Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: John B. Ketcham (2nd) / Neebing
- Type: Propeller / bulk freight / sandsucker freighter
- Year Built: 1892
- Builder: Craig Shipbuilding Co., Toledo, Ohio
- Dimensions: 193 ft × 40 ft × 15 ft (≈ 58.8 m × 12.2 m × 4.6 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 1,109 gross / 908 net
- Depth at Wreck Site: 30 m / 100 ft
- Location: ~800 yards off Eagle’s Nest Point, Nipigon Strait, Lake Superior
- Coordinates: ~ 48° 39.80′ N, 88° 07.80′ W
- Official Number: Canadian Official No. C130435 (U.S. No. 77057)
- Original Owners: Oscar P. Bills & Edmund B. Koch (initial), later Richardson Lumber Co., Reid Wrecking Co., George Hall Coal Co., Sin-Mac Lines Ltd.
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The John B. Ketcham (2nd), later known as Neebing, was a steel-hulled propeller freight steamer constructed for bulk cargo and towing operations on the Great Lakes. Originally equipped with a single screw, a Scotch marine boiler, and a compound steam engine, the vessel was ruggedly built with three bulkheads and a large open hold for transporting sand, gravel, and other aggregates.
Description
The wreck lies upright in approximately 100–125 feet of cold Lake Superior water. Owing to low oxygen and cold temperatures, the hull and superstructure remain well preserved. The site includes a largely intact Scotch boiler, engine room, hull framework, and derrick remnants.
History
Built in 1892 at Craig Shipbuilding in Toledo, Ohio, the vessel was originally U.S.-registered and worked in general cargo transport. She changed hands numerous times, and by 1913 was operating under Canadian registry. She was renamed multiple times: Greenland in 1922, Coalhurst in 1927, and Neebing by 1928. Her varied service included timber and aggregate hauling and contract towing across the upper lakes.
On 24 September 1937, while hauling gravel and towing the barge Coteau, the Neebing encountered a gale in Nipigon Strait. The storm caused structural stress and rapid water ingress. Witnesses reported that the vessel’s stack collapsed or exploded when submerged. She sank within minutes off Eagle’s Nest Point. Five crew members were lost; nine survived.
Significant Incidents
- 24 September 1937: The Neebing sank in a storm, resulting in five fatalities.
Final Disposition
The wreck was rediscovered by recreational divers in the 1970s. It is now a known local dive site documented by charters and diving guides. No formal archaeological survey date has been published.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck remains well-preserved due to the cold, low-oxygen environment of Lake Superior. Divers should confirm seasonal conditions and navigational advisories locally.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”neebing-c-77037-john-b-ketcham-1-2-us-77037-coalhurst-greenland” title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
As a diver, remember to respect the site and its history. Leave only bubbles, take only memories, and consider removing only garbage to leave the site better than you found it.
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
Other Names: Greenland (1922), Coalhurst (1927), Neebing (c. 1928) (Source)
Official Number / Registration: Canadian Official No. C130435 (U.S. No. 77057 in earlier records) (Source)
Registry: Originally U.S.; sold into Canadian registry c. 1913 (Source)
Vessel Type: Propeller / bulk freight / “sandsucker” freighter (Source)
Builder: Craig Shipbuilding Co., Toledo, Ohio (hull #52) (Source)
Year Built: 1892 (Source)
Dimensions: 193 ft × 40 ft × 15 ft (≈ 58.8 m × 12.2 m × 4.6 m) (Source)
Tonnage: 1,109 gross / 908 net (Source)
Cargo on Final Voyage: Gravel (while towing barge Coteau) (Source)
Date of Loss: 24 September 1937 (Source)
Location: ~800 yards off Eagle’s Nest Point, Nipigon Strait, Lake Superior (Source)
Coordinates: ~ 48° 39.80′ N, 88° 07.80′ W (Source)
Depth: ~100 ft (some reports 110–125 ft / 34–38 m) (Source)
Home Port: Unknown (original U.S. port, later Canadian)
Owners: Oscar P. Bills & Edmund B. Koch (initial), later Richardson Lumber Co., Reid Wrecking Co., George Hall Coal Co., Sin-Mac Lines Ltd. (Source)
Crew: 14
Casualties: 5 fatalities, 9 survivors
Description
The John B. Ketcham (2nd), later known as Neebing, was a steel-hulled propeller freight steamer constructed for bulk cargo and towing operations on the Great Lakes. Originally equipped with a single screw, a Scotch marine boiler, and a compound steam engine, the vessel was ruggedly built with three bulkheads and a large open hold for transporting sand, gravel, and other aggregates.
History
Built in 1892 at Craig Shipbuilding in Toledo, Ohio, the vessel was originally U.S.-registered and worked in general cargo transport. She changed hands numerous times, and by 1913 was operating under Canadian registry. She was renamed multiple times: Greenland in 1922, Coalhurst in 1927, and Neebing by 1928. Her varied service included timber and aggregate hauling and contract towing across the upper lakes.
On 24 September 1937, while hauling gravel and towing the barge Coteau, the Neebing encountered a gale in Nipigon Strait. The storm caused structural stress and rapid water ingress. Witnesses reported that the vessel’s stack collapsed or exploded when submerged. She sank within minutes off Eagle’s Nest Point. Five crew members were lost; nine survived.
Final Dispositions
The wreck lies upright in approximately 100–125 feet of cold Lake Superior water. Owing to low oxygen and cold temperatures, the hull and superstructure remain well preserved. The site includes a largely intact Scotch boiler, engine room, hull framework, and derrick remnants.
Located By & Date Found
The site was rediscovered by recreational divers in the 1970s. It is now a known local dive site documented by charters and diving guides. No formal archaeological survey date has been published.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted. Divers should confirm seasonal conditions and navigational advisories locally.
Dive Information
Access: Boat only
Entry Point: Nipigon Harbor or Moss Island area
Conditions: Visibility variable (15–50 ft), possible current in channel
Depth Range: 85–125 ft (26–38 m)
Emergency Contacts: Canadian Coast Guard – Thunder Bay Sector
Permits: Ontario heritage permits may apply
Dive Support: BTBA Charters and regional dive operators
Crew & Casualty Memorials
Five crew lost in the sinking. Names currently unverified. Recommended sources: FindAGrave, Newspapers.com, and Thunder Bay public archives.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The Neebing floundered in the Nipigon Straits just off Moss Island on Sept. 24th, 1937 with the loss of five lives including the captain.” – BTBA Dive Charters
“She now sits upright in 110–125′ of water… the missing wheelhouse is located approximately 50′ off the starboard bow.” – BTBA Dive Charters
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Listed under U.S. Official No. 77057 and later Canadian registry No. C130435. Insurance and casualty claim files may exist in Ontario archives but were not accessed during this profile.
Site Documentation & Imaging
Diver photos and wreck maps are featured on BTBA. No 3D photogrammetry or NOAA VR model found. Consider contacting the Thunder Bay Museum or Parks Canada.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU / HCGL)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
- Newspapers.com
- Find A Grave
References
- BTBA Dive Charters – Neebing Page
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Record – Neebing
- GreatLakesRex.wordpress.com
- Superior Trips – Canada Shipwreck List
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: Greenland, Coalhurst
Official Number: 77057 (US) / C130435 (Canada)
Coordinates: 48° 39.80′ N, 88° 07.80′ W
Depth: ~100–125 ft (~30–38 m)
Location Description: Nipigon Strait, Lake Superior
Vessel Type: Propeller-driven sandsucker
Material: Steel
Dimensions: 193 ft × 40 ft × 15 ft; 1,109 GRT
Condition: Intact hull, visible engine and crane remains
Cause of Loss: Storm/foundering
Discovery Date: ~1970s (diver rediscovery)
Discovered By: Recreational divers
Method: Diving
Legal Notes: Ownership transferred; wreck protected under Ontario heritage
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