Identification & Site Information

Vessel Type

Steel propeller-powered Tug, originally built as SCOCONY 23, repurposed and renamed – served towing and harbour duties on Lake Erie.

Description

KILLARNEY was a robust steel-hulled Tug, 27.7 m (91 ft) long, known for towing barges and general support tasks. Its steel design and propeller propulsion marked mid‑century Tug technology, contrasting earlier wooden Tug designs of previous eras.

History

Commissioned in 1929, SCOCONY 23 was constructed for heavy towing and assistance work. In 1960, it was renamed BRUCE A. McALLISTER, and later received the name KILLARNEY in 1974 after acquisition by Gaelic Tug. Serving primarily on Lake Erie, she performed routine Tug duties until September 1974. On 12 September, while operating near Southeast Shoal, she Foundered—likely due to Hull failure or flooding in rough autumn weather—and sank without casualties. Her final resting spot lies in deep water, miles off the shore of Ohio, approximately 55 miles east of Southeast Shoal (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).

Final Disposition

The wreck lies in Lake Erie’s deep eastern basin. Her steel Hull now rests in deep waters and is considered a submerged wreck site inaccessible by typical recreational diving.

Located By & Date Found

No official discovery or survey recorded in the databases. The wreck likely remains unconfirmed in position beyond its general foundering area—no published coordinates available.

Notations & Advisories

  • No hazard markings or navigation concerns reported.
  • Because she sank a significant distance offshore, KILLARNEY is not indicated on standard navigation charts and poses no known obstruction risk.

Resources & Links

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (K entry), detailed registry of KILLARNEY: (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
  • MSU Great Lakes Shipwreck database confirming date and fate: 

Conclusion

KILLARNEY, a steel-hulled Tug built in 1929, ended her service when she Foundered in Lake Erie’s deep basin on 12 September 1974. Despite her relatively recent sinking and loss of life avoided, her exact resting place remains inadequately documented—an offshore wreck accessible only to expert deep-water survey teams. She represents an important example of mid-century Tugboat engineering and serves as a poignant artifact of Lake Erie’s maritime heritage.

Keywords & Categories: Killarney, Tugboat, Lake Erie, Gaelic Tug, steel tugwreck, 1974 shipping loss, deepwater wreck.

Glossary terms: Foundered (sank due to flooding), GT (Gross Tonnage), NT (Net Tonnage), propeller Tug, Southeast Shoal.

Shore Dive Information:
Not applicable – wreck rests offshore in deep water, not accessible via shore entry.