Identification Card (Site Style)
Other Names: None known
Official Number: [To be determined]
Registry: Canada
Vessel Type: Tug (single screw, presumed)
Builder: [Unknown]
Year Built: [Unknown, likely mid-20th century]
Dimensions: Length: [TBD]; Beam: [TBD]; Draft: [TBD]
Tonnage: Not recorded
Hull Material: Steel (presumed)
Cargo on Final Voyage: None
Date of Loss: [Unknown, presumed mid-20th century]
Location: Off Point aux Pins, Ontario, western Lake Erie
Coordinates: Not precisely known
Depth: Unknown
Home Port: [Unknown]
Owners: Original and subsequent owners unknown
Crew: Not recorded
Casualties: Not recorded
Description
The W.M. Sandi-Pat was a Canadian steel-hulled Tug, believed to have operated in Lake Erie’s western basin. Her name suggests a personal or family naming tradition common to smaller tugs and workboats of the era. While details of her dimensions and propulsion are scarce, she was almost certainly diesel-powered, with a design suited for short-haul towing, harbor duties, and shoreline support work.
History
Service details for the Sandi-Pat remain elusive. Oral tradition and limited archival references suggest she was active in the Point aux Pins area, a region long recognized for shoaling, strong westerlies, and sudden squalls that have claimed multiple vessels. At some point in the mid-20th century, the Tug reportedly Foundered off Point aux Pins. No official casualty lists or insurance claims have yet been located.
Final Disposition
The Tug is believed to have been lost near Point aux Pins, Ontario, but her wreck site has not been confirmed or charted. The vessel is not a recognized dive site, and no known salvage or recovery was reported.
Located By & Date Found
No verified discovery. The wreck is listed as a possible unlocated loss. Further archival and hydrographic research is needed to confirm her fate and resting place.
NOTMARs & Advisories
No Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are associated with this wreck. Unknown wreck status; caution advised in Point aux Pins shoal areas generally.
Dive Information
Access: Not a known dive site
Entry Point: N/A
Conditions: Unknown
Depth Range: Unknown
Emergency Contacts: Canadian Coast Guard – Central and Arctic Region
Permits: Required for any survey under Ontario heritage law
Dive Support: N/A
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No casualties confirmed; no memorials identified. Further research in Essex County archives may clarify crew records.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“Reports suggest the W.M. Sandi-Pat Foundered off Point aux Pins, Ontario. Confirmation of her wreck site has not been made.” — Local oral histories (Essex County, Ontario).
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Registry Number not yet identified. Further research required in Canadian vessel registers, Ontario Archives, and Lloyd’s casualty lists.
Site Documentation & Imaging
No site documentation or underwater imaging available. Wreck status unconfirmed. Potential lead site for future survey work in the Point aux Pins sector.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Ontario Archives – Vessel Loss Registers
- Canadian Coast Guard – Wrecks & Hazards Reports
- Local Oral Histories: Essex County & Western Lake Erie
References
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes – general Tugboat references.
- Ontario Archives, Essex County maritime files (to be consulted).
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None
Official Number: TBD
Coordinates: Unknown (off Point aux Pins, Ontario)
Depth: Unknown
Location Description: Reported loss near Point aux Pins, Ontario, Lake Erie
Vessel Type: Tug (single screw, presumed)
Material: Steel (presumed)
Dimensions: Length, beam, Draft not recorded
Tonnage: Unknown
Condition: Wreck status unconfirmed; site not located
Cause of Loss: Foundered (reported)
Discovery Date: Not applicable
Discovered By: N/A
Method: N/A
Legal Notes: Registry presumed closed post-loss
Hazards: Unknown
Permits Required: Yes, under Ontario heritage regulations for survey