Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Roy A. Jodrey
- Type: Self-Unloading Bulk Carrier (Freighter)
- Year Built: 1965
- Builder: Canadian Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Collingwood, Ontario
- Dimensions: 623.16 ft (190 m) x 72.16 ft (22 m) x 38.42 ft (11.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 16,154 gross tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 23 m / 75 ft
- Location: Pullman Shoal, near Wellesley Island
- Coordinates: 44°19.856'N, 75°56.053'W
- Official Number: 318689
- Original Owners: Algoma Central / Hudson Bay Railway Co.
- Number of Masts: None
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Roy A. Jodrey was a self-unloading bulk carrier, designed to transport and unload bulk cargoes efficiently without the need for shore-based equipment.
Description
Commissioned by Algoma Central, the Jodrey was the first of a new generation of Canadian self-unloaders. Designed for efficiency, she serviced numerous Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River ports. Her self-unloading system made her ideal for handling a wide variety of bulk cargoes without requiring shore-based unloading equipment. She operated nearly a decade before her sudden loss.
History
On the night of November 20–21, 1974, while en route from Sept-Îles to Detroit with iron ore pellets, the Jodrey ran aground on Pullman Shoal. Navigating in heavy fog, she struck the shoal at speed, breaching a ballast tank. The vessel’s forward compartments began flooding rapidly due to a thin steel separation plate between tank and bow. The crew attempted to beach her near Wellesley Island’s U.S. Coast Guard Station. However, the vessel rolled and sank just offshore, causing tremors on land. Fortunately, all crew survived.
Significant Incidents
- November 21, 1974: The Roy A. Jodrey sank after striking Pullman Shoal.
- 1975: A diver tragically lost his life during salvage operations.
- October 1975: The vessel’s official Canadian registry was struck.
- 2002: NY State DEC operation removed remaining oil to prevent environmental contamination.
Final Disposition
Declared unsalvageable by February 1975, the Jodrey remained submerged. Her wreck now serves as both a technical dive challenge and an underwater museum of Cold War-era maritime innovation.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck rests in depths from 75 to 254 feet, making it a high-risk technical dive. It features strong current, cold water, and structural instability. Due to past diver fatalities and ongoing hazards, it is only recommended for elite-level technical divers with proper training and redundant systems. Despite risks, the site draws many for its historical significance and dramatic scale.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”roy-a-jodrey-c-31689″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Roy A. Jodrey stands as a milestone in Canadian shipbuilding and a sobering case study in structural design vulnerability. As a precursor to modern self-unloading bulk freighters, her brief service influenced future designs.
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.
Official Number: 318689 (Canada)
Registry: Canadian
Vessel Type: Self-Unloading Bulk Carrier (Freighter)
Builder: Canadian Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Collingwood, Ontario
Keel Laid: February 11, 1965
Launch Date: September 9, 1965
Entered Service: November 11, 1965
Dimensions: 623.16 ft (190 m) x 72.16 ft (22 m) x 38.42 ft (11.7 m)
Tonnage: 16,154 gross tons
Propulsion: Four Fairbanks-Morse 10-cylinder diesel engines (Canadian Locomotive Co.)
Speed: ~15 knots
Hull: Steel
Operator: Algoma Central / Hudson Bay Railway Co.
Home Port: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Cargo: Ore / Aggregates
Date of Loss: November 21, 1974
Cause: Struck Pullman Shoal
Coordinates: 44°19.856’N, 75°56.053’W
Depth: 75 ft (23 m) to >254 ft
Casualties: None during sinking; one diver during salvage (1975)
Service History
Commissioned by Algoma Central, the Jodrey was the first of a new generation of Canadian self-unloaders. Designed for efficiency, she serviced numerous Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River ports. Her self-unloading system made her ideal for handling a wide variety of bulk cargoes without requiring shore-based unloading equipment. She operated nearly a decade before her sudden loss.
Sinking Incident
On the night of November 20–21, 1974, while en route from Sept-Îles to Detroit with iron ore pellets, the Jodrey ran aground on Pullman Shoal. Navigating in heavy fog, she struck the shoal at speed, breaching a ballast tank. The vessel’s forward compartments began flooding rapidly due to a thin steel separation plate between tank and bow. The crew attempted to beach her near Wellesley Island’s U.S. Coast Guard Station. However, the vessel rolled and sank just offshore, causing tremors on land. Fortunately, all crew survived.
Aftermath & Salvage
Declared unsalvageable by February 1975, the Jodrey remained submerged. During subsequent salvage and inspection operations, a diver tragically lost his life. Her official Canadian registry was struck in October 1975. A 2002 NY State DEC operation removed remaining oil to prevent environmental contamination.
Current Dive Site Status
The wreck rests in depths from 75 to 254 feet, making it a high-risk technical dive. It features strong current, cold water, and structural instability. Due to past diver fatalities and ongoing hazards, it is only recommended for elite-level technical divers with proper training and redundant systems. Despite risks, the site draws many for its historical significance and dramatic scale.
Image Gallery
Video Feature
Historical Legacy
The Roy A. Jodrey stands as a milestone in Canadian shipbuilding and a sobering case study in structural design vulnerability. As a precursor to modern self-unloading bulk freighters, her brief service influenced future designs. Her wreck now serves as both a technical dive challenge and an underwater museum of Cold War-era maritime innovation.
Resources & Archival Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Ships Database
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Save Ontario Shipwrecks
- Dan Gildea Dive Photography Archive
- GreatLakesShips.WordPress
- Great Lakes Vessel History
Keywords & Categories
Tags: Roy A. Jodrey, Pullman Shoal, Self-Unloading Freighter, Algoma Central, 1974 Shipwreck, St. Lawrence River, Canadian Maritime History, Technical Diving
Categories: Great Lakes Freighters, Canadian Vessels, Cold War-era Wrecks, Tragic Losses
Glossary: Self-unloader, Ballast Tank, Gross Tonnage, Shoal, Registry Closure
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