Shotline Diving

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Wreck 9 – Suspected Tug, Lock 21, Third Welland Canal, Thorold, ON

Explore the submerged remains of a suspected tug in Lock 21, a unique inland shipwreck with seasonal access during winter drawdowns.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Unknown
  • Type: Presumed canal tug or service craft
  • Year Built: Unknown
  • Builder: Unknown
  • Dimensions: Length ~25 m (82 ft); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: Unknown
  • Location: Lock 21, Third Welland Canal, Thorold, Ontario
  • Coordinates: 43.129281, -79.186912
  • Official Number: Unknown
  • Original Owners: Unknown – suspected canal authority or contractor usage
  • Number of Masts: Not visible in known photo

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Presumed canal tug or service craft.

Description

This vessel, located in the basin of Lock 21, may have served a vital support role in the operation or maintenance of the Third Welland Canal system. A rare photo from the early 1930s shows the vessel afloat within the lock chamber, still upright and operational.

Lock 21 itself is a notable historic structure within the Thorold area canal heritage corridor. The wreck’s continued presence in the lock suggests it was either scuttled in place or abandoned when the lock was decommissioned.

History

This vessel, located in the basin of Lock 21, may have served a vital support role in the operation or maintenance of the Third Welland Canal system. A rare photo from the early 1930s shows the vessel afloat within the lock chamber, still upright and operational.

Lock 21 itself is a notable historic structure within the Thorold area canal heritage corridor. The wreck’s continued presence in the lock suggests it was either scuttled in place or abandoned when the lock was decommissioned.

Significant Incidents

  • Casualties: None documented.

Final Disposition

Sometime after the early 1930s, the vessel was likely abandoned, possibly as part of the decommissioning of the lock. Its condition is unknown; it is presumed to be sunken and partially intact, rarely exposed.

Diving Status: Non-divable under normal conditions – seasonal access during maintenance drawdowns or freeze periods only.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is submerged and its current condition is uncertain. Historic photos from the early 1930s show the vessel intact and floating in the lock.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”wreck-9-suspected-tug-lock-21-third-welland-canal-thorold-on” title=”References & Links”]

Call to the Community: Know more about tug operations on the Third Canal? Or have winter access photos of Lock 21? Help us document this cold-case canal wreck and preserve its legacy.

Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record

This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.

  • Coordinates: 43.129281, -79.186912
  • Depth Range: Seasonally exposed (flooded lock chamber)
  • Estimated Length: ~25 m (82 ft)
  • Casualties: None documented
  • Site Location: Lock 21, Third Welland Canal, Thorold, Ontario
  • Access: Seasonal only – site lies in a flooded lock basin; accessible during winter drawdown

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Wreck Name: Unknown
  • Common Name: “Lock 21 Tug”
  • Vessel Type: Presumed canal tug or service craft
  • Site Context: Within Lock 21 of the Third Welland Canal. This section of canal has been flooded but occasionally drained in winter, allowing rare access to the wreck
  • Visibility: Historic photo from early 1930s shows intact vessel floating in lock; current condition submerged and uncertain

Note: This is one of the most unique inland shipwrecks of the Welland system due to its preservation in a lock chamber.

CONSTRUCTION & OWNERSHIP

  • Material: Likely steel or composite wood-steel
  • Estimated Length: ~25 m (82 ft)
  • Builder: Unknown
  • Year Built: Unknown
  • Owner: Unknown – suspected canal authority or contractor usage

PROPULSION

  • Power: Presumed steam or diesel engine
  • Engine & Masts: Not visible in known photo, though tug configuration suggests internal propulsion

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

This vessel, located in the basin of Lock 21, may have served a vital support role in the operation or maintenance of the Third Welland Canal system. A rare photo from the early 1930s shows the vessel afloat within the lock chamber, still upright and operational.

Lock 21 itself is a notable historic structure within the Thorold area canal heritage corridor. The wreck’s continued presence in the lock suggests it was either scuttled in place or abandoned when the lock was decommissioned.

FINAL DISPOSITION

  • Date of Abandonment: Sometime after early 1930s
  • How: Unknown – possibly abandoned as part of decommissioning
  • Condition: Unknown; presumed sunken and partially intact; rarely exposed
  • Diving Status: Non-divable under normal conditions – seasonal access during maintenance drawdowns or freeze periods only

REFERENCES & LINKS

Call to the Community: Know more about tug operations on the Third Canal? Or have winter access photos of Lock 21? Help us document this cold-case canal wreck and preserve its legacy.

wreck-9-suspected-tug-lock-21-third-welland-canal-thorold-on 1955-04-25 00:58:00