Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Unidentified Wreck – Rochester 3
- Type: Schooner or Steamer
- Year Built:
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Unknown
- Registered Tonnage:
- Depth at Wreck Site: 0.9 m / 3 ft
- Location: Approx. 43.256644° N, ~77.598583° W
- Coordinates: Approx. 43.256644° N, ~77.598583° W
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Presumed Schooner or Steamer
Description
The wreck known as Rochester 3 was discovered via bottom drag investigation as recorded in CL797/80(CES), indicating that it lies very close to the surface (within 3 feet / 0.9 m), making it potentially dangerous to navigation and of significant interest for maritime exploration.
Based on regional historical traffic, the vessel is likely a wooden schooner or small steamer, typical of the vessels involved in bulk freight and regional transit across Lake Ontario from the mid-1800s to early 1900s.
History
Rochester 3 rests in the waters near Rochester, New York, once a major commercial hub on Lake Ontario. At the height of its shipping activity, the area handled thousands of schooner and steamer trips annually. Losses due to storms, collisions, and overloading were common.
Given its proximity to shore and the dangerous designation, Rochester 3 may have been lost in shallow water due to:
- Storm grounding
- Collision with breakwater or shoals
- Structural failure or tow-line loss
The exact time of loss is unknown, and no documentation or matching incident report has yet been conclusively linked to this site.
Significant Incidents
No specific incidents have been documented regarding the loss of Rochester 3. The potential causes of loss include:
- Storm grounding
- Collision with breakwater or shoals
- Structural failure or tow-line loss
Final Disposition
Classified as a dangerous submerged wreck with direct charting. No subsequent diver documentation or sonar scans are publicly available. It remains officially unidentified.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Discovered during U.S. government bottom drag operations; documented in 1980 through the Coastal Engineering Survey (CES). Coordinates and depth verified with high positional accuracy.
Initially listed as dangerous in the NOAA wreck system; not currently appearing in Canadian NOTMARs or new U.S. Coast Guard Local Notices to Mariners.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”rochester-3″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
Rochester 3 is a well-documented but unidentified shallow wreck, posing a minor hazard and a significant historical mystery. Located very close to shore, its presence reflects the intense maritime activity and risk-prone nature of shipping in Lake Ontario’s port cities. The wreck remains a compelling target for further sonar exploration, diver identification, and potential linkage to known but unresolved ship losses from the region.
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: Unidentified Wreck – Rochester 3
- Former Names: None
- Registration Number(s): None
- Date Built and Launched: Unknown
- Measurements: Unknown
- Date Lost / Destroyed / Abandoned: Unknown
- NOAA Wreck ID: 2199 / OBJECTID 11917
- Chart Number: NOAA Chart 14815
- Location of Loss: Approx. 43.256644° N, ~77.598583° W
- Google Maps Location
- Depth: 0.9 m (3 ft)
- Position Quality: High
- Position Source: Drag investigation
- Sounding Type: Not recorded
Vessel Type
Presumed Schooner or Steamer
Description
The wreck known as Rochester 3 was discovered via bottom drag investigation as recorded in CL797/80(CES), indicating that it lies very close to the surface (within 3 feet / 0.9 m), making it potentially dangerous to navigation and of significant interest for maritime exploration.
Based on regional historical traffic, the vessel is likely a wooden schooner or small steamer, typical of the vessels involved in bulk freight and regional transit across Lake Ontario from the mid-1800s to early 1900s.
History
Rochester 3 rests in the waters near Rochester, New York, once a major commercial hub on Lake Ontario. At the height of its shipping activity, the area handled thousands of schooner and steamer trips annually. Losses due to storms, collisions, and overloading were common.
Given its proximity to shore and the dangerous designation, Rochester 3 may have been lost in shallow water due to:
- Storm grounding
- Collision with breakwater or shoals
- Structural failure or tow-line loss
The exact time of loss is unknown, and no documentation or matching incident report has yet been conclusively linked to this site.
Final Dispositions
Classified as a dangerous submerged wreck with direct charting. No subsequent diver documentation or sonar scans are publicly available. It remains officially unidentified.
Located By & Date Found
Discovered during U.S. government bottom drag operations; documented in 1980 through the Coastal Engineering Survey (CES). Coordinates and depth verified with high positional accuracy.
Notmars & Advisories
Initially listed as dangerous in the NOAA wreck system; not currently appearing in Canadian NOTMARs or new U.S. Coast Guard Local Notices to Mariners.
Resources & Links
- NOAA Wreck Viewer
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Ships Database
- [Rochester Wreck Mapping Project – Sonar & Dive Logs (if available)]
- Google Maps: 43.256644, -77.598583
Conclusion
Rochester 3 is a well-documented but unidentified shallow wreck, posing a minor hazard and a significant historical mystery. Located very close to shore, its presence reflects the intense maritime activity and risk-prone nature of shipping in Lake Ontario’s port cities. The wreck remains a compelling target for further sonar exploration, diver identification, and potential linkage to known but unresolved ship losses from the region.
Keywords: Rochester 3 Wreck, Lake Ontario Shipwreck, Submerged Wreck NOAA, Chart 14815, Dangerous Wrecks
Categories: Unidentified Wrecks, Shallow Water Hazards, Great Lakes Maritime History
Glossary Terms:
- Drag Investigation: A method of detecting submerged objects by physically dragging the lakebed with equipment.
- Dangerous Submerged Wreck: A wreck that presents a potential navigational hazard due to proximity to surface.
- CES (Coastal Engineering Survey): Government-conducted shoreline and bathymetric mapping program.
Would you like a regional wreck map compiled for all “Rochester” sites or begin sourcing sonar providers to investigate this location further?
rochester-3 1980-03-14 07:54:00