Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: St. Ignace C 116191
- Type: Wooden twin-screw railroad car ferry / multipurpose vessel
- Year Built: 1888
- Builder: Detroit Dry Dock Co., Detroit, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length 232 ft (70.7 m); Beam 52 ft; Depth of hold 16 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 1,200 GT / 600 NT
- Location: Western Dry Dock, Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay), Ontario
- Official Number: 116191
- Original Owners: Mackinac Transportation Co., Detroit; sold 1915 to James Whalen, Port Arthur, ON
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Type: Wooden twin-screw railroad car ferry / multipurpose vessel
Description
The St. Ignace was a large twin-screw railroad car ferry built in 1888, originally serving routes in the Straits of Mackinac. It was later re-registered in Canada and repurposed as an icebreaker.
History
Launched on December 20, 1887, the St. Ignace began its service as a railroad car ferry. In 1915, it was sold to a Canadian owner and remeasured for use as an icebreaker at Port Arthur. The vessel’s operational history reflects its importance in early 20th-century ferry operations between Michigan and Canada.
Significant Incidents
- 30 August 1916: Caught fire and burned completely while docked at Western Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co., Port Arthur, Ontario.
- Reportedly sold to T.L. Durocher for use as a stone lighter but was abandoned by 1929.
Final Disposition
After the fire, the St. Ignace was burned to the waterline and declared a total loss. It was formally removed from the Canadian List of Shipping in 1930.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck type is classified as burned and dismantled remains at dockside. There are no submerged remnants, as it is likely that the vessel was salvaged for iron and wood debris. The site poses no maritime hazard, being located on land.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”st-ignace-c-116191″ title=”References & Links”]
The St. Ignace, a significant vessel in the history of Great Lakes transportation, ended its service abruptly due to a fire in 1916. While no physical remains exist underwater, historical records may provide insights into its legacy.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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