Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Ophir
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller tug
- Year Built: 1902
- Builder: M. Pearde, Owen Sound, Ontario
- Dimensions: Approx. 42 ft × 9 ft × 4 ft (12.8 m × 2.7 m × 1.2 m); gross tonnage ~11 ft, net 8 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 11 ft gross, 8 ft net
- Location: Harbour at Parry Sound, east side of Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
- Official Number: C112173
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A small screw tug operating in Georgian Bay—used for harbour manoeuvring, towing barges or log booms, and general service on Lake Huron waters.
Description
A compact wooden vessel with single-deck shelter, powered by a screw propeller and steam engine, designed for short-range harbor and nearshore towing.
History
Built in 1902 at Owen Sound for use across Lake Huron, Ophir served Parry Sound and surrounding communities. She appears in local registries as a harbour tug from Toronto and later tied to operations in Georgian Bay.
Significant Incidents
- On 27 May 1919, while moored in the harbour at Parry Sound, Ophir caught fire and was burned to a total loss. The blaze destroyed the vessel entirely; no injuries or further damage were reported.
Final Disposition
On 27 May 1919, while moored in the harbour at Parry Sound, Ophir caught fire and was burned to a total loss. The blaze destroyed the vessel entirely; no injuries or further damage were reported.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No salvage or marine-archeological effort is recorded for Ophir. Following the fire, she was likely dismantled or removed; no remains are known to exist underwater or ashore.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”ophir-c-112173″ title=”References & Links”]
Ophir exemplifies the vulnerability of small wooden steam tugs to onboard fires, especially when docked during spring. Built in 1902 and serving Parry Sound until her fiery destruction in 1919, her loss underscores the importance of fire control and dockside safety in early 20th-century harbour operations. No physical remains exist, but her story adds to the maritime heritage of Georgian Bay.
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: Ophir
- Official Number: C112173
- Year Built: 1902, Owen Sound, Ontario, by M. Pearde
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller tug
- Dimensions: Approx. 42 ft × 9 ft × 4 ft (12.8 m × 2.7 m × 1.2 m); gross tonnage ~11 t, net 8 t (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Date lost: 27 May 1919
- Location: Harbour at Parry Sound, east side of Georgian Bay, Lake Huron (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Cargo: None (tug duties)
- Casualties: None recorded
Vessel Type
A small screw tug operating in Georgian Bay—used for harbour manoeuvring, towing barges or log booms, and general service on Lake Huron waters.
Description
A compact wooden vessel with single-deck shelter, powered by a screw propeller and steam engine, designed for short-range harbor and nearshore towing.
History
Built in 1902 at Owen Sound for use across Lake Huron, Ophir served Parry Sound and surrounding communities. She appears in local registries as a harbour tug from Toronto and later tied to operations in Georgian Bay. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Disposition
On 27 May 1919, while moored in the harbour at Parry Sound, Ophir caught fire and was burned to a total loss (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files). The blaze destroyed the vessel entirely; no injuries or further damage were reported.
Located By & Date Found
No salvage or marine-archeological effort is recorded for Ophir. Following the fire, she was likely dismantled or removed; no remains are known to exist underwater or ashore.
Notmar & Advisories
No official Notice to Mariners is associated with the wreck. However, harbour users in Parry Sound—particularly operators of wooden tugs—should maintain fire-safety protocols and ensure proper mooring practices to mitigate similar risks.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – “Ophir” (O‑list), details on dimensions, ownership, loss type, and location (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, shipscribe.com)
Conclusion
Ophir exemplifies the vulnerability of small wooden steam tugs to onboard fires, especially when docked during spring. Built in 1902 and serving Parry Sound until her fiery destruction in 1919, her loss underscores the importance of fire control and dockside safety in early 20th-century harbour operations. No physical remains exist, but her story adds to the maritime heritage of Georgian Bay.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Keywords: wooden steam tug, harbour fire, Parry Sound 1919, Georgian Bay
- Categories: Lake Huron ship losses, wooden tugboats, fire wrecks
- Glossary:
- Screw propeller: A rotating engine-driven propeller under the vessel.
- Total loss: Destroyed beyond repair.
- Harbour tug: Vessel primarily for towing within port limits.