Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Violet G.
- Type: Wooden propeller-driven steam tug, used in fisheries or harbor services
- Year Built: 1917
- Builder: Rossport, Ontario
- Dimensions: 51 ft × 16 ft × 6 ft; 37 gross tons, 25 net tons
- Registered Tonnage: 37 gross tons, 25 net tons
- Location: Booth Dock, Port Arthur, Ontario
- Official Number: C138009
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type
Wooden propeller-driven steam tug, primarily used in fisheries or harbor services.
Description
Description
The Violet G. was a wooden tug built in 1917, measuring 51 feet in length and 16 feet in beam. It was registered at 37 gross tons and 25 net tons.
History
History
The tug was constructed in Rossport, Ontario, and served in various capacities until its loss in 1927.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- On Thursday, July 21, 1927, the tug Violet G. was moored at Booth Dock when the passenger-freight steamer America suddenly powered into the slip.
- The America crushed the stern of Violet G., tearing away a roughly 20-foot section of dock in the process.
- Fortunately, all three crew members onboard escaped without injury.
- Immediately following the collision, America ran aground on rocks at the head of the dock and required assistance to be refloated.
- The incident also damaged another tug (Con Lynch) and a lighthouse keeper’s gas launch.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
No fatalities or injuries were recorded. The tug was crushed beyond repair and struck from registry. No formal insurance or legal outcomes are documented in accessible sources.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility
As the vessel was crushed and likely removed or salvaged shortly afterward, no wreckage remains for diving. If any debris lies underwater, it’s probably broken and buried. No sonar or archaeological surveys have targeted this event; the site remains archival knowledge only.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”violet-g-c-138009″ title=”References & Links”]
Conclusion
The Violet G. was destroyed when the steamer America unexpectedly rammed the dock in Port Arthur, crushing the tug and parts of the dock but fortunately causing no injuries. Although a straightforward accident, the incident impacted local maritime operations and infrastructure. There’s no wreck to dive on, but the event is well-documented in period newspaper records and maritime registries.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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