Shotline Diving

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Ohio USCG 208153

The tug Ohio was lost in a collision on Lake Erie in 1954. No fatalities occurred, and the vessel was scrapped later that year.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Ohio
  • Type: Steel, single-screw propeller tug
  • Year Built: 1903
  • Builder: Originally built as the Milwaukee fireboat M.F.D. No. 15
  • Dimensions: Length ~71 ft (21.6 m); Beam ~20 ft; Depth 12–13 ft
  • Registered Tonnage: Gross tonnage: 112 gt; net tonnage: 61 nt
  • Location: Dock at Kelley’s Island, Lake Erie
  • Official Number: USCG #208153
  • Original Owners: The Great Lakes Towing Company, Cleveland, OH

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Steel, single-screw propeller tug, originally built as a fireboat and later converted for towing operations.

Description

The tug Ohio was a long-serving vessel that transitioned from a fireboat to a diesel-powered tug. It was notable for its early conversion to diesel power in 1951.

History

Originally built in 1903 as the Milwaukee fireboat M.F.D. No. 15, the tug was purchased and converted by the Great Lakes Towing Company in 1952. It was renamed Ohio around 1973 and served extensively in towing operations until its loss in 1954.

Significant Incidents

  • Circumstances: While maneuvering the steamer William F. White in high winds, the tug Ohio was crushed against a pier at Kelley’s Island by the steamer swinging out of control.
  • Cause: Collision rather than grounding—mechanical failure due to weather combined with escort maneuvering in strong wind conditions.
  • Casualties: None reported. No crew members were lost.

Final Disposition

The tug was crushed beyond repair and subsequently scrapped later in 1954.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The vessel did not sink underwater; it was scrapped post-incident, and there are no underwater remains.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”ohio-uscg-208153″ title=”References & Links”]

The loss of the Ohio highlights the risks associated with harbor towing operations, particularly during adverse weather conditions. Although not a wreck in the traditional sense, its incident remains a significant case in Great Lakes maritime history.

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

  • Vessel Name: Ohio
  • Official Number: USCG #208153 (Great Lakes Towing Company) (tugboatinformation.com, project.geo.msu.edu)
  • Type: Steel, single‑screw propeller tug (1,230 hp, diesel-converted in 1951) (tugboatinformation.com)
  • Builder & Launch: Originally built in 1903 as the Milwaukee fireboat M.F.D. No. 15; purchased and converted by GLT in Cleveland in 1952; renamed Ohio c. 1973 (Great Lakes Tugs & Workboats)
  • Date of Loss: 14 June 1954
  • Location: Dock at Kelley’s Island, Lake Erie
  • Owner & Operator: The Great Lakes Towing Company, Cleveland, OH; worked with the steamer William F. White (alcheminc.com, nmgl.org)

Vessel Specifications

  • Length: ~71 ft; Beam: ~20 ft; Depth: 12–13 ft
  • Gross tonnage: 112 gt; net tonnage: 61 nt (tugboatinformation.com)
  • Machinery: Single Cleveland 12‑278A diesel engine, ~1,230 hp (converted in 1951) (tugboatinformation.com)

Incident Overview

  • Circumstances: While maneuvering the steamer William F. White in high winds, the tug Ohio was crushed against a pier at Kelley’s Island by the steamer swinging out of control (alcheminc.com)
  • Cause: Collision rather than grounding—mechanical failure due to weather combined with escort maneuvering in strong wind conditions.
  • Casualties: None reported. No crew members were lost.

Final Disposition

Wreck Status & Dive Potential

  • Location: At a dock; not a wreck on the bottom. The vessel did not sink underwater—wreck status moot.
  • Site Condition: Scrapped post-incident; no underwater remains.

Context & Significance

  • The Ohio was a long-serving tug built from a fireboat turned lake tug, representative of early diesel conversions on Great Lakes tugs. It operated extensively under GLT until a weather-driven collision ended her career in 1954.
  • The incident reflects risks in harbor towing operations, especially during strong winds coupling with large tows.

Notices & Official Records

  • No specific Notices to Mariners found—common for non-navigational losses at dock.
  • Incident is documented in Swayze’s Great Lakes Shipwreck File and marine loss records as: “Ohio(tug), 14‑Jun‑1954, collision, none”_ (Great Lakes Tugs & Workboats, nmgl.org, project.geo.msu.edu)

Research Gaps & Suggested Further Work

  • GLT internal logs or accident reports, mid-1954: May document crew actions, damage assessment, or insurance claim.
  • Local newspapers from June 1954 (Cleveland, Marion Island): Likely contain reports on the event, property damage, salvage decisions.
  • Company archives or USCG casualty files: For more precise collision details and vessel disposition formalities.

Resources & References

  • Great Lakes Towing / National Museum of the Great Lakes: background on the tug Ohio and GLT fleet history (nmgl.org)
  • Tugboat Information database entry for Ohio (1910‑1954) (tugboatinformation.com)
  • Lake Erie Shipwreck Map & Index citing tug loss “Ohio: crushed dock, collision none” (alcheminc.com)

Keywords & Categories

Great Lakes tug, Harvard towing accident, dock collision, GLT vessel, Lake Erie, 1954, diesel tug loss.

Summary

The steel tug Ohio, built in 1903 and operated by Great Lakes Towing Company, was lost on 14 June 1954 when she was crushed between the steamer William F. White and a pier at Kelley’s Island, during high-wind maneuvering. No fatalities occurred. The vessel was declared a total loss and scrapped later that year. Although not sunk underwater, her loss is recorded in modern loss lists as a significant tug-accident case. Let me know if you’d like assistance accessing period tug logs, salvage or local press archives to enrich this profile.

ohio-uscg-208153 1954-06-14 15:52:00