The United Nations has estimated that there are over three million shipwrecks on the ocean floor – and more littering the bottom of the world’s bodies of fresh water, including the Great Lakes. Most of these have yet to be discovered, even though new finds are constantly turning up. Among the newest discoveries is the wreck of the Roberval, which was lost in the early twentieth century.
The Roberval
Built in Toronto in 1907 and measuring 128 feet long, the Canadian transport steamer Roberval was a steel cargo ship which foundered on September 25th of 1916 after being struck by a rogue wave. At the time of the accident, the ship was carrying a load of lumber which was to be made into match boxes and matchsticks by the Diamond Match Company located in Oswego. After departing Cape Vincent and heading across Lake Ontario, the Roberval encountered winds in excess of thirty miles per hour and waves higher than eight feet. The Roberval’s load of lumber acted as a sail, and its weight made navigation difficult for the crew, who slowly lost control as wave action increased.
After waves smashed through the galley window and mangled the superstructure, the ship began to flood and started to sink stern-first. The crew struggled for their lives; some made it onto lifeboats, others held onto lumber that had come loose as the ship capsized. A young deckhand named Leroy could be seen still inside the ship as it sank; his cries for help could not be heard above the sound of the raging storm. By the time the Coast Guard arrived a day later, only seven people remained alive – and the Roberval had long since sunk to her final resting place, nearly 300 feet beneath the chilly surface of Lake Ontario.
For decades, people searched for the wreck, which was one of only two sunken steel-clad ships remaining undiscovered. Efforts intensified as technology improved, seemingly to no avail. That changed in late Autumn of 2013, when wreck hunter Jim Kennard and his partners decided to make only last sweep of Lake Ontario’s bottom with their sonar before wrapping up their annual shipwreck hunting efforts for the winter. After locating a wreck about 25 kilometers from Oswego, they deployed a remotely operated vehicle to capture footage, and were thrilled to discover that details captured on film matched those of images taken of the Roberval shortly after she was built.
Today, the wreck of the Roberval awaits technical divers who will certainly arrive once summer comes to Lake Ontario. She sits in an upright position with her starboard side eroding. At the bow, an area of raised deck can be seen in images, along with a large windlass and a smaller windlass; the ship’s mast is broken and lies partially across the port rail. A pair of bollards are visible on the raised deck at the stern, and the remnants of iron rail posts can be seen in some places.
The deep waters of Lake Ontario are cold, but they are clear. The wreck of the Roberval is certain to delight the first divers who visit, just as it has brought excitement to shipwreck hunters everywhere. A silent reminder of the frailty of life and the power of nature, this amazing wreck is sure to reveal some interesting secrets when that first dive does happen.