United States Coast Guard Photo

Identification & Site Information

  • Name: USCG Cable Boat 56022
  • Former Names: None
  • Registry: United States Coast Guard
  • Date Built and Launched: Unknown
  • Vessel Type: Military Utility / Cable Boat (converted WWII-era landing craft)
  • Date Lost: December 1, 1977
  • Coordinates:
  • 43° 17’48.0012” N, 77° 19’32.8188” W
  • Decimal: 43.296667° N, -77.325783° W
  • Location of Loss: ~1.125 miles north of Ontario-on-the-Lake, NY
  • Depth at Site: 21.3 metres (70 ft)
  • Condition: Upright on Stern, tilted 45 degrees, partially buried

Vessel Type

Converted WWII-Era Landing Craft / USCG Cable Laying Utility Boat

Description

USCG Cable Boat 56022 was a repurposed military landing craft used by the U.S. Coast Guard for underwater cable laying and maintenance operations on Lake Ontario. The vessel had an open Deck configuration suited for logistical utility, and by 1977 was actively being used in transit between Oswego and Niagara.

History

On December 1, 1977, the vessel encountered a severe winter storm with 50 mph winds and 6-foot waves while transiting from Oswego to Niagara. The open-Deck boat began taking on large volumes of water over the Gunwale, and the crew attempted to pump water out manually. Unable to stem the inflow, the crew contacted the Charlotte USCG Station. A lifeboat responded, but before a secure tow could be established, the tow line parted and the boat sank upright on its Stern, leaning at a 45-degree angle.

All three crew members were rescued, and no casualties occurred.

Final Dispositions

  • The vessel did not come fully to rest on the lake bottom.
  • 12 feet of the Stern settled into the bottom, forming an 8-foot scour pit caused by current action.
  • The wreck is entirely coated in Zebra Mussels, and bass congregate around the site, indicating its ecological impact.

Located By & Date Found

Discovered by renowned wreck explorers Jim Kennard and Dan Scoville, with assistance from eyewitness accounts provided by Bob Bristol and Tom Mulhall. They located the wreck using side-scan sonar and historical witness triangulation.

Kennard and Scoville are notable for their many wreck discoveries in the Great Lakes. The story of this discovery is featured in Kennard’s book, Shipwrecks of Lake Ontario – A Journey of Discovery.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Not currently listed in active USCG NOTMARs, though the site is charted and known to sonar explorers and divers. Mariners should still maintain awareness when operating in the Ontario-on-the-Lake area.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The USCG Cable Boat 56022 wreck is one of Lake Ontario’s more modern and dramatic shipwrecks, offering a visually compelling site due to its Stern-down orientation and intact structure. Its discovery showcases the dedication of wreck hunters like Kennard and Scoville and the enduring mysteries still hidden beneath the Great Lakes. It remains an important dive site for advanced divers and marine historians, and a testament to the service of U.S. Coast Guard operations in inland waters.

Keywords: USCG Cable Boat 56022, Lake Ontario Shipwreck, Nine Mile Point Wreck, Jim Kennard, Dan Scoville
Categories: Military Wrecks, Great Lakes Utility Boats, Modern Shipwrecks
Glossary Terms:

  • Gunwale: The upper edge of a ship’s side.
  • Scour Pit: A depression in the lakebed caused by water movement around a submerged object.
  • Tow Line Parting: The breaking of a rope used for towing, often due to wave strain or overloading.

Would you like a map showing this wreck in relation to other nearby shipwrecks for potential dive planning or research?