Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Marion C 158604

Explore the wreck of the Marion, a wooden propeller tug that tragically exploded in 1943, resulting in the loss of three crew members.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Marion
  • Type: Propeller tug (wooden)
  • Year Built: 1935
  • Builder:
  • Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: Approximately 5 tons gross
  • Location: Approximately 1 mile WSW of Port Burwell, Ontario
  • Official Number: C158604
  • Original Owners: Not clearly documented; presumed Canadian registry
  • Number of Masts: Two-masted

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden propeller tug, primarily used for harbour and nearshore towing services.

Description

The Marion, also referred to as Marjon S or Marion S, was a wooden tugboat registered as C158604. It was built or acquired around 1935 and operated out of Port Dover, Ontario.

History

On 29 April 1943, the Marion suffered a catastrophic explosion while in operation, leading to a fire that resulted in the total destruction of the vessel. All three crew members aboard perished in the incident.

Significant Incidents

  • Type of Loss: Catastrophic explosion, followed by fire and rapid total destruction.
  • Timeline: On 29 April 1943, the Marion experienced an onboard explosion that ignited a fire, resulting in total loss of the vessel and the deaths of all aboard.
  • Conditions: Specific operational conditions are not recorded; no cargo or hazardous material was listed.

Final Disposition

The vessel was destroyed by fire resulting from the explosion, and no salvage operations were noted. Her registry was closed post-loss, and the wreck location is presumed but not formally documented or surveyed.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Likely submerged remains near the explosion site; there is no record of its discovery or documentation in modern dive archives. The precise depth is unknown, and accessibility is not recognized as a dive site.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”marion-c-158604″ title=”References & Links”]

In summary, the Marion tragically exploded on 29 April 1943, leading to the loss of all three crew members. Further research into Canadian records or local newspapers from the time may provide additional insights into her construction, ownership, and the cause of her loss.

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

  • Vessel Name: Marion (also listed as Marjon S or Marion S)
  • Official Number: C158604
  • Type at Loss: Propeller tug (wooden), out of Port Dover, Ontario
  • Date of Loss: 29 April 1943
  • Location: Approximately 1 mile WSW of Port Burwell, Ontario on Lake Erie
  • Cargo: None stated (tug in operation)
  • Fatalities: 3 crew died in the explosion and fire incident (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, msd3.org)

Vessel Specifications

  • Hull Material & Structure: Wooden tugboat, two-masted, approximately 5 tons gross
  • Date & Place of Build: Not clearly documented; built or acquired around 1935, presumably Canadian registry and operated from Port Dover (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Purpose: Harbour and nearshore towing services

Incident Overview

  • Type of Loss: Catastrophic explosion, followed by fire and rapid total destruction
  • Timeline: On 29 April 1943, Marion suffered an onboard explosion which ignited a fire, resulting in total loss of the vessel and the deaths of all aboard (3 casualties) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Facebook)
  • Conditions: Specific operational conditions are not recorded; no cargo or hazardous material listed

Final Disposition

  • The vessel was destroyed by fire resulting from an explosion; no salvage operations noted
  • Her registry was closed post-loss; wreck location is presumed but not formally documented or surveyed

Wreck Status & Dive Access

  • Condition: Likely submerged remains near the explosion site; no record of its discovery or documentation in modern dive archives
  • Depth: Shallow nearshore waters of Lake Erie; precise depth unknown
  • Accessibility: Unknown and not recognized as a dive site

Notices & Historical Records

Research Gaps & Recommended Next Steps

  • Canadian ship registry archives (1943): To seek original registry and ownership details
  • Port Dover and Port Burwell maritime logs or newspapers from April–May 1943 for report of explosion, crew details, or cause
  • Ontario marine casualty records or Coast Guard archives for formal incident investigation

Resources & References

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – Entry “Marjon S / Marion S”: Primary source for loss date, location, vessel type, and casualties (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Facebook)

Keywords & Categories

Propeller tug, explosion/fire, third always casualties, shallow water loss, Canadian tug, Lake Erie, 1943, maritime disaster

Summary

In the evening of 29 April 1943, the wooden propeller tug Marion, registered as C158604 and operating near Port Dover, Ontario, suffered a locomotive-type explosion and fire. The vessel was completely destroyed, and all three crew members perished. No onward investigation or salvage was recorded, and the vessel’s remains remain undocumented in modern maritime surveys. Further research into period Canadian records or local newspapers may yield additional insight into her construction, ownership, and the cause of her tragic loss.

marion-c-158604 1943-04-29 14:53:00