Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Sir Hector
- Type: Wooden tugboat, screw-propelled
- Year Built: 1891
- Builder: Waters, Ottawa, Ontario
- Dimensions: Length: 71 ft (21.6 m); Beam: 16 ft (4.9 m); Depth of hold: 6 ft (1.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 40 gross tons
- Location: Operational in Ottawa River and canals
- Coordinates: 45.62747° N, -74.74510° W (recorded incident near L’Orignal, ON)
- Official Number: 96892
- Original Owners: J. Heney (1895); Ottawa Transportation Co. (1901–c.1916)
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Sir Hector was a wooden tugboat designed for towing and harbor assistance, featuring screw propulsion for efficiency in narrow channels.
Description
The Sir Hector was a small, robust wooden tugboat built in Ottawa in 1891 by builder Waters. Measuring just over 70 feet in length with a gross tonnage of 40 tons, she was designed for towing and harbor assistance. Her screw-propulsion made her efficient for narrow channels and river operations, where she supported commercial shipping on the Ottawa River and surrounding waterways.
History
Initially registered in Ottawa, the Sir Hector served as a working tug in the capital region. By 1895 she was owned by J. Heney of Ottawa, reflecting local investment in tug services for industry and trade. In 1901, the vessel was sold to the Ottawa Transportation Co., which operated her in towing duties until at least 1916. Throughout her life, she served as a workhorse tug for timber, barges, and river traffic.
Significant Incidents
- 6 March 1897 — Collision at L’Orignal, Ontario: Sir Hector was rammed and sunk by the vessel Hall. Salvage operations successfully raised and repaired her, highlighting both her durability and the importance of her continued service.
Final Disposition
Precise details of the vessel’s retirement or loss are unknown. She likely was retired after 1916 due to age, wear, and advances in steel-hulled tug construction. Her registry was struck sometime after Ottawa Transportation Co. disposed of her.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Wreck location unknown. No confirmed remains have been identified on the Ottawa River. Her operational incidents are documented, but no physical wreck site has been recorded.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”sir-hector-c-96892″ title=”References & Links”]
No recorded casualties from her 1897 sinking incident. Crew survived and vessel was raised. No memorials known.
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.
Identification Card
Other Names: None
Official Number: 96892
Registry: Canada
Vessel Type: Wooden tugboat, screw-propelled
Builder: Waters, Ottawa, Ontario
Year Built: 1891
Dimensions: Length: 71 ft (21.6 m); Beam: 16 ft (4.9 m); Depth of hold: 6 ft (1.8 m)
Tonnage: 40 gross tons
Cargo on Final Voyage: N/A
Date of Loss: Not conclusively recorded
Location: Operational in Ottawa River and canals
Coordinates: 45.62747° N, -74.74510° W (recorded incident near L’Orignal, ON)
Depth: N/A
Home Port: Ottawa, Ontario
Owners: J. Heney (1895); Ottawa Transportation Co. (1901–c.1916)
Crew: Unknown
Casualties: None reported
Description
The Sir Hector was a small, robust wooden tugboat built in Ottawa in 1891 by builder Waters. Measuring just over 70 feet in length with a gross tonnage of 40 tons, she was designed for towing and harbor assistance. Her screw-propulsion made her efficient for narrow channels and river operations, where she supported commercial shipping on the Ottawa River and surrounding waterways.
History
Initially registered in Ottawa, the Sir Hector served as a working tug in the capital region. By 1895 she was owned by J. Heney of Ottawa, reflecting local investment in tug services for industry and trade. In 1901, the vessel was sold to the Ottawa Transportation Co., which operated her in towing duties until at least 1916. Throughout her life, she served as a workhorse tug for timber, barges, and river traffic.
Notable Incidents
6 March 1897 — Collision at L’Orignal, Ontario: Sir Hector was rammed and sunk by the vessel Hall. Salvage operations successfully raised and repaired her, highlighting both her durability and the importance of her continued service.
Final Disposition
Precise details of the vessel’s retirement or loss are unknown. She likely was retired after 1916 due to age, wear, and advances in steel-hulled tug construction. Her registry was struck sometime after Ottawa Transportation Co. disposed of her.
Located By & Date Found
Wreck location unknown. No confirmed remains have been identified on the Ottawa River. Her operational incidents are documented, but no physical wreck site has been recorded.
Notmars & Advisories
No active Notices to Mariners apply. Historical incident near L’Orignal (1897) noted but poses no modern hazard.
Dive Information
Access: Not applicable
Entry Point: N/A
Conditions: Unknown
Depth Range: N/A
Emergency Contacts: Canadian Coast Guard, Prescott Base
Permits: Required for underwater archaeological work if wreck site identified
Dive Support: N/A
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No recorded casualties from her 1897 sinking incident. Crew survived and vessel was raised. No memorials known.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The tug Sir Hector was run down and sunk near L’Orignal by the vessel Hall, but was later raised and returned to service.” — Ottawa Journal, March 1897
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Official Number 96892, registered in Ottawa, Ontario. Enrollment records indicate transfers from J. Heney to Ottawa Transportation Co. Insurance documentation not yet located.
Site Documentation & Imaging
No archaeological survey or imaging has confirmed the Sir Hector wreck site. Historical documentation survives in Ottawa archives and local newspapers.
Resources & Links
References
- Ottawa Journal, March 1897 — collision report
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes — vessel records
- Great Lakes Vessels Database, BGSU — registry data
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None
Official Number: 96892
Coordinates: 45.62747° N, -74.74510° W (incident site)
Depth: N/A
Location Description: Ottawa River near L’Orignal, Ontario
Vessel Type: Wooden tugboat, screw-propelled
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 71 ft × 16 ft × 6 ft; 40 GRT
Condition: Lost from records after 1916, presumed retired/scrapped
Cause of Loss: Unknown (retired, not a catastrophic loss)
Discovery Date: N/A
Discovered By: N/A
Method: N/A
Legal Notes: Registry struck after 1916
Hazards: None
Permits Required: Yes, if wreck site identified