DENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

  • Name: CANADA #2
  • Type: Towbarge
  • Official Number: C111911
  • Length: 96 feet (29.3 meters)
  • Beam: 18 feet (5.5 meters)
  • Tonnage: Gross – 107 tons; Net – 85 tons
  • Construction: Unknown builder and date; wooden Hull
  • Owner: Canada Ice Company
  • Location: Approximately three miles east of the entrance to Toronto Harbor, Lake Ontario
  • Coordinates: Not precisely recorded
  • Depth at Wreck Site: Unknown
  • Condition: Destroyed by storm; believed to be completely broken up by waves
  • Accessibility: Not accessible for diving, as the wreck is likely scattered or destroyed
  • Site Overview: The CANADA #2 was a towbarge used by the Canada Ice Company. The vessel encountered a severe storm in April 1902, leading to its loss. The Barge was cast off by the Tug towing it, and it eventually ran aground east of Toronto Harbor, where it was destroyed by the pounding waves.

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The CANADA #2 was a typical wooden towbarge, a type of vessel commonly used for transporting goods along the Great Lakes. These barges were often towed by tugboats and were vital in moving bulk materials. The CANADA #2 had a length of 96 feet and a beam of 18 feet, with a Gross Tonnage of 107 tons. The specific cargo it was carrying at the time of its loss remains unknown.

HISTORY
The construction details of the CANADA #2, including its builder and exact build date, are not documented. It was registered under the official number C111911 and was owned by the Canada Ice Company. The Barge was likely built or acquired from foreign sources around 1901, making it a relatively new vessel at the time of its loss.
FINAL DISPOSITION
In April 1902, the CANADA #2 encountered a severe storm while being towed on Lake Ontario, near Toronto. The Tug that was towing the Barge was forced to cast it off in large waves, leaving the Barge adrift. The Barge ran aground approximately three miles east of the entrance to Toronto Harbor. The pounding waves quickly broke the vessel apart, leaving it in pieces. The specific details regarding any cargo it may have been carrying or whether there was any loss of life are not available.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES
There are no active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the wreck of the CANADA #2, as the vessel was completely destroyed and its remains are likely scattered or unidentifiable.
LOCATED BY & DATE
The wreck of the CANADA #2 has not been located, and given the nature of its destruction, it is unlikely that any significant remains would be found.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY
The CANADA #2 was destroyed by the storm that led to its grounding. The wreck is not accessible to divers or researchers, as it was likely reduced to debris and scattered along the lakebed.

RESOURCES & LINKS

Keywords:
CANADA #2, towbarge, Lake Ontario shipwreck, Toronto Harbor wreck, 1902 storm, Great Lakes maritime history, Canada Ice Company, wooden Barge, lost vessels Ontario, Lake Ontario storms.