Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Majestic
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steamer
- Year Built: 1895
- Builder: Collingwood Dry Dock Co.
- Dimensions: 209 ft (63.7 m); Beam 35 ft (10.7 m); Depth of hold 13 ft (4.0 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 1,578 tons
- Location: Point Edward, Ontario, St. Clair River
- Official Number: C100950
- Original Owners: Northern Navigation Co. (later part of Canada Steamship Lines)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled propeller steamer used for passenger and package freight services.
Description
The Majestic was a wooden-hulled propeller steamer constructed in 1895 by the Collingwood Dry Dock Company in Ontario. Measuring 209 feet (63.7 metres) in length with a beam of 35 feet (10.7 metres) and a depth of 13 feet (4.0 metres), she had a gross tonnage of 1,578 and a net tonnage of 1,073. Designed for passenger and package freight services, the Majestic was a typical example of late 19th-century Great Lakes steamers, featuring accommodations for passengers and cargo holds for various goods.
History
Commissioned by the Northern Navigation Company, the Majestic served routes along the Great Lakes, providing essential transportation for both passengers and freight. Operating during a period when maritime travel was a primary mode of long-distance transportation in the region, she contributed to the economic and social connectivity of communities along her routes. Details about her specific service routes and operational history are limited, but vessels of her type commonly navigated between major ports, facilitating commerce and travel in the Great Lakes area.
Significant Incidents
• On December 15, 1915, while moored at her dock in Point Edward, Ontario, the Majestic caught fire. The blaze quickly intensified, burning through her mooring lines and causing the vessel to drift downstream.
• The burning steamer posed a significant threat to nearby docks, buildings, and other vessels. Efforts to control the situation were unsuccessful, and the Majestic eventually sank below Sarnia. Remarkably, there were no casualties reported in the incident.
Final Disposition
On December 15, 1915, while moored at her dock in Point Edward, Ontario, the Majestic caught fire. The blaze quickly intensified, burning through her mooring lines and causing the vessel to drift downstream. As she floated uncontrolled, the burning steamer posed a significant threat to nearby docks, buildings, and other vessels. Efforts to control the situation were unsuccessful, and the Majestic eventually sank below Sarnia. Remarkably, there were no casualties reported in the incident. The vessel was owned by the Northern Navigation Company at the time, which later became part of Canada Steamship Lines.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of current records, the wreck of the Majestic has not been located.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”majestic-c-100950″ title=”References & Links”]
The Majestic‘s loss highlights the vulnerabilities of wooden-hulled steamers to onboard fires, especially when docked near populated areas. The incident underscores the importance of fire safety measures and emergency preparedness in maritime operations. Although the vessel’s wreck has not been located, her story remains a part of Great Lakes maritime history, reflecting the challenges faced by early 20th-century steamship operations.
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: Majestic
- Former Names: None
- Official Number: C100950
- Date Built & Launched: 1895, Collingwood Dry Dock Co., Collingwood, Ontario
- Dimensions: 209 ft (63.7 m) length × 35 ft (10.7 m) beam × 13 ft (4.0 m) depth
- Gross Tonnage: 1,578 tons
- Net Tonnage: 1,073 tons
- Date Lost: December 15, 1915
- Location: Point Edward, Ontario, St. Clair River
- Cause of Loss: Fire while moored at dock
- Casualties: None reported
- Owner at Time of Loss: Northern Navigation Co. (later part of Canada Steamship Lines)(en.wikipedia.org, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org)
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled propeller steamer used for passenger and package freight services.(greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Description
The Majestic was a wooden-hulled propeller steamer constructed in 1895 by the Collingwood Dry Dock Company in Ontario. Measuring 209 feet (63.7 metres) in length with a beam of 35 feet (10.7 metres) and a depth of 13 feet (4.0 metres), she had a gross tonnage of 1,578 and a net tonnage of 1,073. Designed for passenger and package freight services, the Majestic was a typical example of late 19th-century Great Lakes steamers, featuring accommodations for passengers and cargo holds for various goods.
History
Commissioned by the Northern Navigation Company, the Majestic served routes along the Great Lakes, providing essential transportation for both passengers and freight. Operating during a period when maritime travel was a primary mode of long-distance transportation in the region, she contributed to the economic and social connectivity of communities along her routes. Details about her specific service routes and operational history are limited, but vessels of her type commonly navigated between major ports, facilitating commerce and travel in the Great Lakes area.
Final Disposition
On December 15, 1915, while moored at her dock in Point Edward, Ontario, the Majestic caught fire. The blaze quickly intensified, burning through her mooring lines and causing the vessel to drift downstream. As she floated uncontrolled, the burning steamer posed a significant threat to nearby docks, buildings, and other vessels. Efforts to control the situation were unsuccessful, and the Majestic eventually sank below Sarnia. Remarkably, there were no casualties reported in the incident. The vessel was owned by the Northern Navigation Company at the time, which later became part of Canada Steamship Lines. (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Located By & Date Found
As of current records, the wreck of the Majestic has not been located.
Notmars & Advisories
There are no current Notices to Mariners or advisories regarding obstructions related to the Majestic wreck site.
Resources & Links
Conclusion
The Majestic‘s loss highlights the vulnerabilities of wooden-hulled steamers to onboard fires, especially when docked near populated areas. The incident underscores the importance of fire safety measures and emergency preparedness in maritime operations. Although the vessel’s wreck has not been located, her story remains a part of Great Lakes maritime history, reflecting the challenges faced by early 20th-century steamship operations.
Suggested Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms
- Keywords: Majestic steamer, 1915 ship fire, Point Edward maritime incident, Northern Navigation Company, Great Lakes shipwrecks
- Categories: Shipwrecks of the St. Clair River, Maritime History of Ontario, Early 20th Century Shipwrecks
- Glossary Terms:
- Propeller Steamer: A steam-powered vessel propelled by one or more screw propellers.
- Package Freight: General cargo transported in packages, as opposed to bulk commodities.
- Mooring Lines: Ropes or cables used to secure a vessel to a dock or another fixed object.(greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)