Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Omar
• Type: Single-deck, wooden schooner
• Year Built: Circa 1850
• Builder:
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage:
• Location: Cleveland breakwater, Lake Erie
• Number of Masts: Likely two-masted

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Omar is classified as a single-deck, wooden schooner, likely equipped with two masts.

Description

The Omar was a wooden schooner that met its fate during a storm while navigating near the Cleveland harbor entrance. The vessel was unable to enter the harbor and struck the stone breakwater, leading to its grounding and subsequent wrecking.

History

Constructed circa 1850, the Omar played a significant role in the early Great Lakes salt trade, transporting salt to inland markets. The vessel’s service history reflects the maritime challenges of the era, particularly in storm-prone areas like Lake Erie.

Significant Incidents

• On 4 December 1854, the Omar struck the Cleveland stone breakwater during a storm, resulting in the vessel’s grounding and wrecking.
• Of the six crew members aboard, three drowned, along with one rescuer who attempted to save them.

Final Disposition

The Omar is presumed destroyed, with no extant wreckage documented. The site has undergone significant changes due to breakwater maintenance, likely burying any remaining artifacts beneath stone and silt.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Current conditions at the wreck site are uncertain, as the area has been altered by construction and maintenance of the breakwater. No underwater surveys or artifact recoveries have been reported, leading to the presumption that the wreck is obliterated.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”omar-c1850″ title=”References & Links”]

The loss of the Omar serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by mariners in the mid-19th century, particularly during rescue attempts in treacherous conditions.