Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Rochester 2
- Type: Unidentified Wreck
- Year Built:
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Unknown
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Approx. 43.266728° N, -77.583056° W (Rochester, NY)
- Coordinates: Approx. 43.266728° N, -77.583056° W
- Official Number: NOAA Wreck ID: 2201 / OBJECTID 11918
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Unidentified—presumed schooner or barge based on region and common vessel types.
Description
Rochester 2 is an unidentified submerged wreck noted on NOAA Chart 14815 based on a 1975 Local Notice to Mariners. The original report described it as a dangerous submerged wreck, possibly a sailboat of unknown size. The wreck’s characteristics suggest it could be a wooden schooner or barge, frequently used for transporting coal, grain, and timber in this region.
Due to the lack of structural data or identity, the vessel remains a maritime enigma, highlighting the many unrecorded shipwrecks in Lake Ontario.
History
No direct event is linked to the loss of this vessel. Possible causes include:
- Storm-induced sinking
- Grounding and abandonment
- Hull failure due to aging or overloading
The area off Rochester, NY, was heavily trafficked in the late 1800s to early 1900s by small cargo vessels, particularly wooden schooners and barges that were prone to weather-induced losses.
Significant Incidents
- Originally designated as “dangerous submerged”
- No current navigational hazard reported in NOTMARs
- Mariners should consult updated NOAA charts for any advisory near this coordinate
Final Disposition
Remains submerged and uninvestigated. NOAA’s wreck file suggests full bottom drag investigation is required to verify or disprove the site’s identity. It is not confirmed via sonar or dive reports.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Condition: Likely deteriorated; may be buried or broken due to age and lake activity
Accessibility: Location is known but not precisely surveyed—may be explored by dive teams using side-scan sonar or ROVs
Challenges: Sedimentation, low visibility, poor structural integrity
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”rochester-2″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
Rochester 2 represents the mystery and loss that are hallmarks of Great Lakes maritime history. Though small in size, its status as a “dangerous submerged wreck” reminds us of the unseen navigational risks and the many unrecorded vessels that once plied these waters. Further sonar investigation or bottom dragging may someday confirm its identity, linking it to the broader story of the region’s industrial and maritime development.
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: Rochester 2 (Unidentified Wreck)
- Former Names: None
- Registration Number(s): Not applicable
- Date Built and Launched: Unknown
- Measurements: Unknown
- Date Lost / Destroyed / Abandoned: Unknown
- NOAA Wreck ID: 2201 / OBJECTID 11918
- Chart Number: NOAA Chart 14815
- Location of Loss: Approx. 43.266728° N, -77.583056° W (Roughly southeast of Rochester, NY on Lake Ontario)
- Google Maps
- Depth: Unknown
- Position Quality: Low
- Position Source: Unknown
- Sounding Type: None recorded
- First Charted: 1975 (Listed in LNM73/75)
Vessel Type
Unidentified—presumed schooner or barge based on region and common vessel types.
Description
Rochester 2 is an unidentified submerged wreck noted on NOAA Chart 14815 based on a 1975 Local Notice to Mariners. The original report described it as a dangerous submerged wreck, possibly a sailboat of unknown size. The wreck’s characteristics suggest it could be a wooden schooner or barge, frequently used for transporting coal, grain, and timber in this region.
Due to the lack of structural data or identity, the vessel remains a maritime enigma, highlighting the many unrecorded shipwrecks in Lake Ontario.
History
No direct event is linked to the loss of this vessel. Possible causes include:
- Storm-induced sinking
- Grounding and abandonment
- Hull failure due to aging or overloading
The area off Rochester, NY, was heavily trafficked in the late 1800s to early 1900s by small cargo vessels, particularly wooden schooners and barges that were prone to weather-induced losses.
Final Dispositions
Remains submerged and uninvestigated. NOAA’s wreck file suggests full bottom drag investigation is required to verify or disprove the site’s identity. It is not confirmed via sonar or dive reports.
Located By & Date Found
- Listed by U.S. Coast Guard in 1975 (LNM73/75)
- No updates since—no sonar verification, dive report, or photographic documentation found
Notmars & Advisories
- Originally designated as “dangerous submerged”
- No current navigational hazard reported in NOTMARs
- Mariners should consult updated NOAA charts for any advisory near this coordinate
Current Condition & Accessibility
- Condition: Likely deteriorated; may be buried or broken due to age and lake activity
- Accessibility: Location is known but not precisely surveyed—may be explored by dive teams using side-scan sonar or ROVs
- Challenges: Sedimentation, low visibility, poor structural integrity
Resources & Links
- NOAA Wreck Viewer
- Google Maps Location – 43.266728, -77.583056
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Great Lakes Vessels Index
Conclusion
Rochester 2 represents the mystery and loss that are hallmarks of Great Lakes maritime history. Though small in size, its status as a “dangerous submerged wreck” reminds us of the unseen navigational risks and the many unrecorded vessels that once plied these waters. Further sonar investigation or bottom dragging may someday confirm its identity, linking it to the broader story of the region’s industrial and maritime development.
Keywords: Rochester shipwreck, Unknown wreck Lake Ontario, NOAA Chart 14815, Schooner wrecks, Great Lakes maritime mystery
Categories: Unidentified Wrecks, Mystery Sites, Submerged Hazards
Glossary Terms:
- Bottom Drag Investigation: A technique using physical equipment to scrape or feel the lakebed for submerged structures.
- LNM (Local Notice to Mariners): U.S. Coast Guard notices alerting mariners to hazards or navigational changes.
- Dangerous Submerged Wreck: Wreck with potential hazard to vessels due to proximity to surface or unknown condition.