Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Portsmouth
- Type: Propeller-driven steam cargo carrier
- Year Built: 1853
- Builder: Bidwell & Banta, Buffalo, NY
- Dimensions: Length approx. 183 ft (56 m); Beam approx. 30 ft (9 m); Depth of hold approx. 10 ft (3 m)
- Registered Tonnage: ~418 gross tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 2.5 m / 8 ft
- Location: Middle Island shoals, Lake Huron (near Gravelly Bay)
- Coordinates: N45°11.870′, W83°20.030′
- Official Number: [To be researched]
- Original Owners: [To be researched]
- Number of Masts: —
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Portsmouth was a mid-19th century wooden-hulled steam cargo carrier, designed for open lake navigation and shallow draft harbors. Propelled by a single screw and coal-fired steam engine, her oak hull supported a substantial cargo capacity, making her a mainstay in the iron and grain trade.
Description
The Portsmouth was a mid-19th century wooden-hulled steam cargo carrier, designed for open lake navigation and shallow draft harbors. Propelled by a single screw and coal-fired steam engine, her oak hull supported a substantial cargo capacity, making her a mainstay in the iron and grain trade.
History
Built in 1853, Portsmouth began service on the Great Lakes carrying bulk cargoes. In 1853, she sank after a collision while anchored in Gravelly Bay but was raised and repaired quickly. Between 1854 and 1867, she operated reliably, surviving mechanical failures and at least one grounding while transporting grain, pig iron, and mixed freight across Lakes Erie, Huron, and Michigan.
Her final voyage in November 1867 was from Marquette to Buffalo with 418 tons of pig iron valued at around US$16,000. She encountered a fierce storm and was forced onto the shoals near Middle Island while attempting to anchor. The salvage tug Magnet arrived but was unable to offload due to encroaching winter ice.
Significant Incidents
- 1853: Sank after a collision while anchored in Gravelly Bay but was raised and repaired.
- 1867: Grounded during a storm on her final voyage, leading to her abandonment.
Final Disposition
By spring 1868, salvage crews recovered much of the pig iron and removed her steam machinery. Her final enrollment was surrendered at Buffalo in August 1868. The hull, declared a constructive total loss, was left to decay on site.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Portsmouth has been documented through underwater photography, diver reports, and GIS surveys conducted by the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. A mooring buoy now marks the wreck site for diver safety. The wreck is fragmented, with stern and keel sections visible.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”portsmouth-1853″ title=”References & Links”]
Portsmouth serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by maritime operations in the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Today, it remains an accessible dive site, attracting divers interested in exploring its historical significance.
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
Other Names: —
Official Number: [To be researched]
Registry: United States
Vessel Type: Propeller-driven steam cargo carrier
Builder: Bidwell & Banta, Buffalo, NY
Year Built: 1853
Dimensions: Length approx. 183 ft (56 m), Beam approx. 30 ft (9 m), Depth of hold approx. 10 ft (3 m)
Tonnage: ~418 gross tons
Cargo on Final Voyage: 418 tons of pig iron
Date of Loss: 15 November 1867
Location: Middle Island shoals, Lake Huron (near Gravelly Bay)
Coordinates: N45°11.870′, W83°20.030′
Depth: 8 ft (2.5 m)
Home Port: [To be researched]
Owners: [To be researched]
Crew: [To be researched]
Casualties: None known
Description
The Portsmouth was a mid-19th century wooden-hulled steam cargo carrier, designed for open lake navigation and shallow draft harbors. Propelled by a single screw and coal-fired steam engine, her oak hull supported a substantial cargo capacity, making her a mainstay in the iron and grain trade.
History
Built in 1853, Portsmouth began service on the Great Lakes carrying bulk cargoes. In 1853, she sank after a collision while anchored in Gravelly Bay but was raised and repaired quickly. Between 1854 and 1867, she operated reliably, surviving mechanical failures and at least one grounding while transporting grain, pig iron, and mixed freight across Lakes Erie, Huron, and Michigan.
Her final voyage in November 1867 was from Marquette to Buffalo with 418 tons of pig iron valued at around US$16,000. She encountered a fierce storm and was forced onto the shoals near Middle Island while attempting to anchor. The salvage tug Magnet arrived but was unable to offload due to encroaching winter ice.
Final Dispositions
By spring 1868, salvage crews recovered much of the pig iron and removed her steam machinery. Her final enrollment was surrendered at Buffalo in August 1868. The hull, declared a constructive total loss, was left to decay on site.
Located By & Date Found
Site has been long known locally; formally documented by Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary surveys. A mooring buoy now marks the wreck site.
Notmars & Advisories
No active NOTMARs. Middle Island shoals are charted and locally known as a navigation hazard. Mariners should exercise caution in the vicinity.
Dive Information
Access: Boat, kayak
Entry Point: Middle Island region
Conditions: Calm, shallow; occasional surge
Depth Range: 8 ft (2.5 m)
Emergency Contacts: USCG Sector Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Permits: Required for artifact removal; sanctuary rules apply
Dive Support: Accessible for snorkelers and shallow divers
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No fatalities were recorded. Crew names and details require further archival research in port records and enrollment documents.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“Although she was stranded upright on the shoals and her machinery recovered, the Portsmouth was ultimately abandoned—a reminder of how quickly winter defeats even salvage crews.” — NOAA Resource Study, 2013
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Initial enrollment Buffalo, 1853; last surrendered August 1868. Insurance and ownership files likely held in Buffalo History Museum and U.S. National Archives Great Lakes collection.
Site Documentation & Imaging
Portsmouth has been documented through underwater photography, diver reports, and GIS surveys conducted by the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Mooring buoy installed for diver safety.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary: Portsmouth
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- BGSU Great Lakes Vessels Database
- US23 Heritage Route – Middle Island Wrecks
- Chronicling America – Portsmouth 1867
References
- NOAA Historic Resource Study (2013)
- Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary archives
- David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: —
Official Number: [TBD]
Coordinates: N45°11.870′, W83°20.030′
Depth: 8 ft (2.5 m)
Location Description: Middle Island Shoals, Lake Huron
Vessel Type: Steam cargo propeller
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 183 ft × 30 ft × 10 ft; ~418 GRT
Condition: Fragmented, stern and keel sections visible
Cause of Loss: Grounding during storm
Discovery Date: Known since 1867; surveyed later
Discovered By: Local reports; later NOAA/Thunder Bay teams
Method: Visual and diver survey
Legal Notes: Within NOAA Thunder Bay Sanctuary; removal prohibited
Hazards: Sharp wood, surge currents
Permits Required: Required for artifact interaction per sanctuary rules
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