:
- Used in ore dock operations,
- Employed in dredging or harbour improvements, or
- Repurposed for general work at Sodus Bay.
Given parallels with other Great Lakes and canal regions, it is plausible (though not yet documented) that the barge could have been surplus from larger projects (e.g., canal or harbour construction) and later sold into secondary service before being abandoned in place.
Significant Incidents
The barge lies:
- In line with, and slightly south of, the ore dock posts that now sit between the three Krenzer wrecks.
- Embedded in soft bottom close to modern docks.
Its current position strongly suggests it was:
- Towed to the ore dock,
- Stripped of reusable fittings,
- Left to sink or deliberately scuttled as part of dock / shoreline works or as a convenient way to dispose of a no-longer-needed workboat.
Final Disposition
The wreck is a good candidate for:
- Targeted photogrammetry (snorkel/ROV) to establish dimensions and confirm hopper structure.
- Public-oriented visuals (sonar mosaics, annotated drone imagery) that tell the story of working barges and harbour change.
Direct diving should only occur under formal permission and a clear plan, ideally piggy-backed onto Deep World / Shotline survey work.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The hopper barge:
- Completes the industrial trio at Krenzer Marine (schooner, tug, barge).
- Represents the unseen workboats that supported ore, coal, dredging and harbour improvement in Sodus Bay.
- Offers a shallow-water case study in how small utilitarian craft were discarded and built over as industrial shorelines evolved into marinas and recreational spaces.
Even in an unidentified state, it is an important physical record of Sodus Bay’s working-waterfront phase.
Resources & Links
For further information, please refer to the resources and links provided below.
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.
Type: Wooden hopper / work barge (unidentified)
Lengths: Unknown (dimensions not yet measured; likely work barge under ~40–45 m / 130–150 ft)
Deaths: None known associated with final disposition
Location: Southern part of Krenzer Marine basin, inner Sodus Bay
Depth: Approx. 1–3 m (3–10 ft)
GPS (approx., shared cluster centre): 43°16’05″N, 76°58’57″W (≈ 43.2681° N, -76.9825° W)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
The Krenzer Marine Hopper Barge Wreck is the southernmost (“bottom”) hull in the Krenzer cluster, lying just inside the Krenzer Marine docks in Sodus Bay. Side-scan sonar and imagery show: deepworld.org+1
- A broad, shallow-draft rectangular hull form.
- Apparent internal framing and possible hopper or hold structure.
- Proximity to ore dock posts and fill material.
Deep World describes it simply as a “hopper barge” – a work barge type typically used for dredge spoil, bulk material or harbour construction.
As with the tug, there is no confirmed registry or name for this hull. It is therefore treated as “Krenzer Marine Hopper Barge – Unidentified” in the Shotline system.
CONSTRUCTION & OWNERSHIP (INFERRED)
From Deep World’s description and site context:
- Material: Wood.
- Era: Likely pre-1900 (all three Krenzer hulls are wooden, in contrast to later steel barges).
- Role: Local harbour barge, possibly:
- Used in ore dock operations,
- Employed in dredging or harbour improvements, or
- Repurposed for general work at Sodus Bay.
Given parallels with other Great Lakes and canal regions, it is plausible (though not yet documented) that the barge could have been surplus from larger projects (e.g., canal or harbour construction) and later sold into secondary service before being abandoned in place. deepworld.org
FINAL DISPOSITION
The barge lies:
- In line with, and slightly south of, the ore dock posts that now sit between the three Krenzer wrecks.
- Embedded in soft bottom close to modern docks.
Its current position strongly suggests it was:
- Towed to the ore dock,
- Stripped of reusable fittings,
- Left to sink or deliberately scuttled as part of dock / shoreline works or as a convenient way to dispose of a no-longer-needed workboat.
CURRENT CONDITION & DIVE NOTES
- Depth: Generally 1–3 m (3–10 ft).
- Visibility: Variable; in clear, low-water conditions the hull form can sometimes be made out from the surface.
- Hazards: Same as other Krenzer hulls – active marina, dock posts, shallow water, heavy boat traffic.
The wreck is a good candidate for:
- Targeted photogrammetry (snorkel/ROV) to establish dimensions and confirm hopper structure.
- Public-oriented visuals (sonar mosaics, annotated drone imagery) that tell the story of working barges and harbour change.
Direct diving should only occur under formal permission and a clear plan, ideally piggy-backed onto Deep World / Shotline survey work.
SIGNIFICANCE
The hopper barge:
- Completes the industrial trio at Krenzer Marine (schooner, tug, barge).
- Represents the unseen workboats that supported ore, coal, dredging and harbour improvement in Sodus Bay.
- Offers a shallow-water case study in how small utilitarian craft were discarded and built over as industrial shorelines evolved into marinas and recreational spaces.
Even in an unidentified state, it is an important physical record of Sodus Bay’s working-waterfront phase.
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REFERENCES & LINKS
- Exploring Our Deep World – “Krenzer Marine Shipwrecks” – principal source for the hopper barge’s identification and context within the three-wreck cluster. deepworld.org
- Historic Sodus Point – coal trestle and harbour infrastructure – video/photo archives that document the broader industrial landscape in which such barges operated. historicsoduspoint.com
- Shotline Diving – American / Barge references – comparative barge records across Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence for future ID work. shotlinediving.com