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.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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