Foss 54 (YC 191)
Overview
This target has been classified as a wood barge wreck resting in 15 feet of water and measuring roughly 91 feet by 26 feet. The barge wreck rests upright on the lakebed, with substantial portions of the wooden hull and deck structure still present. Visible features include large deck beams, substantial structural timbers, several upright structural members extending above the wreck, and multiple openings that provide views into the interior. Additional debris is visible within the hull. This barge wreck has been positively identified as Foss 54 (YC 191).
Previously, Coastal Sensing & Survey had classified this target as LU07. Described as the wreck of a Foss barge, though an earlier CSS entry identifies the barge as Foss #74, creating a discrepancy within the source record. DCS Films had classified this target as Foss 54. Described as the former U.S. Navy barge YC 191, with historical photographs and additional information documenting the vessel's history and specifications. Lake Union Virtual Museum had identified this target as Foss 54. Described as the wreck of Foss barge #54 in Lake Union.
Foss 54 was originally built in 1908 for the U.S. Navy in Bremerton, Washington, as YC 191. Historical data tells us that the barge carried coal, lumber, and other materials in the Puget Sound region over a working life spanning several decades. Its documented history becomes uncertain around 1969, and the exact circumstances and date of its sinking remain unclear. Shipwreck City is actively researching this vessel's history and will provide more details as we learn more.
Links & Resources
Coastal Sensing & Survey: https://www.coastalsensing.com/survey-target-logs-lake-union/tag/LU07
DCS Films: http://www.dcsfilms.com/Site_4/FOSS_54_Lake_Union.html
Lake Union Virtual Museum: http://www.lakeunionhistory.org/Foss_Barge.html
