Historic Sites of Manitoba: Port Nelson Lighters (Northern Manitoba)

The steel hull of a ship beached on the south shore of the Nelson River at its mouth on Hudson Bay is a lighter used during construction of the Port Nelson facility between 1912 and 1917. It transported construction materials brought to the site by sea-going ships anchored offshore in deep water to the comparatively shallow waters by the artificial island. A second lighter is located about a half-mile to the northeast, approximately N57.0070, W92.5490.

Lighter at the Port Nelson artificial island

Lighter at the Port Nelson artificial island (no date)
Source: Archives of Manitoba, Paterson Collection.

Port Nelson Lighter on the south shore of the Nelson River

Port Nelson Lighter on the south shore of the Nelson River (September 2006)
Source: Mark Blanchard

Port Nelson Lighter on the south shore of the Nelson River

Port Nelson Lighter on the south shore of the Nelson River (October 2016)
Source: Mark Blanchard

Port Nelson Lighter on the south shore of the Nelson River

Port Nelson Lighter on the south shore of the Nelson River (June 2022)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N57.00298, W92.55812
denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Port Nelson (Hudson Bay, Northern Manitoba)

Sources:

We thank Mark Blanchard (North-South Consultants) for providing information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 15 July 2023

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