Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Norman P. Clement
- Type: Steel Propeller Bulk Carrier; later converted to Oil-fired Sulfuric Acid Tanker
- Year Built: 1924
- Builder: J. S. White & Co., Ltd., Cowes, Isle of Wight, England
- Dimensions: Length: 252 ft (76.8 m); Beam: 43 ft (13.1 m); Depth: 20 ft (6.1 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Gross: 1,729 tons; Net: 1,112 tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 107 m / 350 ft
- Location: Off Christian Island, Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
- Coordinates: Approximate; in 350 ft (107 m) of water
- Official Number: Canada #146255
- Original Owners: Eastern Steamship Ltd.; Upper Lakes & St. Lawrence Transportation Co. Ltd.; Tank Truck Transport Ltd.; Chembarge Ltd.
- Number of Masts: Not documented
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Norman P. Clement was originally built as a steel-hulled bulk freighter in 1924, designed for carrying dry cargo such as grain or ore. In 1962, she was retrofitted by Chemical Valley Fabricating Co., Ltd. into an oil-fired sulfuric acid tanker, significantly altering her cargo systems and raising operational hazards.
Description
The Norman P. Clement was built as a steel-hulled bulk freighter in 1924, designed for carrying dry cargo such as grain or ore. In 1962, she was retrofitted by Chemical Valley Fabricating Co., Ltd. (Point Edward, Ontario) into an oil-fired sulfuric acid tanker—one of the few such conversions in the Great Lakes—significantly altering her cargo systems and raising operational hazards.
History
After her launch in 1924, the vessel served nearly four decades transporting bulk goods under Eastern Steamship Ltd. and later Upper Lakes & St. Lawrence Transportation Co. She was vital to Great Lakes industrial supply chains during mid-century.
In the early 1960s, the conversion to an acid tanker was undertaken by Chemical Valley Fabricating Co., and thereafter she operated under chemical transport companies including Tank Truck Transport Ltd. and Chembarge Ltd. Records indicate she carried sulfuric acid across the lakes, serving niche but vital industrial routes.
Significant Incidents
- Grounding on 7 October 1968 near Britt, Ontario, resulting in hull damage.
- Explosion during repairs on 10 October 1968, injuring 11 workers but causing no fatalities.
- Scuttling on 23 October 1968 off Christian Island due to irreparable damage.
Final Disposition
On 7 October 1968, the vessel strayed aground near Britt, Ontario, resulting in hull damage. Refloated, she was taken to Collingwood Shipyards for repairs. During dry dock work on 10 October 1968, an explosion—likely from lingering acid gases—injured 11 workers but caused no fatalities. The vessel was declared beyond repair. On 23 October 1968, she was towed by the tug Dana T. Bowen and deliberately scuttled off Christian Island into 350 ft of water.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The site was created by the scuttling event itself; it was never ‘discovered’ after wreckage but known from records. No subsequent photographic or diving rediscovery has been documented.
Resources & Links
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No crew fatalities were recorded, and no memorials appear to exist. Detailed crew lists or individual biographical data are not currently available—further investigation via union or registry archives recommended.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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