1. IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
This site represents the remains of a large steel vessel wreck, widely believed to be the hull of a former U.S. Navy Landing Ship, Tank (LST), lost post–World War II while under civilian tow. The wreck lies along the Lake Erie shoreline near Portland, New York, below eroding cliffs adjacent to former farmland.
The vessel is unidentified by hull number at this time. No official wartime loss is associated with the site. Physical characteristics and historical context strongly support identification as a surplus LST hull rather than a commercial freighter or barge.
Approximate coordinates reported for the site are 42°24′26.32″ N, 79°27′48.85″ W. Water depth varies with lake level and shoreline conditions; remaining structure is primarily at or just below the waterline.
Access is shoreline-based. Visibility and exposure are highly dependent on Lake Erie conditions.
2. CONSTRUCTION & OWNERSHIP
The vessel is believed to have been constructed as a Landing Ship, Tank (LST) during World War II, a class of flat-bottomed, broad-beam steel ships designed for amphibious operations.
- Vessel Type: Landing Ship, Tank (probable)
- Builder: Details not yet confirmed
- Year Built: Likely 1942–1945
- Place of Build: United States (wartime naval yard)
- Ownership at Time of Loss: Civilian (former U.S. Navy surplus)
Following the war, numerous LSTs were decommissioned, struck from naval records, and sold into civilian service for conversion or scrapping. This hull appears to fall within that post-war surplus group.
3. POWER & MACHINERY
Details of installed machinery are not confirmed. At the time of loss, the vessel was reportedly without active propulsion and being moved under tow, consistent with surplus LST disposal practices.
Any original engines, shafts, or auxiliary machinery were likely removed during post-grounding salvage operations.
4. SERVICE HISTORY
The vessel almost certainly served in U.S. Navy service during World War II, though no specific operations or theaters have yet been linked to this hull.
After decommissioning, the vessel entered civilian ownership and was being transported on the Great Lakes, reportedly bound for Detroit or another industrial port, possibly for conversion or dismantling.
5. LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES
The wreck is believed to have occurred in the late 1940s, during a civilian tow on Lake Erie. According to consistent oral history, the towline failed during adverse conditions, leaving the powerless hull adrift.
The vessel subsequently grounded along the Lake Erie shoreline near Portland, New York, where wave action and prevailing winds drove it firmly against the cliffs. No casualties are known or reported.
6. DISCOVERY, OUTCOME & LATER HISTORY
The grounding was reportedly followed by a salvage and scrapping operation, during which the vessel was cut down to or near the waterline. This explains the absence of superstructure and the limited amount of hull fabric visible today.
Because the vessel was no longer in naval service and may not have been formally registered as a merchant ship, the loss does not appear in standard Navy casualty records or many Great Lakes shipwreck indexes.
The remaining structure constitutes an in-situ archaeological resource.
7. WRECK DESCRIPTION & DIVE CONDITIONS
The wreck consists of low-profile steel hull remains, heavily reduced by salvage. Surviving elements suggest:
- Flat-bottomed construction
- Broad beam
- Heavy plating consistent with military standards
- Minimal curvature compared to commercial lake freighters
Depth is shallow and variable. Conditions are subject to surge, reduced visibility, seasonal ice damage, and entanglement hazards from modern debris.
All documentation should follow no-touch, no-disturbance practices. Artifact removal is illegal without permits. Divers are encouraged to “leave only bubbles, take only memories,” and remove only modern garbage where appropriate.
8. REFERENCES & LINKS
For detailed references and supporting documents, see the References & Links section on this page.
Shotline Diving Site Profile
Name: Unidentified Former LST Hull
Other Names: Ex-U.S. Navy Landing Ship (probable)
Official Number: Unknown
Registry: Former U.S. Navy (post-war civilian at time of loss)
Vessel Type: Landing Ship, Tank (probable)
Builder: Not yet confirmed
Year Built: c. 1942–1945
Dimensions: Not yet confirmed (consistent with LST class)
Tonnage: Not yet confirmed
Cargo on Final Voyage: None reported (under tow)
Date of Loss: Late 1940s (exact date not yet confirmed)
Location: Lake Erie, near Portland, New York
Coordinates: 42°24′26.32″ N, 79°27′48.85″ W
Depth: Shallow / shoreline
Home Port: Not applicable
Owners: Civilian owner (post-war surplus)
Crew: None reported
Casualties: None known
Shotline Diving Site Profile