Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

St. Ignace C 116191

Explore the remains of the St. Ignace, a historic railroad car ferry that met its end in a fire while docked in 1916.

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

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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.

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.

Built: 1888 — Launched 20 December 1887
Official Number: 116191
Type: Wooden twin-screw railroad car ferry / multipurpose vessel
Registry: U.S. (later Canadian)

Specifications

  • Builder: Detroit Dry Dock Co., Detroit, Michigan
  • LOA / LBP: 232 ft / 215 ft
  • Beam: 52 ft
  • Depth: 16 ft
  • Engine: Coal-fired compound steam engines (1 forward, 2 aft), 2,000 IHP
  • Tonnage U.S.: ~1,200 GT / 600 NT
  • Re‑registered Canadian (1915): 220 × 52.3 × 19 ft; 1,476 GT / 935 NT
  • Owner: Mackinac Transportation Co., Detroit; sold 1915 to James Whalen, Port Arthur, ON

Loss & Final Disposition

  • Date of Loss: 30 August 1916
  • Location: In dry dock at Western Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co., Port Arthur, Ontario
  • Incident: Caught fire and burned completely while docked and undergoing repairs
  • After Fire: Burned to the waterline and declared a total loss
  • Intended Fate: Reportedly sold to T.L. Durocher (DeTour, Michigan) for use as a stone lighter, but abandoned by 1929
  • Registry Closure: Formally removed from Canadian List of Shipping in 1930 (greatlakesvesselhistory.com)

Timeline & Operational Highlights

YearEvent
1887Launched and began service as railroad car ferry on Straits routes
1915Sold to Canadian owner, remeasured, and used as icebreaker at Port Arthur
1916Destroyed by fire while laid up in dry dock (greatlakesvesselhistory.com)
|1929–1930|Abandoned and officially deregistered|

Wreck Site & Condition

  • Wreck Type: Burned and dismantled remains at dockside
  • Final Location: Western Dry Dock, Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay)
  • Remnants: None submerged; likely salvaged or salvaged for iron/wood debris
  • Hazard Status: No maritime hazard—site on land with no submerged risk

Sources & Citations

Research & Follow-Up Opportunities

  1. Shipyard archives: Port Arthur dry dock logs, fire incident reports (Aug 1916)
  2. Local newspapers: Port Arthur Daily News editions from late August–September 1916
  3. Insurance files: Loss assessments and salvage documents tied to fire
  4. Archaeological record: While no physical wreck remains, on-site records may reveal material salvage

Conclusion

The St. Ignace, a large twin-screw railroad ferry turned icebreaker, ended its maritime service abruptly when it burned in dry dock on 30 August 1916. Although largely forgotten today, the vessel’s career connects Michigan and Canadian Great Lakes ferry operations in the early 20th century. While no hull remains lie underwater, Port Arthur’s maritime heritage archives are likely to contain detailed documentation of her fire and aftermath.

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