Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Surveyor (tug) and Dixie (dredge barge)
- Type: Tugboat and unrigged dredge scow/barge
- Year Built: 1941
- Builder:
- Dimensions: 88 ft (26.82 m) X 28 ft (8.53 m) X 7 ft (2.13 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 152 GRT / 152 NRT
- Depth at Wreck Site: 13 m / 43 ft
- Location: 3.8 miles east of the Ashtabula East Breakwater Light
- Official Number: 175285
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
- Surveyor: Tugboat (exact hull material not specified) tasked with towing and barge operations
- Dixie: Unrigged dredge scow/barge built in 1941, 88 × 28 × 7 ft, 152 GRT/152 NRT
Description
- Surveyor: Functioned as a towing vessel; lost with Dixie during inclement weather—specific specs undocumented
- Dixie: Typical 1940s dredge barge; used for material transport, not self-propelled
History
- 4 Dec 1964: A severe Lake Erie storm separated Surveyor from the tug Superior, leading to Surveyor and Dixie foundering
- Post-Loss: The Coast Guard monitored the barge before it capsized and sank
- Discovery: No earlier record; wreck position known since at least the loss timeframe
Significant Incidents
- Surveyor and Dixie foundered during a storm on Lake Erie.
Final Disposition
Both vessels were fully lost. The barge stands upright on the lake bottom in moderate depth, partially intact.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck lies outside navigational channels, with no modern hazards reported.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”surveryor-and-dixie-us-175285″ title=”References & Links”]
The sinking of Surveyor and Dixie in a fierce Lake Erie storm exemplifies mid-century navigation risks even for close-to-shore operations. The loss in shallow water made the wreck accessible to diver survey but posed minimal navigational danger. Today, the site stands as a snapshot of Great Lakes workboat history.
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Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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