US Coast Guard Boat 56022

Coordinates as of 2025: 43° 17.8' N, 77° 19.547' W
Coordinates as of 2004: 43° 17.8' N, 77° 19.197' W
Depth: 77 Feet In Use: 1942-1977
Cause of Loss: Storm Date of Loss: December 1, 1977
Boat Specifications: 56 Feet long,
converted landing craft (LCM), cable boat
Loss of life: None

Image of USCG 56022. Courtesy of the Historical Collection of the Great Lakes, Bowling Green State University.

US Coast Guard
Boat 56022

Image of USCG 56022. Courtesy of the Historical Collection of the Great Lakes, Bowling Green State University.

3D Model

United States Coast Guard Boat 56022 (TEST) by ssa1459 on Sketchfab

History

While en route from Oswego to Niagara, US Coast Guard 56022 (USCG 56022) sank in a storm on December 1, 1977 sank several miles east of the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Plant, off the shore of Ontario, NY. A converted landing craft, the cable boat's small size, heavy load, and open deck made it vulnerable to turbulent weather, allowing large amounts of water to flow over the gunwale. The three man crew, unable to pump out the water, contacted the Charlotte Coast Guard station, which dispatched a motor boat to rescue the crew. After safely recovering the crew, the rescue boat attempted to tow USCG 56022 back to shore, however the craft's extreme port-side list combined with approximately six foot waves caused the boat to sink. Due to an uneven weight distribution concentrated towards the stern, amplified by the excess water, the USCG 56022 sank upright, coming to rest at a 45°, bow side up. Over time, the stern has descended 12 feet into the mud of Lake Ontario.

Search

The next day, a team began searching for the sunken boat. The team included Tom Mulhall and Bob Bristol, the latter of whom had seen the sinking ship from his residence on the shore. Although the Coast Guard stated USCG 56022 was salvaged and returned to service, notable shipwreck hunter Dan Scoville discovered the craft in 2004.In 2014, Scoville stated an 8-foot crater surrounded the wreck, however as of 2025 the craters size, as well as the boat's location have appeared to change, perhaps due to the currents. The boat, fully covered in Quagga Mussels, is mostly intact, and the hull number is visible.

Significance

USCG 56022 is reportedly one of two known military crafts within the eastern area of Lake Ontario, the second being a U.S. Army Air Force C-45 Expeditor. This, combined with the boat's location in 77 foot water poses an excellent opportunity for recreational divers. In 2021 the Wayne County Sheriff’s department SCUBA team used the boat as a practice dive site.

Continued Exploration

On May 16, 2025, Aaron Newman and his team surveyed the wreck using remote operated vehicles (ROVs) and the Parker 2520 XLD Sport Cabin’s side scan sonar system. After arriving at Scovilles' coordinates for the USCG 56022, Newman and his team were unable to find the boat. However, after following a long, textured trench approximately 50 meters upcurrent, they found the bow, still standing upright. While the boat was intact at the time of Scoville’s discovery 2004, time has taken its toll, and as of 2025 the above ground portion of USCG 56022 appears to have broken off along the horizontal axis and drifted upcurrent. The vertical position has prompted the researchers to question what factors are keeping the boat buoyant. Newman’s team is currently searching to find the buried stern and determine how the boat remains buoyant.

US Coast Guard Boat 56022