Identification & Site Information
- Vessel Name: Ohio
- Official Number: USCG #208153 (Great Lakes Towing Company) (tugboatinformation.com, project.geo.msu.edu)
- Type: Steel, single‑screw propeller Tug (1,230 hp, diesel-converted in 1951) (tugboatinformation.com)
- Builder & Launch: Originally built in 1903 as the Milwaukee fireboat M.F.D. No. 15; purchased and converted by GLT in Cleveland in 1952; renamed Ohio c. 1973 (Great Lakes Tugs & Workboats)
- Date of Loss: 14 June 1954
- Location: Dock at Kelley’s Island, Lake Erie
- Owner & Operator: The Great Lakes Towing Company, Cleveland, OH; worked with the Steamer William F. White (alcheminc.com, nmgl.org)
Vessel Specifications
- Length: ~71 ft; Beam: ~20 ft; Depth: 12–13 ft
- Gross Tonnage: 112 gt; Net Tonnage: 61 nt (tugboatinformation.com)
- Machinery: Single Cleveland 12‑278A diesel engine, ~1,230 hp (converted in 1951) (tugboatinformation.com)
Incident Overview
- Circumstances: While maneuvering the Steamer William F. White in high winds, the Tug Ohio was crushed against a pier at Kelley’s Island by the Steamer swinging out of control (alcheminc.com)
- Cause: Collision rather than grounding—mechanical failure due to weather combined with escort maneuvering in strong wind conditions.
- Casualties: None reported. No crew members were lost.
Final Disposition
- The Tug was crushed beyond repair and subsequently scrapped later in 1954. (tugboatinformation.com)
Wreck Status & Dive Potential
- Location: At a dock; not a wreck on the bottom. The vessel did not sink underwater—wreck status moot.
- Site Condition: Scrapped post-incident; no underwater remains.
Context & Significance
- The Ohio was a long-serving Tug built from a fireboat turned lake Tug, representative of early diesel conversions on Great Lakes tugs. It operated extensively under GLT until a weather-driven collision ended her career in 1954.
- The incident reflects risks in harbor towing operations, especially during strong winds coupling with large tows.
Notices & Official Records
- No specific Notices to Mariners found—common for non-navigational losses at dock.
- Incident is documented in Swayze’s Great Lakes Shipwreck File and marine loss records as: “Ohio(Tug), 14‑Jun‑1954, collision, none”_ (Great Lakes Tugs & Workboats, nmgl.org, project.geo.msu.edu)
Research Gaps & Suggested Further Work
- GLT internal logs or accident reports, mid-1954: May document crew actions, damage assessment, or insurance claim.
- Local newspapers from June 1954 (Cleveland, Marion Island): Likely contain reports on the event, property damage, salvage decisions.
- Company archives or USCG casualty files: For more precise collision details and vessel disposition formalities.
Resources & References
- Great Lakes Towing / National Museum of the Great Lakes: background on the Tug Ohio and GLT fleet history (nmgl.org)
- Tugboat Information database entry for Ohio (1910‑1954) (tugboatinformation.com)
- Lake Erie Shipwreck Map & Index citing Tug loss “Ohio: crushed dock, collision none” (alcheminc.com)
Keywords & Categories
Great Lakes Tug, Harvard towing accident, dock collision, GLT vessel, Lake Erie, 1954, diesel Tug loss.
Summary
The steel Tug Ohio, built in 1903 and operated by Great Lakes Towing Company, was lost on 14 June 1954 when she was crushed between the Steamer William F. White and a pier at Kelley’s Island, during high-wind maneuvering. No fatalities occurred. The vessel was declared a Total Loss and scrapped later that year. Although not sunk underwater, her loss is recorded in modern loss lists as a significant Tug-accident case. Let me know if you’d like assistance accessing period Tug logs, salvage or local press archives to enrich this profile.