SS Kamloops

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: SS Kamloops
• Type: Steam-powered bulk carrier
• Year Built: 1924
• Builder: Furness Shipbuilding Co., Haverton Hill, England
• Dimensions: 250 ft × 43 ft × 21 ft (76.2 m × 13.1 m × 6.4 m)
• Registered Tonnage: Approx. 2,400 gross tons
• Depth at Wreck Site: 82 m / 270 ft
• Location: Near Isle Royale, Lake Superior
• Coordinates: Approx. 15 miles off Isle Royale
• Official Number: Unknown
• Original Owners: Canada Steamship Lines
• Number of Masts: Unknown

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The SS Kamloops was a steel-hulled, steam-powered package freighter built for Canada Steamship Lines, designed to carry bulk freight and mixed cargo across the Great Lakes.

Description

Launched in 1924, the Kamloops featured large holds and a compound steam propulsion system. Despite her modern design for the time, she lacked advanced navigational equipment to cope with severe winter storms.

History

The Kamloops served as a workhorse for Canada Steamship Lines, operating on Lake Superior routes. On 6 December 1927, she departed Port Arthur, Ontario, bound for Fort William with a mixed cargo. While transiting Lake Superior, she encountered a violent winter storm. Blizzard conditions and heavy seas overwhelmed the vessel, and without modern navigation aids, she drifted near Isle Royale, where she foundered. Of the 22 crew aboard, only one survived: Edward C. Kmiec. The remaining 21 crew perished, most likely from exposure and drowning.

Significant Incidents

• 6 December 1927: SS Kamloops foundered in a winter storm on Lake Superior, resulting in 21 fatalities and 1 survivor.

Final Disposition

For decades, the Kamloops was considered a ghost ship. Its wreck remained undiscovered until 1977, when divers located it in deep water near Isle Royale. The vessel rests upright at approximately 270 ft (82 m), largely intact, with holds still containing remnants of its final cargo.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is protected within Isle Royale National Park. Diving is regulated, and artifact removal is prohibited. Due to the wreck’s depth, only advanced trimix-certified technical divers can safely access the site.

Resources & Links

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With a tragic history and a largely intact structure, the SS Kamloops serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by mariners on the Great Lakes. Divers are encouraged to respect the site and its history, adhering to the principle of ‘leave only bubbles, take only memories.’