Gravel King (Wooden Sand‑Sucker, built 1915) – Thunder Bay Dump Site (Derelict ID No. 35)

Registry & Technical Specifications

• Built: 1915, Chatham, Ontario
• Type: Wooden Hull sand-sucker (industrial dredger)
• Dimensions: 84 × 25 ft; approx. 81.6 gross tons
• Registry Port: Chatham, ON
• Next Steps:
  • Submit request to Chatham–Kent Museum or Ontario Vessel Archives for registry documentation and builder info.
  • Confirm official registry identifiers (Deck/engine logs, serial numbers).

Archival Newspaper Research

Suggested search queries for regional papers such as Chatham Daily News, Windsor Star, and Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal:

• Launch & Construction: "Gravel King" sand sucker Chatham 1915 launched
• Operational Details: "Gravel King" Dredge Chatham harbor operations
• Disposition Event: "Gravel King" wreck Thunder Bay

These are likely to yield launch announcements, Dredge history, or dump-site mention during harbor expansions.

Dive‑Site Documentation & Context

• Located in 2004 sonar mapping and confirmed in 2007 ROV surveys as Derelict No. 35, the sand‑sucker forms part of the Thunder Bay “Ship Graveyard” preservation area (Academia).
• Sonar data show section outlines; acoustic logs indicate machinery features consistent with Dredge design (Academia).
• Wreck lies in moderately shallow water (20–50 ft), with expected preservation of wooden structure and dredging equipment.

Heritage Narrative Outline

Gravel King offers a compelling story across four thematic chapters:

• Birth in Chatham (1915) – Built during WWI-era industrial expansion to clean and deepen harbor channels.
• Operational Life – Served dredging functions in southwestern Ontario ports until likely decommissioned in the mid-20th century.
• Final Rest – Scuttled in Thunder Bay dump grounds alongside other obsolete workboats.
• Underwater Legacy – Now part of a protected cultural resource group, uniquely representing industrial maritime heritage.

5. Next Steps

• [ ] Registry request to Chatham archives for official records
• [ ] Archive search in regional newspapers using tracked keywords
• [ ] Dive & ROV data request to Thunder Bay NMS for ID No. 35 logs
• [ ] Draft final heritage profile to integrate registry, archival, and site data

Additional Context