Steel barge aka Carbide Barge
Wreck-plan-guided working interpretation
An interpretive 3D reconstruction of the vessel afloat, in the form named above and from before its loss in Thunder Bay. It is informed by the historical record set out under History below, where the documented evidence and the interpretation are kept apart; rigging, colours and fittings are partly inferred. It is not a survey of the wreck.
Nobody knows the exact spot where this ship went down, so the marker shows the general area.
Starboard bow · complete vessel · drag to rotate, scroll or pinch to zoom, right-drag to pan. Hiding a part shows what sat beneath it; it does not recreate the wreck.
What the model represents
From the model specification. Two lists, kept apart on purpose.
Documented
- NOAA identifies a steel deck barge with an aft pilothouse. NOAA vessel record
- Catalogue dimensions 60×30 ft differ from the site plan’s 31 ft beam. NOAA vessel record
Inferred
- Underwater hull lines and draft
- Exact colors, fittings, hatch layout and rigging routes
Configuration caveat. NOAA’s site plan and photos guide the rectangular deck, aft pilothouse, hatches and cleats. Identity, build and loss dates, original paint and propulsion are unknown. No engine, crane or carbide cargo is invented; the site plan gives a 31-foot beam versus 30 in the catalogue.
Two numbers that are not the same thing. The waterline toggle sits at 1.05 m above the keel, a display assumption, not a measured draft. The wreck lies in about 92 ft of water; that describes the site, not the ship.
Renders from the model
History, evidence and limits
The research notes behind the reconstruction, reproduced with their citations.
Version 1.1. Metadata and presentation revised September 8, 2026; original evidence review retained.
Selected appearance
Wreck-plan-guided working interpretation. NOAA’s site plan and photos guide the rectangular deck, aft pilothouse, hatches and cleats. Identity, build and loss dates, original paint and propulsion are unknown. No engine, crane or carbide cargo is invented; the site plan gives a 31-foot beam versus 30 in the catalogue.
Documented evidence
NOAA identifies a steel deck barge with an aft pilothouse. NOAA vessel record
Catalogue dimensions 60×30 ft differ from the site plan’s 31 ft beam. NOAA vessel record
Reasonable interpretation
Underwater hull lines and draft
Exact colors, fittings, hatch layout and rigging routes
Sources and use.
Unresolved uncertainties
No complete original lines plan is claimed. Exact loaded draft, concealed surfaces and fine fittings remain interpreted. The earlier research context below retains the source distinctions used for this reconstruction.
Evidence assessment: build a qualified interpretation. The evidence and comparisons below support a credible overall likeness. This is not an exact or authenticated as-built replica.
Documented baseline and source differences. NOAA identifies a steel deck barge of unknown identity, apparently from the middle twentieth century, with an aft pilothouse and no obvious fire or collision damage. It gives 60 × 30 ft; the inspected site plan labels 31 ft beam. No verified build date, loss date, cargo or propulsion is known.
Visual evidence and comparisons. The inspected NOAA archaeological plan shows a broad rectangular hull with low raked ends, mostly clear deck, several small access hatches, side cleats and a transverse aft pilothouse. The wreck photograph shows its low box-like cabin, openings and simple roof. This relatively intact evidence supports reconstruction despite the unknown name.
Reasonable interpretations and unresolved details. The package uses the catalogue’s 30-foot beam and treats the one-foot plan discrepancy as unresolved. Original hull depth, cabin glazing, doors, hatch cover construction and steel paint are modest interpretations. No rudder, propeller, steam funnel, cargo crane or chemical load is added. Carbide Barge remains a catalogue alias, not a proven cargo description. Hatch removal is for deck inspection, with simplified dark openings instead of invented interiors.
Visible qualification. NOAA’s site plan and photos guide the rectangular deck, aft pilothouse, hatches and cleats. Identity, build and loss dates, original paint and propulsion are unknown. No engine, crane or carbide cargo is invented; the site plan gives a 31-foot beam versus 30 in the catalogue.
Sources
Illustration conditions
Lake, shoreline, lighting and weather are artistic staging, not evidence of a specific historical voyage. AI artwork is supplemental; the GLB and direct renders establish the delivered geometry.
Sources used for the model
Rights and respect
Removing or disturbing wreckage on Great Lakes bottomlands is a felony under Michigan Part 761, 1994 PA 451, at a fair market value of $100 or more. Positions are historical reference only — not navigation and not dive-planning data. Wreck records are published by the Michigan Underwater Preserve Council.
Treat these as graves. Lives were lost on many Great Lakes wrecks and human remains may still be present. Look, photograph, and leave everything exactly as you found it.
Model and renders were newly made for this project (2026). Three.js r160.1 is used under the MIT licence; its notice ships with the vendored files. Wreck position, depth and dates: Michigan Underwater Preserve Council. The model specification (version 1.1, revised 2026-09-08) is published beside the assets (model-spec.json).