Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Success

Explore the remains of the Success, a historic wooden schooner with a storied past, resting in shallow waters near Port Clinton, Ohio.

GPS: 41.521983, -82.911717

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: SUCCESS
  • Type: Wooden Schooner (Former Convict Ship)
  • Year Built: 1790
  • Builder: Moulmein, Burma
  • Dimensions: Length: 135 ft (41.1 m); Beam: 29 ft (8.8 m); Depth of hold:
  • Registered Tonnage:
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 4.6 m / 15 ft
  • Location: Near Port Clinton, Ohio, Lake Erie
  • Coordinates: 41° 31.321′ N, 82° 54.705′ W

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The SUCCESS was a wooden schooner constructed from Burmese teak, renowned for its strength and durability. Initially designed as an armed merchantman for the East India Company, the ship was copper-fastened and constructed using treenails, a testament to its robust build. Over its long service life, the vessel was repurposed numerous times, transitioning from a convict transport to a prison hulk, and finally to an exhibition ship.

Description

The SUCCESS rests in 15 feet (4.6 meters) of water near Port Clinton, Ohio. Though scattered and degraded, the wreck remains a site of immense historical interest, attracting divers and historians intrigued by its multifaceted story.

Wreck Features:

  • Condition: The ship’s remains are scattered across the lakebed, with some parts likely buried under sediment.
  • Historical Value: While not well-preserved, the site offers a tangible connection to one of the Great Lakes’ most storied vessels.
  • Accessibility: Shallow depth makes the wreck easy to explore, particularly for recreational divers.

History

Historical Highlights

  • 1790: Launched in Burma as an East India merchantman.
  • Early Service: Operated in the Bay of Bengal. Survived pirate capture and engagements with a French armed vessel.
  • 1802–1852: Repurposed as a convict transport for England-to-Australia voyages, became infamous for its harsh conditions, symbolizing the cruelty of the penal system.
  • 1852–1885: Converted into a prison hulk and later used as a women’s prison and ammunition storehouse.
  • 1885: Maliciously scuttled in Sydney but salvaged and turned into a traveling museum.

Significant Incidents

Later Years

  • Exhibited at ports worldwide, including the Great Lakes, as a museum ship showcasing its dramatic history.
  • July 4th (1919?): Sank near Port Clinton, Ohio. Stripped of valuable components, its demise remains shrouded in mystery.

Final Disposition

The SUCCESS is a remarkable shipwreck that transcends its physical remains to embody the history of maritime evolution, penal systems, and 19th-century exhibitions. With a story that spans six continents and over a century of service, the SUCCESS remains a unique draw for divers and historians. Its sinking in Lake Erie on Independence Day adds a symbolic end to a vessel that once represented both oppression and intrigue.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No specific NOTMARs are related to the SUCCESS. Divers and boaters should exercise caution due to shallow waters and scattered debris.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”success” title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]

The SUCCESS remains a site of immense historical interest, attracting divers and historians intrigued by its multifaceted story. Remember to leave only bubbles and take only memories while exploring this significant wreck.

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.

Success prison hulk

Identification & Site Information:

  • Wreck Name: SUCCESS
  • Type: Wooden Schooner (Former Convict Ship)
  • Build Year: 1790
  • Builder: Moulmein, Burma
  • Dimensions: Length: 135 feet (41.1 meters) Beam: 29 feet (8.8 meters)
  • Final Resting Place: Near Port Clinton, Ohio, Lake Erie
  • Coordinates: 41° 31.321′ N, 82° 54.705′ W
  • Depth: 15 feet (4.6 meters)
  • Condition: Scattered remains in shallow water

Vessel Description:

The SUCCESS was a wooden schooner constructed from Burmese teak, renowned for its strength and durability. Initially designed as an armed merchantman for the East India Company, the ship was copper-fastened and constructed using treenails, a testament to its robust build. Over its long service life, the vessel was repurposed numerous times, transitioning from a convict transport to a prison hulk, and finally to an exhibition ship.

Historical Highlights

  • 1790: Launched in Burma as an East India merchantman.
  • Early Service: Operated in the Bay of Bengal. Survived pirate capture and engagements with a French armed vessel.
  • 1802–1852: Repurposed as a convict transport for England-to-Australia voyages, Became infamous for its harsh conditions, symbolizing the cruelty of the penal system.
  • 1852–1885: Converted into a prison hulk and later used as a women’s prison and ammunition storehouse.
  • 1885: Maliciously scuttled in Sydney but salvaged and turned into a traveling museum.

Later Years:

  • Exhibited at ports worldwide, including the Great Lakes, as a museum ship showcasing its dramatic history.
  • July 4th (1919?): Sank near Port Clinton, Ohio. Stripped of valuable components, its demise remains shrouded in mystery.

Final Disposition:

The SUCCESS rests in 15 feet (4.6 meters) of water near Port Clinton, Ohio. Though scattered and degraded, the wreck remains a site of immense historical interest, attracting divers and historians intrigued by its multifaceted story.

Wreck Features:

  • Condition: The ship’s remains are scattered across the lakebed, with some parts likely buried under sediment.
  • Historical Value: While not well-preserved, the site offers a tangible connection to one of the Great Lakes’ most storied vessels.
  • Accessibility: Shallow depth makes the wreck easy to explore, particularly for recreational divers.

Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs):

No specific NOTMARs are related to the SUCCESS. Divers and boaters should exercise caution due to shallow waters and scattered debris.

Resources & Links:

Conclusion:

The SUCCESS is a remarkable shipwreck that transcends its physical remains to embody the history of maritime evolution, penal systems, and 19th-century exhibitions. With a story that spans six continents and over a century of service, the SUCCESS remains a unique draw for divers and historians. Its sinking in Lake Erie on Independence Day adds a symbolic end to a vessel that once represented both oppression and intrigue.

Tags:

#SUCCESS #LakeErie #ConvictShip #GreatLakes #Shipwrecks #MaritimeHistory #HistoricalShipwrecks #Schooner #UnderwaterExploration

successtype-24 1919-07-04 07:51:00