1927 Sand Merchant 1936
Steel St. Lawrence River canal size sand dredge
Built at Collingwood ON by Collingwood Shipbuilding Co., Hull79
Keel laid April 28, 1927; launched Aug 27, 1927
261’ LOA, 253’ LBP, 43’6” beam, 20’ depth
1 deck, coal-fired boilers, triple expansion engine, 900 IHP
Enrolled at Montreal QC
252.0 x 43.5 x 17.5, 1981 GT, 752 NT Can 153443 to:
Interlake Transportation Co., Montreal QC (home port Montreal QC)
Entered service Sept 1927
Foundered Oct 17, 1936 off Avon Point, Lake Erie. 19 lost of 26 aboard (18 crew plus the wife of the mate). Loaded with lake sand bound for Cleveland OH, in heavy sea, water shipped into the open cargo holds faster than the pumps could discharge it. Sank 13 ½ miles from her destination.
See history in Scanner Jan 1977 (#62)
Also in Great Lakes Ships We Remember p. 348
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