Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Unknown 11
• Type: Dipper dredge
• Year Built:
• Builder: Not known; likely regionally built
• Dimensions: Approximately 72 ft (22 m) long × 28 ft wide
• Registered Tonnage:
• Depth at Wreck Site: 10 m / 33 ft
• Location: Thunder Bay "dumping grounds," Lake Superior

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Dipper dredge (mechanical excavating vessel)

Description

The Unknown 11 dipper dredge is a wooden vessel, approximately 72 feet long and 28 feet wide. It was constructed likely in the 19th or early 20th century, although the exact date remains undetermined.

History

This dredge was part of the 1936 harbor clearance operation in Thunder Bay, where it was intentionally scuttled after being stripped of machinery and superstructure. Its sinking was part of a larger effort to manage derelict vessels in the area.

Significant Incidents

• Intentionally scuttled as part of a harbor clearance operation in 1936.

Final Disposition

The vessel remains largely intact, submerged in the Thunder Bay dumping grounds, with its hull preserved but stripped of machinery. It serves as a significant artifact of industrial maritime heritage.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is in cold, low-silt conditions, which may help preserve submerged timbers and structural members. The hull is largely intact, exhibiting distinctive features such as a flat barge-like hull and foundations for cranes or booms.

Resources & Links

The Unknown 11 dipper dredge offers a unique opportunity for researchers to study the evolution of dredging technology and harbor development on Lake Superior, highlighting the importance of documenting such industrial artifacts.