Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

NO. 83 (1920, Barge)

Explore the wreck of NO. 83, a steel-hulled barge lost in a storm on Lake Huron in 1941, resting at approximately 80 feet deep.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: NO. 83
  • Type: Barge
  • Year Built: 1920
  • Dimensions: Length X ft; Beam; Depth of hold
  • 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

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

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.