Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Turret Crown
- Type: Steel-hulled propeller, package & bulk freighter (turret ship)
- Year Built: 1895
- Builder: Wm. Doxford & Sons, Sunderland, England
- Dimensions: Length: 253 ft (77.1 m); Beam: 44 ft (13.4 m); Depth of hold: 19 ft (5.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 1,827 GT
- Location: Meldrum Point, North Side of Manitoulin Island, Lake Huron
- Official Number: C104273
- Original Owners: British-owned, later sold to Canadian interests in 1916
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Turret Crown was a steel-hulled “turret ship”, a rare and distinctive vessel type designed by William Doxford & Sons in Sunderland, England.
Description
Built in 1895, she was originally British-owned and later sold to Canadian interests in 1916. Turret ships were characterized by their rounded, inward-sloping hull sides, intended to improve stability in rough waters, reduce cargo capacity loss, and allow for lower tolls in canals based on width measurements. These ships were not widely built, and by the 1920s, they were largely outdated compared to modern freighters.
History
On November 2, 1924, the Turret Crown was sailing on Lake Huron when she encountered a severe snowstorm and gale. Near Meldrum Point on Manitoulin Island, she ran aground and stranded. Some reports suggest she may have been intentionally beached to prevent further damage. Over the winter of 1924–1925, storms battered her hull, breaking her up beyond repair. In 1925, the wreck was cut up and removed for scrap, ending her career.
Significant Incidents
- November 2, 1924: Ran aground during a severe snowstorm and gale.
- Winter 1924–1925: Sustained severe damage from storms.
- 1925: Wreck was cut up and removed for scrap.
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss after stranding. Severely damaged by winter storms, she was scrapped on-site in 1925. No known remains exist today, and no confirmed modern wreck site has been identified. Any remnants were likely removed during the scrapping process in 1925.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Meldrum Point, Manitoulin Island, has been the site of multiple shipwrecks, as its location in Lake Huron’s storm-prone waters made it a hazardous area for navigation. Turret ships were an unusual vessel design, and Turret Crown was one of the last to sail on the Great Lakes.
Resources & Links
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The Turret Crown was one of the few turret ships to operate on the Great Lakes, serving for nearly 30 years before she ran aground in a storm near Manitoulin Island in 1924. Despite attempts to save her, winter storms destroyed her hull, leading to her scrapping the following year. Today, no known remains exist, but her unique design and final wrecking make her a historically significant vessel in Great Lakes maritime history.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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