Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: Eastcliffe Hall
• Type: Steel-hulled propeller bulk freighter
• Year Built: 1954
• Builder: Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal, Quebec
• Gross Tonnage: 3,335 tons
• Length: 343.3 feet (104.6 metres)
• Beam: 43.7 feet (13.3 metres)
• Depth: 22.7 feet (6.9 metres)
• Propulsion: Steam turbine, single screw
• Owner at Loss: Hall Corporation of Canada
• Final Location: Chrysler Shoal, St. Lawrence River, near Crystal Shoal
• Coordinates: N44° 55.4630’, W75° 06.0270’
• Depth of Wreck: 65 feet (19.8 metres)
• Date of Loss: 14 July 1970

Vessel Type Description

The Eastcliffe Hall was a modern steel-hulled propeller-driven lake freighter purpose-built for bulk cargo transport, commonly iron ore, Pig Iron, and grain. Her construction represented mid-century advances in Canadian Great Lakes shipbuilding, with a robust Hull, watertight compartments, and relatively advanced navigation aids for her day.

History

Launched in 1954, the Eastcliffe Hall entered service as part of the Hall Corporation of Canada’s growing fleet, replacing older wooden and riveted-Hull ships. Throughout her career she mainly carried iron-based commodities between Quebec, Ontario, and the American lakeshore.

By the 1960s she had gained a reputation for reliability despite occasional groundings and minor incidents. In total, she successfully completed hundreds of voyages through the busy St. Lawrence Seaway system before her tragic final run.

Final Voyage & Incident

On 14 July 1970, the Eastcliffe Hall departed Quebec with approximately 4,000 tons of Pig Iron, bound for Cleveland. Under Captain Albert Groulx, the vessel entered the St. Lawrence Seaway. Records show the vessel drifted roughly 100 feet off the designated channel near Chrysler Shoal, possibly due to a combination of navigational error and impaired command.

Witness testimony from surviving crew indicated Captain Groulx had been drinking earlier that day. A provincial police dive team and Board of Transport investigators confirmed the ship first struck a rock formation, refloated for roughly 40 minutes, then grounded again on a second submerged ledge. Massive Hull breaches allowed water to flood the holds, and the Eastcliffe Hall sank in just three minutes.

Casualties & Rescue

Nine people died in the sinking:

• Captain Albert Groulx
• Alain Groulx (his son)
• Chief Engineer William Demers
• Jacqueline Demers (wife of William)
• Natalie Demers (daughter of William, aged 12)
• Four additional crew members

Survivors were pulled from the river by the Provincial Police and local fishermen who responded to distress signals. First Mate Julien Marchand survived by clinging to floating debris, and later gave crucial testimony.

Crew Interviews

In testimony collected by the Board of Transport Commissioners and retold by local newspapers, survivors described chaotic scenes:

• A sudden list to starboard as the Hull opened
• Cargo shifting, making escape routes nearly impassable
• A “thunderous noise” of rushing water
• Captain Groulx seen shouting orders to abandon ship while trying to free a jammed lifeboat

Julien Marchand recalled:

“There was nothing we could do. She was gone so fast, the lights were still burning underwater as she slid below.”

Board of Transport Finding

The Board’s 1971 report concluded:

• The captain’s alcohol consumption directly contributed to loss of situational awareness
• Failure to properly plot the course after the first grounding
• Outdated charts and worn channel markers near Chrysler Shoal worsened the risk
• The Pig Iron cargo exacerbated flooding once the Hull was breached

They recommended stricter sobriety rules for Great Lakes shipping captains and renewed investment in Seaway navigation aids.

Dive Site Experience

• Skill Level: Intermediate to advanced divers
• Conditions: Moderate current, occasional thermocline below 50 feet
• Visibility: Typically 15–25 feet (5–8 metres) in summer, can reach 30 feet (9 metres) in autumn
• Hazards: Sharp edges of the Hull, occasional fishing lines or netting, unpredictable current
• Key Features: The Hull is largely intact, scattered Deck equipment, winches, and bits of cargo can be seen
• Memorial Aspect: Divers often place flags or markers at the wreck site to honour the victims

Seasonal Dive Conditions

Spring (May–June):

• Cool water temperatures (6–10°C)
• Visibility generally better before algae bloom
• Stronger current due to Seaway water releases

Summer (July–August):

• Warmer temperatures (15–18°C)
• Moderate Visibility (5–8 metres)
• Occasional boat traffic nearby

Autumn (September–October):

• Cooler water (10–14°C)
• Often best Visibility (8–9 metres)
• Reduced current

Winter (November–March):

• Usually inaccessible due to ice and dangerous currents

Current Condition & Accessibility

The Eastcliffe Hall lies upright on a relatively even Keel in 19.8 metres (65 feet) of water. Her upper structures collapsed slightly over time, but the cargo holds and much of the machinery remain visible. Some superstructure damage has increased since the 1980s, but the wreck is still very recognizable.

Local dive charters often visit the wreck from Cornwall or Prescott.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No current Notices to Mariners officially list the Eastcliffe Hall as a hazard, though caution is urged for dive boats anchoring near Chrysler Shoal.

Resources & Links

• Save Ontario Shipwrecks
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Research
• Cornwall Dive Sites Guide
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File (archival reference)
• Alamy stock photo: Bow section of Eastcliffe Hall in situ underwater (alamy.com)
• Flickr / Bruce Drope: Historical shot of the ship pre-loss (flickr.com)
• St. Lawrence University Archives (Robert D. Graham collection): Includes early pen-and-ink drawing and memorabilia from someone who sailed aboard in the 1950s (library.stlawu.edu)
• Shipfax blog gallery: Pre-loss image under grain-leg loading in July 1970 (shipfax.blogspot.com)
• YouTube – Eastcliffe Hall Shipwreck: Classic diver footage offering wide-angle surveying of the wreck site (youtube.com)
• YouTube – Scooter Dive: Team dives using scooters for penetration exploration (youtube.com)
• Vimeo (Floatingby): Creative‑Commons video by Martin Leblanc featuring narrative dive tour (floatingby.com)
• Wikipedia – Eastcliffe Hall: Detailed account of the ship’s build, lengthening, last voyage, intoxication findings, and legal inquiry (en.wikipedia.org)
• Ottawa Scuba Diving blog: Summarises the sinking with cargo and survivor count (sharkyscuba.com)
• Cornwall Community Museum: Contextualizes the tragedy between Cornwall and Chrysler shoals, rescue and bodies, and eventual site clearing (cornwallcommunitymuseum.wordpress.com)
• ShipwreckWorld site with map & GPS: Exact wreck coordinates and dive site depth summary (shipwreckworld.com)
• Shipfax blog: Operational history, Rebuild, final cargo run, sinking details (shipfax.blogspot.com)
• Board of Transport and USCG Report (via Wikipedia): Formal inquiry findings, including the captain’s intoxicating blood alcohol level (0.36%) and responsibility conclusions (en.wikipedia.org)
• ShipwreckWorld & O2ToGo Dive Centre: Notes on penetration routes, current conditions, and dive hazards (o2togo.ca)
• Facebook groups & dive forums: Mentions of Eastcliffe Hall as part of local dive events and social posts (facebook.com)
• Phys.org article: Places Eastcliffe Hall among the largest wrecks in the St. Lawrence River’s inventory (phys.org)
  

Conclusion

The Eastcliffe Hall remains one of the St. Lawrence Seaway’s most significant maritime losses. The combination of human error, poor navigation, and a shifting riverbed led to tragedy. Today, the site serves both as a haunting memorial and a vibrant dive site where divers can learn from the past while experiencing the raw power of nature and the legacy of Great Lakes shipping.

Keywords

Eastcliffe Hall, St. Lawrence River, Chrysler Shoal, 1970 shipwreck, Great Lakes freighter, Pig Iron cargo, Canadian Vickers, maritime disaster, underwater cultural heritage, diving site, Board of Transport Canada