Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: NO. 83
- Type: Barge
- Year Built: 1920
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft; Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Depth at Wreck Site: 24 m / 80 ft
- Location: Lake Huron, approximately off Port Huron
- Coordinates: Not precisely documented
- Original Owners: W. J. Meagher & Sons, Port Huron, Michigan
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
NO. 83 was a steel-hulled barge used primarily for industrial and construction-related tasks, including transporting well-drilling equipment and sheet piling. Barges of this type were crucial support vessels for infrastructure and marine works throughout the Great Lakes, towed by tugs to project sites.
Description
Built in 1920, NO. 83 served for over two decades as a work barge in Michigan waters. By 1941, she was owned by W. J. Meagher & Sons, a firm active in marine and shoreline construction projects around the Port Huron area. On October 26, 1941, while loaded with well-drilling gear and sheet piling, NO. 83 was caught in a severe storm on Lake Huron. Unable to withstand the weather, she foundered in 80 feet (24 metres) of water. There was no loss of life reported with the sinking, but the cargo was lost.
History
The NO. 83 rests on the bottom of Lake Huron near Port Huron in roughly 80 feet (24 metres) of water. There is no evidence of salvage or recovery operations.
Significant Incidents
- No current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) apply to the NO. 83 wreck, but local mariners should remain vigilant of potential underwater hazards in the area.
Final Disposition
There is no confirmed discovery of the NO. 83 wreck site documented to date.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Because no formal survey has been recorded, the exact condition of NO. 83 is unknown. Its presumed depth makes it potentially accessible to technical or experienced recreational divers, but conditions and hazards should be carefully assessed.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”no-83-1920-barge” title=”References & Links”]
NO. 83 illustrates the heavy work carried out by industrial barges on the Great Lakes during the early 20th century. Its loss during a fall storm in 1941 highlights the vulnerability of these towed, cargo-heavy vessels when caught by bad weather on open water. Further exploration of the site could shed light on the equipment it carried and its construction details.
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 & Site Information
Name: NO. 83
Year Built: 1920
Type: Barge
Hull Material: Steel
Owner at Loss: W. J. Meagher & Sons, Port Huron, Michigan
Length: Not specified
Beam: Not specified
Depth: Not specified
Tonnage: Not specified
Location: Lake Huron, approximately off Port Huron
Coordinates: Not precisely documented
Depth of Wreck: Approximately 24 metres (80 feet)
Date Lost: October 26, 1941
Vessel Type Description
NO. 83 was a steel-hulled barge used primarily for industrial and construction-related tasks, including transporting well-drilling equipment and sheet piling. Barges of this type were crucial support vessels for infrastructure and marine works throughout the Great Lakes, towed by tugs to project sites.
History
Built in 1920, NO. 83 served for over two decades as a work barge in Michigan waters. By 1941, she was owned by W. J. Meagher & Sons, a firm active in marine and shoreline construction projects around the Port Huron area. On October 26, 1941, while loaded with well-drilling gear and sheet piling, NO. 83 was caught in a severe storm on Lake Huron. Unable to withstand the weather, she foundered in 80 feet (24 metres) of water. There was no loss of life reported with the sinking, but the cargo was lost.
Final Disposition
The NO. 83 rests on the bottom of Lake Huron near Port Huron in roughly 80 feet (24 metres) of water. There is no evidence of salvage or recovery operations.
NOTMARs & Advisories
No current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) apply to the NO. 83 wreck, but local mariners should remain vigilant of potential underwater hazards in the area.
Located By & Date
There is no confirmed discovery of the NO. 83 wreck site documented to date.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Because no formal survey has been recorded, the exact condition of NO. 83 is unknown. Its presumed depth makes it potentially accessible to technical or experienced recreational divers, but conditions and hazards should be carefully assessed.
Resources & Links
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• [David Swayze Shipwreck File]
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• Save Ontario Shipwrecks
• NOAA Thunder Bay Shipwrecks
• Newspapers.com – period news reports on October 1941 storms
Conclusion
NO. 83 illustrates the heavy work carried out by industrial barges on the Great Lakes during the early 20th century. Its loss during a fall storm in 1941 highlights the vulnerability of these towed, cargo-heavy vessels when caught by bad weather on open water. Further exploration of the site could shed light on the equipment it carried and its construction details.
Keywords
NO. 83, Barge, Lake Huron, Storm Loss, Industrial Marine History, Great Lakes Shipwreck, 20th Century Maritime Construction