Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Ocean
- Type: Wooden-hulled passenger or cargo steamer
- Year Built: 1872
- Builder: Likely at St. Catharines, Ontario or similar Great Lakes shipyard
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: string
- Location: Lake Ontario
- Coordinates: string
- Official Number: string
- Original Owners: string
- Number of Masts: string
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled passenger or cargo steamer.
Description
Description
The original Ocean caught fire at Muir’s drydock, suffering a complete superstructure loss down to the waterline. Declared a total loss, her hull remained afloat and was repurposed as a barge (likely for less demanding service).
History
History
Rebuilt and redeployed on Lake Ontario, Ocean was later involved in a collision with the steamer Kent in 1894, leading to her sinking.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- Burned at Muir’s drydock — total loss, but hull survived and was rebuilt into a barge.
- Sank later in a 1894 collision with the steamer Kent on Lake Ontario.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
After colliding with Kent in 1894, Ocean (then operating as a barge) foundered and sank—her hull lost on Lake Ontario. No modern surveys have definitively located the wreck site.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility
No known archaeological surveys have recorded a wreck positively identified as the Ocean. Given her multiple rebuilds and role changes, any remains may be fragmented or buried in sediment.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”ocean-1872″ title=”References & Links”]
Conclusion
The Ocean experienced a dramatic two-phase demise: first as a burned-out hull at Muir’s drydock, then later sinking after collision on Lake Ontario. Though no casualties are recorded, the vessel’s multiple transformations and name changes (including a barge conversion) have obscured her identity. Today she remains a historical note rather than a documented wreck site.
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
- Name: Ocean
- Built: 1872 (likely at St. Catharines, Ontario or similar Great Lakes shipyard)
- Type: Wooden-hulled passenger or cargo steamer
- Loss incidents:
- Burned at Muir’s drydock — total loss, but hull survived and was rebuilt into a barge
- Sank later in a 1894 collision with the steamer Kent on Lake Ontario
- Casualties: None recorded in either incident (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wikipedia)
History & Notable Events
- The original Ocean caught fire at Muir’s drydock, suffering a complete superstructure loss down to the waterline. Declared a total loss, her hull remained afloat and was repurposed as a barge (likely for less demanding service) .
- Rebuilt and redeployed on Lake Ontario, Ocean was later involved in a collision with the steamer Kent in 1894, leading to her sinking (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Final Disposition
After colliding with Kent in 1894, Ocean (then operating as a barge) foundered and sank—her hull lost on Lake Ontario. No modern surveys have definitively located the wreck site.
Located By & Survey Status
No known archaeological surveys have recorded a wreck positively identified as the Ocean. Given her multiple rebuilds and role changes, any remains may be fragmented or buried in sediment.
Notmar & Navigational Advisories
No official Notices to Mariners cite the wreck. Its sinking in 1894 likely occurred in navigable waters, but remains officially unflagged as a hazard.
Commentary on Conflicting Dates
While the Great Lakes Shipwreck Files indicate Ocean burned and was a total loss at Muir’s drydock, the vessel’s sinking occurred later after conversion and a collision. Some discrepancies exist in date references, but the fire preceded the final maritime loss (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Conclusion
The Ocean experienced a dramatic two-phase demise: first as a burned-out hull at Muir’s drydock, then later sinking after collision on Lake Ontario. Though no casualties are recorded, the vessel’s multiple transformations and name changes (including a barge conversion) have obscured her identity. Today she remains a historical note rather than a documented wreck site.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary
- Keywords: Ocean steamer fire, Muir drydock wreck, Ocean–Kent collision, Lake Ontario barge sinking
- Categories: Dockyard fires, repurposed barges, multi-phase wrecks
- Glossary:
- Rebuilt into a barge: Hollowed-out hull repurposed without propulsion or superstructure
- Steamer collision: Maritime incident involving a steam-powered vessel striking another craft