Shotline Diving

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Nagaho (F.R. Buell) US 120720

The Nagaho, a wooden-hulled freighter, sank in Lake Ontario in 1922 after sustaining storm damage. No casualties were reported.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Nagaho
  • Type: Bulk Freighter
  • Year Built: 1888
  • Builder:
  • Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage:
  • Location: Near Port Collins, Ontario
  • Official Number: 120720
  • Number of Masts: Unrigged

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Nagaho, originally launched as F.R. Buell, was a wooden hull vessel with steel reinforcement, operated as an unrigged bulk freighter on the Great Lakes.

Description

The Nagaho was built in 1888 as a tug/barge and later converted to a propeller bulk-freight vessel. It was primarily used for transporting goods across the Great Lakes.

History

The Nagaho was en route from Buffalo, New York, to Montreal when it encountered a strong westerly gale on Lake Ontario on October 27, 1922. The vessel sustained heavy damage to its hull while attempting to reach refuge.

Significant Incidents

  • October 27, 1922: The Nagaho foundered and sank near Port Collins, Ontario, after sustaining storm damage.
  • No casualties were reported among the crew.

Final Disposition

The Nagaho was declared a total constructive loss by November 1922 and was formally abandoned. There are no records of salvage or recovery attempts, and the vessel remains underwater near the sinking site.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the Nagaho is considered a lesser-known wreck on Lake Ontario, with limited follow-up from marine archaeological surveys.

Resources & Links

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Further archival investigation, including regional newspapers, marine insurance records, and diver or archaeological logs, could provide more information about the Nagaho and its final hours.

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.

Identification & Vessel Details

  • Name: Nagaho, originally launched as F.R. Buell (1888); renamed in 1920
  • Official Number: 120720
  • Built: 1888 as a tug/barge; converted to a propeller bulk-freight vessel
  • Type: Wooden hull with steel reinforcement, operated as an unrigged bulk freighter on the Great Lakes (manitouislandsarchives.org)

Final Incident – October 27, 1922

  • Voyage: En route from Buffalo, New York, to Montreal
  • Weather: Encountered a strong westerly gale on Lake Ontario shore
  • Damage: Sustained heavy damage to the hull while limping toward refuge
  • Action & Sinking: Attempted entry near Port Colborne, Ontario (likely near Port Collins). Ultimately foundered and sank near shore
  • Casualties: None reported among crew (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Military Wiki)
  • Final Status: Declared a total constructive loss by November 1922; formally abandoned (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Final Disposition

  • Declared: Constructive total loss; documentation issued following the incident
  • Salvage: No records of salvage or recovery attempts; vessel remains underwater near the sinking site
  • Legacy: The wreck remains a lesser-known wreck on Lake Ontario, with limited follow-up from marine archaeological surveys

Research Opportunities

  • Exact Wreck Coordinates
    • Fisheries or marine charts from Lake Ontario may document the wreck position near Port Collins
  • Sea-worthiness & Repairs
    • Port Colborne shipping logs and charter permits could indicate conditions on approach and decisions made to continue
  • Crew Information & Rescue
    • Local newspapers (Niagara Falls Review, Port Colborne Observer) after October 1922 might list crew names or quotes
  • Insurance & Technical Surveys
    • Marine insurance assessments will clarify structural failure origin and salvage evaluations
  • Divers & Archaeological Records
    • Dive registries and underwater archaeology reports may exist but remain unpublished or under local heritage authority management

Summary

The barge Nagaho, formerly F.R. Buell, foundered on October 27, 1922, after suffering storm damage en route from Buffalo to Montreal. Although she managed to limp near shore, she sank near Port Collins, Ontario. Fortunately, no lives were lost. The vessel was abandoned by November and remains a subdued wreck near the Lake Ontario shoreline. Additional archival investigation—focused on regional newspapers, marine insurance records, and diver or archaeological logs—would help locate her remains and clarify the final hours of the Nagaho.

nagaho-f-r-buell-us-120720 1922-10-27 09:31:00