Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships
The Titanic, the Lusitania, the Empress of Ireland, the Andrea Doria, the Estonia and the Joola: the passenger ships whose loss changed the rules of the sea.
This chapter of Lost at Sea holds 58 ships. For each one we give what she was, when and where she was lost, why she is remembered and where she lies today. See all 489 ships on one page.
Marea can build any of these ships as she was on the day she sailed, with the maximum detail the records permit. Many of these wrecks are war graves or the resting place of those lost with them, and we build them with that in mind.
This database was put together by Ai Refloat™, Marea’s own artificial intelligence, from museums, heritage registers, archaeological reports, official inquiries, newspapers and encyclopaedias. Ai Refloat is still young & like any teenager, it can be a little volatile and unpredictable at times, but above all, it is learning fast. So this list may well contain mistakes and we welcome the input of everyone who knows these ships better than we do.
Have you spotted a mistake, or is a wreck missing? Tell us which ship and what to correct, and we will amend it accordingly. Tell us here
The ships
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships
Lady of the Lake Ice
11 May 1833 · About 400 km (250 miles) east of Cape St Francis, Newfoundland (also given as 250 miles east of Cape Race), North Atlantic
The ship Brig (emigrant ship)
Built Aberdeen built
Aboard About 280 crew and passengers
Lives lost Sources vary from 170 to 265; 15 survived
Sailing from Belfast to Quebec under Captain John Grant, she was holed on the starboard bow by ice while working between floes. A lifeboat capsized and the brig sank; 15 survivors spent 75 hours in an open boat before the brig Harvest Home picked them up.
Why she is remembered A major emigrant disaster of 1833, recorded in contemporary newspapers and shipwreck histories.
Sources differ Deaths given as 170 to 265 (Wikipedia) and about 265 (Newfoundland Grand Banks site).
Sources Wikipedia · ngb.chebucto.org
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United States
Lexington Fire
13 January 1840 · Long Island Sound off Eaton's Neck, New York, about 4 miles from the Long Island shore
The ship Wooden paddlewheel passenger steamboat, United States
Built 1834 to 1835, New York, commissioned by Cornelius Vanderbilt; converted from wood to coal firing in 1839
Size 205 to 207 ft long (Huntington Historical Society: 220 ft), 21 ft wide; 488 gross tons
Aboard About 143 to 150 people
Lives lost Estimates range from 139 to over 150
Bound from New York to Stonington, Connecticut, with 150 bales of cotton on deck and a reported 50,000 dollars in coin, she caught fire at about 7 pm when the overheated smoke pipe set the cotton alight. The tiller ropes burned through, the boats were swamped, and ice and low tide stopped rescuers putting out. Only four men survived, clinging to cotton bales; second mate David Crowley drifted some 43 to 48 hours before landing at Baiting Hollow.
Why she is remembered The worst maritime disaster in the history of Long Island Sound. The inquiry condemned carrying cotton on passenger boats, and Nathaniel Currier's lithograph of the fire became one of his first best-selling prints. Bill Bleyer's book 'The Sinking of the Lexington on Long Island Sound' tells the story.
The wreck today An 1842 salvage attempt raised her briefly and recovered a 30 lb mass of melted silver coins, but the chains snapped and she broke into three pieces and sank again. The remains lie off Old Field Point, north-west of Port Jefferson, in about 80 to 140 ft of water; the locations of the paddlewheel and bow sections are known.
Sources differ Built 1834 (Linda Hall Library) versus 1835 (NJ Scuba, Huntington Historical Society). Length 205 to 207 ft versus 220 ft. Aboard 143 versus about 150. Death toll 139 (Linda Hall Library, Huntington Historical Society), up to 149 (Riverhead News Review), over 150 (Connecticut History), 146 to 156 (usdeadlyevents). Crowley adrift 43 hours (Huntington) versus about 48 hours (Riverhead). Survivor surname spelt Hillard or Hilliard.
Sources connecticuthistory.org · lindahall.org · riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com · usdeadlyevents.com · huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org · njscuba.net
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United States
SS Arctic Collision
27 September 1854 · About 50 miles off Newfoundland, North Atlantic
The ship Paddle steamer (transatlantic), United States
Built Launched 28 January 1850, William H. Brown shipyard, New York
Size 284 ft; 2,856 American tons burthen
Aboard About 400 (about 250 passengers and 150 crew)
Lives lost More than 300; 88 survived (64 crew, 24 male passengers)
Bound from Liverpool to New York, Arctic collided in fog with the small French steamer Vesta and was holed below the waterline. Her six lifeboats, enough for about 180, were largely taken by crew amid disorder, and she sank four hours later. All the women and children aboard died.
Why she is remembered No inquiry was held and nobody was held to account; the loss exposed inadequate lifeboat provision. A memorial stands at Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United States, Collins Line
SS Pacific Missing
Disappeared January 1856 · Unknown, on passage Liverpool to New York, North Atlantic
The ship Wooden-hulled side-wheel steamer (transatlantic), United States, Collins Line
Built Launched 1 February 1849, Brown and Bell, New York
Size 281 ft (85.6 m); 2,707 GRT
Aboard 186 (45 passengers, 141 crew)
Lives lost All 186
Under the noted Captain Asa Eldridge she left Liverpool westbound and was never seen again. A message in a bottle attributed to passenger William Graham spoke of icebergs around the ship.
Why she is remembered A Blue Riband holder from September 1850 to August 1851, her disappearance has never been explained.
The wreck today Not found. A 1991 claim of her bow in the Irish Sea is uncorroborated and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales thought it unlikely to be her.
Sources differ The authenticity of the 1861 bottle message is not established.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Hamburg (Hamburg America Line, HAPAG)
SS Austria Fire
13 September 1858 · North Atlantic, on passage from Hamburg to New York
The ship Steam-powered emigrant ship with sails of the Hamburg America Line (HAPAG), Hamburg (Hamburg America Line, HAPAG)
Built Caird and Co., Greenock, Scotland; launched 23 June 1857; maiden voyage 1 May 1858, Hamburg to Southampton and New York
Size 311.7 ft by 42.6 ft (Deutschlandmuseum: just under 100 m); 2,684 gross tons
Aboard Over 540 people
Lives lost Figures vary: 449 (trains-worldexpresses), 456 (Deutschlandmuseum), 471 (Norway Heritage), over 500 (Currier and Ives print)
On her voyage from Hamburg to New York a fire broke out while the lower decks were being fumigated with tar, a routine disinfection before reaching the high seas. The crew could not stop the steam engine, and the ship's speed and a strong wind spread the flames very quickly. Two nearby ships rescued only 89 people.
Why she is remembered Probably the greatest maritime disaster of the peak years of German emigration in the 1850s. The fire was depicted in a Currier and Ives lithograph published in New York, now in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
The wreck today Never found; she was lost in the open Atlantic.
Sources differ Death toll 449 (trains-worldexpresses), 456 (Deutschlandmuseum), 471 (Norway Heritage) and over 500 (inscription on the 1858 Currier and Ives print).
Sources deutschlandmuseum.de · rmg.co.uk · norwayheritage.com · trains-worldexpresses.com
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United Kingdom (Liverpool and Australian Steam Navigation Co)
Royal Charter Storm
26 October 1859 · Porth Helaeth, Dulas Bay, north-east Anglesey, Wales; 53°22′17″N 4°15′20″W
The ship Steam clipper, United Kingdom (Liverpool and Australian Steam Navigation Co)
Built Launched 1855, Sandycroft Ironworks, River Dee, Wales
Size 326 ft; 2,719 GRT
Aboard About 483 (371 passengers, 112 crew and others)
Lives lost About 450 (over 450); 39 survivors, all men
Homeward bound from Australia to Liverpool with gold and many returning miners, she was caught by a hurricane force storm. Her engines could not make headway, she was driven onto rocks and broke up quickly under huge waves.
Why she is remembered The loss led Robert FitzRoy to introduce the first gale warning service, a forerunner of modern forecasting. Charles Dickens wrote of the aftermath in The Uncommercial Traveller.
The wreck today Iron remains lie in less than 5 m of water; gold sovereigns and personal items have been recovered; unprotected.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United States
PS Lady Elgin Collision
8 September 1860 · Lake Michigan off Port Clinton, Illinois (today the Highland Park and Highwood area)
The ship Wooden side-wheel steamer (Great Lakes passenger steamer), United States
Built 1851, Bidwell and Banta, Buffalo, New York
Size 252 ft long, 32.66 ft beam; 1,037.70 gross tons
Aboard Unknown; passenger manifest lost
Lives lost About 300 (sources vary); 98 saved
In a gale the schooner Augusta, showing only a single white light, rammed the Lady Elgin, which broke apart within about twenty minutes. Many victims came from Milwaukee's Irish community.
Why she is remembered The greatest loss of life on open water in Great Lakes history. Henry Clay Work wrote the song Lost on the Lady Elgin (1861), and Northwestern student Edward Spencer, who saved 17 people, is honoured by a plaque.
The wreck today Found in 1989 by Harry Zych off Highland Park and awarded to him in 1999; artifacts went to the Chicago Maritime Museum in 2023.
Sources differ Death toll stated as about 300 with sources varying.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United States
Sultana Explosion
27 April 1865 · Mississippi River about 7 miles north of Memphis, Tennessee; 35.19056°N 90.11444°W
The ship Side-wheel steamboat (Mississippi riverboat), United States
Built Launched 3 January 1863, John Litherbury boatyard, Cincinnati, Ohio
Size 260 ft long, 42 ft beam; 1,719 GRT
Aboard 2,127 (about 1,950 paroled Union prisoners, 22 guards, 70 paying passengers, 85 crew)
Lives lost 1,164 (most recent estimate)
Grossly overcrowded with Union soldiers freed from Confederate prison camps, Sultana was heading north when three of her four boilers exploded, a poorly repaired boiler and low water levels being contributory. The disaster was overshadowed by the end of the Civil War and the death of Lincoln's assassin the day before.
Why she is remembered No one was held accountable. Monuments stand in several states and a Sultana museum is in Marion, Arkansas.
The wreck today Remains believed found in 1982 by Jerry O. Potter about 32 ft under an Arkansas soybean field some 4 miles from Memphis, far from the present river channel.
Sources differ Deaths: 1,164 (recent); 1,238 (Gen. Hoffman, 1865); 1,100 (Bureau of Military Justice, 1867); 1,259 (Congress/War Dept, 1880); 1,547 (US Customs Service).
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas W. Bankes, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United Kingdom (registered London)
SS London Storm
11 January 1866 · Bay of Biscay
The ship Steamship (passenger, London to Melbourne), United Kingdom (registered London)
Built Launched 20 July 1864, Money Wigram and Sons, Blackwall Yard
Size 276.6 ft (84.3 m); 1,429 GRT
Aboard 263 (also given as 239)
Lives lost 244 (also given as 220)
Overloaded with railway iron and deck coal, she met heavy seas in the Bay of Biscay; cargo shifted and her fires went out. On 11 January a great wave flooded the engine room and she sank stern first, lifeboats swamping as they were launched.
Why she is remembered The loss fed Samuel Plimsoll's campaign that led to the Plimsoll line against overloading. Victims included actor Gustavus Vaughan Brooke and John Woolley, first principal of the University of Sydney.
Sources differ Aboard 263 or 239; lost 244 or 220.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Dickson Gregory, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United Kingdom (registered Liverpool)
SS Atlantic Reef and rocks
1 April 1873 · Marr's Head, Meagher's Island, Lower Prospect, Nova Scotia, Canada
The ship Oceanic-class transatlantic liner (White Star Line), United Kingdom (registered Liverpool)
Built Launched 26 November 1870, completed 3 June 1871, Harland and Wolff, Belfast, yard no. 74
Size 128.4 m (421.3 ft); 3,707 tons register
Aboard 952 (835 passengers, 14 stowaways, 103 crew)
Lives lost At least 535; also given as 535 to 560
Fearing she was short of coal, the captain diverted to Halifax in heavy weather and poor visibility. Atlantic ran onto a rocky ledge at near full speed and capsized, her lifeboats washed away. Crew rigged lines to the shore that saved many, but all 156 women aboard died and only one child survived.
Why she is remembered Victims lie in mass graves at Terence Bay and Lower Prospect, artifacts at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and the SS Atlantic Heritage Park.
The wreck today Heavily fragmented in 12 to 18 m (40 to 60 ft) of water.
Sources differ Deaths given as at least 535 and as 535 to 560.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · France, Compagnie Générale Transatlantique
SS Ville du Havre Collision
Also known as Napoléon III
22 November 1873 · Mid Atlantic, about 47°21′N 35°31′W
The ship Ocean liner (iron steamship), France, Compagnie Générale Transatlantique
Built Launched 11 February 1865, Thames Iron Works, London
Size 128.50 m; 5,065 tons
Aboard 313
Lives lost 226; 87 survived
Crossing the Atlantic, she collided with the British iron clipper Loch Earn and sank in less than 12 minutes. Survivors were picked up by Loch Earn and then the American ship Tremountain.
Why she is remembered Horatio Spafford, whose family was aboard, wrote the hymn It Is Well with My Soul; Philip Bliss named its tune Ville du Havre.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, French Liners collection, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United Kingdom, London Steamboat Co
SS Princess Alice Collision
Also known as PS Bute
3 September 1878 · Gallions Reach, River Thames, London
The ship Passenger paddle steamer (Thames excursion), United Kingdom, London Steamboat Co
Built 1865, Caird and Co, Greenock
Size 219.4 ft; 432 GRT
Aboard Unknown, close to full capacity; no lists kept
Lives lost Between 600 and 700; about 640 bodies recovered; about 130 survived
Carrying excursion passengers, she took the wrong sailing line and was struck by the collier Bywell Castle, split in two and sank within four minutes in water heavily polluted by sewage outfalls.
Why she is remembered The disaster led the Metropolitan Board of Works to treat sewage rather than discharge it raw, and gave the Thames police steam launches. Memorials stand at Woolwich Cemetery and Barking Creek.
The wreck today Bought for £350; the engines were salvaged and the rest broken up.
Sources differ Deaths between 600 and 700; The Times gave 630 to 650.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United Kingdom, Anchor Line
SS Utopia Collision
17 March 1891 · Bay of Gibraltar
The ship Transatlantic passenger steamship, United Kingdom, Anchor Line
Built Launched 14 February 1874, Robert Duncan and Co, Glasgow
Size 350 ft (110 m); 2,371 GRT
Aboard 880 (815 third class and 3 first class passengers, 59 crew, 3 stowaways)
Lives lost 562 dead or missing, plus 2 rescuers from HMS Immortalité
Entering Gibraltar, her captain, dazzled by a searchlight, misjudged the anchorage and Utopia struck the ram of the moored battleship HMS Anson. She listed suddenly, crushing her boats, and sank within 20 minutes.
Why she is remembered The court ruling on wreck liability set a precedent in maritime law for 35 years.
The wreck today Raised in July 1892, taken to Scotland and scrapped in 1900.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Ms. Georgina Smith, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Germany, Norddeutscher Lloyd (Bremen)
SS Elbe Collision
31 January 1895 · North Sea
The ship Transatlantic ocean liner, Germany, Norddeutscher Lloyd (Bremen)
Built Launched 2 April 1881, John Elder and Co, Govan, Glasgow
Size 416.5 ft (126.9 m); 4,510 GRT
Aboard 354
Lives lost 334; 20 survived
In stormy conditions at about 5:30 am she was struck by the steamship Crathie. Frozen davit ropes stopped most lifeboats being launched, and the only survivors were the 20 in a single boat picked up by the fishing smack Wildflower.
Why she is remembered A Rotterdam court found Crathie solely to blame; Kaiser Wilhelm II rewarded the Wildflower's crew.
The wreck today Located by Dutch amateur divers in 1987; recovered glass and porcelain confirmed her identity.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United Kingdom, Castle Mail Packet Company (Donald Currie and Co)
SS Drummond Castle Reef and rocks
16 June 1896 · Fromveur Sound off Ushant, Brittany, France
The ship Passenger steamship, United Kingdom, Castle Mail Packet Company (Donald Currie and Co)
Built Launched 17 February 1881, John Elder and Co, Govan, Glasgow
Size 365 ft; 3,706 GRT
Aboard 245 (143 passengers, 102 crew)
Lives lost 242; 3 survived
Homeward bound from Cape Town to London, she struck rocks in fog in the dangerous waters off Ushant and sank within four minutes. Two crew were rescued by Breton fishermen and one passenger reached Molène.
Why she is remembered A Board of Trade inquiry blamed careless or unskilful navigation; the loss remains a significant memory for the islanders of Ushant and Molène.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · France, Compagnie Générale Transatlantique
SS La Bourgogne Collision
4 July 1898 · About 60 nautical miles from Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia, North Atlantic
The ship Ocean liner and mail ship, France, Compagnie Générale Transatlantique
Built Launched 8 October 1885, completed May 1886, Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, La Seyne
Size 508 ft (155 m); 7,395 GRT
Aboard 725 (503 passengers, 222 crew)
Lives lost 562; 163 survived, only one of about 200 women passengers
Steaming fast in dense fog contrary to good practice, she collided with the sailing ship Cromartyshire and sank.
Why she is remembered Considered the worst North Atlantic disaster until Titanic; litigation ran until 1908 and a US Supreme Court decision upheld the owners' limitation of liability.
The wreck today Not yet found; believed to lie about 70 miles off Sable Island, Nova Scotia.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United Kingdom, Atlantic Transport Line
SS Mohegan Reef and rocks
Also known as Launched as Cleopatra, renamed Mohegan October 1898
14 October 1898 · The Manacles, off the Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall, English Channel
The ship Steamship carrying passengers and cargo (Atlantic Transport Line), United Kingdom, Atlantic Transport Line
Built Launched April 1898, Earle's Shipbuilding and Engine Co, Hull
Size 475 ft (145 m); 6,889 GRT
Aboard 157
Lives lost 106
Steering a wrong course after passing the Eddystone, she ran at full speed onto the Manacles and sank within 12 minutes; Captain Griffith and all officers died. The Porthoustock lifeboat saved 44 people and other boats 7 more.
Why she is remembered Most of the dead lie in a mass grave at St Keverne churchyard, with a memorial window from the line; the disaster led to the founding of the Coverack lifeboat station.
The wreck today A popular dive site; her bell is at the Bell Inn, Thetford, Norfolk.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Denmark (Thingvalla Line, later DFDS)
SS Norge Reef and rocks
Also known as Pieter de Coninck (1881 to 1889)
28 June 1904 · Hasselwood Rock near Rockall, North Atlantic; 57°35′48″N 13°41′19″W
The ship Passenger steamship (emigrant liner), Denmark (Thingvalla Line, later DFDS)
Built 1881, Alexander Stephen and Sons, Linthouse, Glasgow, yard 252
Size 346.5 ft (105.6 m); 3,310 GRT
Aboard 795 (727 passengers, 68 crew)
Lives lost More than 635; about 160 survivors, several of whom died later
Carrying Scandinavian emigrants to New York, she ran onto Hasselwood Rock near Rockall in fog. She sank about twelve minutes later, and waves damaged her lifeboats.
Why she is remembered The worst disaster in Danish maritime history and the biggest civilian maritime disaster in the Atlantic until Titanic.
The wreck today Found off Rockall in July 2003 in 65 m of water.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: John S. Johnston, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United States
PS General Slocum Fire
15 June 1904 · East River, New York City; beached on North Brother Island
The ship Side-wheel passenger steamboat (excursion), United States
Built Launched 18 April 1891, Divine Burtis Jr, Brooklyn, New York
Size 264 ft; 1,284 GRT
Aboard 1,388 (1,358 passengers, 30 crew)
Lives lost An estimated 1,021
Chartered for a church picnic by St Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Little Germany, she caught fire in a forward cabin. The captain kept steaming, fanning the flames, before beaching on North Brother Island; rotted fire hoses and defective life preservers meant most of the dead were women and children.
Why she is remembered Captain Van Schaick was convicted of criminal negligence, safety rules were tightened, and a memorial fountain stands in Tompkins Square Park.
The wreck today Salvaged and converted into the barge Maryland, which foundered off New Jersey on 4 December 1911 with no loss of life.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United Kingdom, London and South Western Railway
SS Hilda Reef and rocks
18 November 1905 · Pierre de Portes rocks near Saint-Malo, Brittany, France; about 48.67°N 2.10°W
The ship Passenger steamship (cross-Channel), United Kingdom, London and South Western Railway
Built 1882, Aitken and Mansel, Whiteinch, Glasgow
Size 235 ft 6 in (71.78 m); 848 GRT
Aboard 131 (103 passengers, 28 crew)
Lives lost At least 125; 6 passengers and 1 seaman survived
Sailing from Southampton to Saint-Malo, she met snow squalls and poor visibility and after several attempts to enter harbour struck the Pierre de Portes rocks at about 23:00. She broke in two about 15 minutes later and most of her boats were lost.
Why she is remembered About 70 of the dead were Breton Onion Johnnies returning from selling produce in Britain; at the 2005 centenary a string of onions was laid on the wreck.
The wreck today Lies in about 25 m of water; her propeller was raised in 1997 and is displayed in Dinard.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United States
SS Valencia Reef and rocks
22 January 1906 · Near Cape Beale, south-west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, Pacific
The ship Coastal passenger liner, United States
Built 1882, William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia
Size 252 ft (77 m); 1,598 tons
Aboard 9 officers, 56 crew and at least 108 passengers
Lives lost 136 (official); estimates 117 to 181; 37 men survived
Navigating by dead reckoning in poor weather, she missed the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and struck a reef. Most lifeboats capsized or vanished; survivors clung to the rigging until the funnel collapsed. All women and children died.
Why she is remembered Investigations led to the Pachena Point lighthouse (1908) and the life-saving trail with shelters that became the West Coast Trail (1911).
The wreck today The wreck lies on the seabed. Lifeboat No. 5 was found in Barkley Sound in 1933 and is displayed at the Maritime Museum of British Columbia.
Sources differ Deaths official 136; estimates range 117 to 181.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United Kingdom (registered Liverpool), White Star Line
RMS Titanic Ice
15 April 1912 · North Atlantic, about 325 nautical miles south-southeast of Newfoundland; wreck at 41°43′32″N 49°56′49″W
The ship Olympic-class ocean liner, United Kingdom (registered Liverpool), White Star Line
Built Launched 31 May 1911, Harland and Wolff, Belfast
Size 882 ft 9 in (269.1 m); 46,329 GRT
Aboard About 2,208 (1,317 passengers and about 866 crew)
Lives lost Approximately 1,500 (estimates vary)
At 11:40 pm on 14 April 1912 Titanic struck an iceberg, opening a series of holes below the waterline along her starboard side and breaching five of her sixteen watertight compartments. Water spilled from compartment to compartment over the bulkheads and she sank bow first early on 15 April. Her 20 lifeboats could hold only 1,178 people.
Why she is remembered The disaster spurred major changes in maritime safety regulation and left a lasting legacy in popular culture, including James Cameron's 1997 film Titanic.
The wreck today Found on 1 September 1985 by a French-American expedition led by Jean-Louis Michel (IFREMER) and Robert Ballard (Woods Hole). Lies in two main sections about 2,000 ft apart at about 3,800 m (12,500 ft). Eligible for protection under the 2001 UNESCO Convention since 14 April 2012; an international agreement on the wreck has been ratified only by the US and UK. Deteriorating through bacterial corrosion.
Sources differ Death toll given as approximately 1,500 with the note that estimates vary.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Francis Godolphin Osbourne Stuart, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United Kingdom (registered Liverpool), Canadian Pacific
RMS Empress of Ireland Collision
Also known as Names Empress of Germany and Empress of Austria planned before construction
29 May 1914 · Saint Lawrence River near Pointe-au-Père, Quebec, Canada
The ship Ocean liner, United Kingdom (registered Liverpool), Canadian Pacific
Built Laid down 10 April 1905, launched 27 January 1906, Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co, Govan, yard no. 443
Size 570 ft; 14,191 GRT
Aboard 1,477 (1,057 passengers, 420 crew)
Lives lost 1,012
In fog at 01:56 the Norwegian collier Storstad struck Empress of Ireland amidships, opening a huge hole. She listed heavily to starboard and foundered in only 14 minutes, so that most passengers asleep in lower cabins drowned and only five lifeboats could be launched.
Why she is remembered Presented as Canada's Titanic in a 2014 exhibition. A Lord Mersey inquiry blamed Storstad's chief officer; monuments stand at Rimouski and in Toronto, and the 2014 centenary brought an exhibition, stamps and a coin.
The wreck today Lies at about 40 m (132 ft), dived by advanced divers. Designated a historical and archaeological site in 1999 under Quebec's Cultural Property Act, the first underwater site so protected.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United States
SS Eastland Other causes
Also known as Later USS Wilmette (1918 to 1945)
24 July 1915 · Chicago River between Clark and LaSalle Streets, Chicago
The ship Great Lakes passenger steamer, United States
Built Launched 6 May 1903, Jenks Ship Building Co, Port Huron, Michigan
Size 265 ft (81 m); 1,961 GRT
Aboard About 2,500 passengers
Lives lost 844
Carrying around 2,500 passengers, the chronically top-heavy Eastland rolled over while still tied to her wharf. Overloading, mishandled ballast and faulty construction were blamed.
Why she is remembered The largest loss of life from a shipwreck on the Great Lakes; many victims were Central and Eastern European immigrant workers.
The wreck today Raised on 14 August 1915, became the gunboat USS Wilmette and was scrapped in 1946 to 1947.
Sources differ Article gives 841 passengers and 2 crew as well as a total of 844. The total is given as 844, but the breakdown given (841 passengers and 2 crew) does not add up to it.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Detroit Publishing Company, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United Kingdom (registered Liverpool), Cunard Line
RMS Lusitania War
7 May 1915 · 11 nautical miles off the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland; 51°24′45″N 08°32′52″W
The ship Ocean liner (Royal Mail Ship), United Kingdom (registered Liverpool), Cunard Line
Built Launched 7 June 1906, John Brown & Co, Clydebank, yard no. 367
Size 787 ft overall; 31,550 GRT
Aboard 1,960 (1,264 passengers, 3 stowaways, 693 crew)
Lives lost 1,195 (official figure); other figures of 1,197 and 1,199 also given
German submarine U-20 fired a single torpedo at 2:10 pm which struck the starboard bow, followed at once by a second internal explosion. Lusitania sank in about 18 minutes and the heavy list meant only six of her 48 lifeboats were launched successfully.
Why she is remembered The deaths of 128 US citizens significantly increased American public support for entering the First World War, which the US did in 1917.
The wreck today Located on 6 October 1935 by a Glasgow expedition using the salvage ship Orphir. Lies on her starboard side in about 93 m (305 ft). Protected as an Irish heritage site under the National Monuments Act (1995). Described as unstable and liable to collapse.
Sources differ Death toll stated as 1,195 (official), 1,197 and 1,199; survivors 764 to 767.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: George Grantham Bain, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United Kingdom (registered Liverpool), White Star Line
HMHS Britannic War
Also known as Intended as RMS Britannic; the name Gigantic is reported but disputed
21 November 1916 · Off Kea, Aegean Sea, Greece; 37°42′05″N 24°17′02″E
The ship Olympic-class ocean liner serving as hospital ship, United Kingdom (registered Liverpool), White Star Line
Built Laid down 30 November 1911, launched 26 February 1914, completed 12 December 1915, Harland and Wolff, Belfast, yard no. 433
Size 882 ft 9 in (269.1 m); 48,158 GRT
Aboard 1,066 (673 crew, 315 RAMC, 77 nurses and the captain)
Lives lost 30
At 08:12 she struck a mine laid by the German submarine U-73 on the starboard side between holds two and three. Open portholes let water pass beyond the bulkheads and Captain Bartlett tried to beach her on Kea. Two lifeboats were drawn into the still turning propellers, killing 30, and she sank 55 minutes after the explosion.
Why she is remembered The largest ship lost in the First World War and sister of Titanic and Olympic.
The wreck today Discovered on 13 November 1975 by Jacques Cousteau using side-scan sonar, at about 122 m (400 ft). Described as the largest intact passenger ship on the seabed; owned by Simon Mills since 1996 and visited by many expeditions.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United Kingdom, British and African Steam Navigation Co (Elder Dempster)
SS Mendi Collision
21 February 1917 · English Channel about 10 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight
The ship Passenger steamship used as troopship, United Kingdom, British and African Steam Navigation Co (Elder Dempster)
Built Launched 18 June 1905, Alexander Stephen and Sons, Linthouse, Glasgow
Size 370.2 ft; 4,230 GRT
Aboard 823 men of the South African Native Labour Corps plus crew
Lives lost 646 (607 black troops, 9 white officers and NCOs, 30 crew)
Carrying South African labour troops to France, she was accidentally rammed in fog by the cargo ship Darro and sank. Interpreter Isaac Williams Wauchope is reported to have calmed the men with words of unity before she went down.
Why she is remembered Commemorated in South Africa, Britain, France and the Netherlands; South Africa's Order of Mendi for Bravery and naval ships named SAS Mendi honour the dead.
The wreck today Identified in 1974; rests upright and is breaking up; a protected war grave since 2009.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · France, Compagnie des Chargeurs Réunis
SS Afrique Storm
12 to 13 January 1920 · Between Pierre Levée and the Plateau de Rochebonne, about 23 miles (42 km) from Olonne-sur-Mer, Vendée coast, France
The ship Passenger ship (liner to West Africa), France, Compagnie des Chargeurs Réunis
Built Launched 20 November 1907, Swan Hunter, Wallsend
Size 390 ft 11 in (119.15 m); 5,404 GRT
Aboard 609 passengers and crew
Lives lost 575; 34 survived
Bound for Dakar, she lost propulsion in a gale and drifted onto the Rochebonne reef, where her hull broke apart and she sank on 13 January. Among the dead were 192 Senegalese soldiers.
Why she is remembered Since 2016 the association Mémoires et Partages has campaigned for the African soldiers to be recognised as having died for France, and a centenary ceremony was held in Bordeaux in 2020.
The wreck today Remains on the seabed off the French Atlantic coast.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Retirage photographique par Jean-Louis Venet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Italy
SS Principessa Mafalda Other causes
25 October 1927 · Near the Abrolhos Archipelago, about 130 km off Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, South Atlantic
The ship Transatlantic ocean liner, Italy
Built Launched 22 October 1908, completed 9 March 1909, Cantiere Navale di Riva Trigoso
Size 463 ft (141 m); 9,210 GRT
Aboard 1,252 passengers and crew (also given as 971 passengers and 288 crew)
Lives lost 314
A starboard propeller shaft fractured and cut gashes in the hull, and watertight doors could not be fully closed. After power failed, panic broke out and some people who jumped into the sea were attacked by sharks.
Why she is remembered Called the Italian Titanic, it remains the greatest loss of life in Italian merchant shipping history.
The wreck today The exact wreck site is still disputed.
Sources differ Aboard stated as 1,252 and as 971 plus 288 (1,259).
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United Kingdom
SS Vestris Storm
12 November 1928 · About 200 miles off Hampton Roads, Virginia, North Atlantic; 37°38′N 70°23′W
The ship Ocean liner, United Kingdom
Built Launched 16 May 1912, Workman, Clark and Co, Belfast, yard 303
Size 511 ft overall; 10,494 GRT
Aboard 326 (128 passengers, 198 crew)
Lives lost 111 (68 passengers, 43 crew)
Leaving New York overloaded, with ballast tanks and bunker hatches not properly managed, she met a severe storm; coal and cargo shifted and progressive flooding beat the pumps. Lifeboats carrying mostly women and children sank or were swamped; all 13 children died and Captain William Carey went down with her.
Why she is remembered The disaster influenced the second International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea in 1929.
The wreck today Believed to lie about 2 km deep.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Lamport & Holt Line Ltd, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United States
SS Morro Castle Fire
8 September 1934 · Off Long Beach Island, New Jersey; the burnt hulk grounded at Asbury Park
The ship Ocean liner (Ward Line, New York to Havana), United States
Built Launched 5 March 1930, completed 15 August 1930, Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co, Virginia
Size 480 ft; 11,520 GRT
Aboard 549
Lives lost 137
Returning from Havana in a nor'easter, hours after her captain had died suddenly, she caught fire in a locker in the first class writing room. The fire spread fast through flammable fittings, power failed and lifeboats left partly empty. The cause was never established.
Why she is remembered The disaster exposed poor crew training and fire safety and influenced later maritime safety rules; the hulk on Asbury Park beach drew sightseers.
The wreck today Declared a total loss, towed to Baltimore and scrapped by March 1935.
Sources differ The source's own breakdown of passengers and crew does not add up to its total of 549.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United Kingdom, Donaldson Atlantic Line
SS Athenia War
3 September 1939 · About 60 nautical miles south of Rockall and 200 nautical miles north-west of Inishtrahull, Ireland, North Atlantic
The ship Transatlantic passenger liner (steam turbine), United Kingdom, Donaldson Atlantic Line
Built Launched 28 January 1922, completed 19 April 1923, Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co, Govan
Size 526.3 ft (160.4 m); 13,465 GRT
Aboard 1,418 (1,103 passengers, 315 crew)
Lives lost 117 (98 passengers and 19 crew)
The German submarine U-30 under Fritz-Julius Lemp torpedoed her without warning while she carried civilians. Germany concealed responsibility until admissions at Nuremberg in 1946.
Why she is remembered The first British ship sunk by Germany in the Second World War; 54 of the dead were Canadian and 28 American.
The wreck today A probable site was located on Rockall Bank in 2017 by David Mearns using sonar; identity not confirmed.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United Kingdom, Ellerman Lines
SS City of Benares War
17 September 1940 · About 253 miles west-south-west of Rockall, North Atlantic
The ship Ocean liner (steam turbine), United Kingdom, Ellerman Lines
Built Launched 5 August 1936, Barclay, Curle and Co, Glasgow
Size 509 ft (155.1 m) overall; 11,081 GRT
Aboard 408
Lives lost 260, including 77 of the evacuee children
Carrying child evacuees to Canada under the Children's Overseas Reception Board scheme, she was torpedoed in the stern by U-48 at 10:03 pm and sank within 31 minutes.
Why she is remembered Public outrage led Churchill to cancel the CORB overseas evacuation scheme.
Sources differ Children lost: 77 of the 90 evacuees, or 100 of the 119 children aboard in another figure. The total is given as 408, but the breakdown given (90 CORB child evacuees, 91 paying passengers, 168 Indian lascars, 43 British crew) does not add up to it.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Norway (built), seized by Germany 1940
MV Goya War
16 April 1945 · Baltic Sea north of Cape Rozewie, Poland
The ship Freighter used as troop and evacuation transport, Norway (built), seized by Germany 1940
Built Launched 4 April 1940, Akers Mekaniske Verksted, Oslo
Size 146 m; 5,230 GRT
Aboard Estimates of over 6,000, 6,700 or 7,200
Lives lost More than 6,000; about 182 saved (other survivor figures 98 to 334)
Packed with refugees and soldiers in the Operation Hannibal evacuation, Goya was hit by two torpedoes from the Soviet submarine L-3 and sank in under four minutes.
Why she is remembered One of the worst maritime disasters in history, exceeded only by the Wilhelm Gustloff.
The wreck today Found on 26 August 2002 by Polish technical divers and surveyed on 16 April 2003 by Ulrich Restemeyer's expedition at 76 m, in good condition. Declared a war grave in 2003; diving prohibited within 500 m since 2006.
Sources differ Aboard over 6,000, 6,700 or 7,200; survivors 98 to 334.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Republic of China
SS Kiangya Explosion
Also known as Later Dongfang Hong 8 (from 1966)
3 to 4 December 1948 · Near the mouth of the Huangpu River, about 50 miles north of Shanghai, China; 31°15′N 121°47′E
The ship Passenger steamship (coastal), Republic of China
Built Completed 1939
Size 2,100 tons displacement
Aboard Official capacity 1,186; manifest 2,150, almost certainly with many more stowaways
Lives lost Estimated 2,750 to 4,000; about 700 survivors
Carrying refugees fleeing the Communist advance in the Chinese Civil War, she was wrecked by an internal explosion, probably a mine possibly laid by the Imperial Japanese Navy. Rescue was slow to arrive.
Why she is remembered Described as the second deadliest peacetime maritime disaster in history. Her helm is preserved at the East Zhejiang Maritime Affairs and Folk Customs Museum in Ningbo, and a shoal off Shanghai bears her name.
The wreck today Broken in two; salvaged in 1956, returned to service in 1959, renamed Dongfang Hong 8 in 1966, retired in 1983 and scrapped in 2000.
Sources differ Deaths estimated anywhere from 2,750 to 4,000.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Republic of China
Taiping Collision
27 January 1949 · Near the Zhoushan Archipelago, East China Sea
The ship Passenger steamer, Republic of China
Size Rated for 580 passengers
Aboard Over 1,000 refugees; estimates of over 1,500 passengers
Lives lost Over 1,000 passengers and crew; about 50 survived (also reported as about 1,500 deaths)
Heavily overloaded with refugees fleeing the Communist advance, Taiping left Shanghai for Taiwan on 26 January 1949. Sailing without lights under a wartime curfew, she collided after midnight with the smaller cargo ship Chienyuan and sank rapidly.
Why she is remembered Compared to both the Mayflower and Titanic; a memorial stands at the Keelung naval base in Taiwan and John Woo's 2014 film The Crossing depicts the disaster.
Sources differ Deaths given as over 1,000 by Wikipedia and as 1,500 by MaritimeCyprus.
Sources Wikipedia · maritimecyprus.com
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Japan, Japanese National Railways
Tōya Maru Storm
26 September 1954 · Tsugaru Strait off Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan
The ship Train ferry (ro-ro), Japan, Japanese National Railways
Built Launched 21 November 1947, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kobe, yard 816
Size 118.7 m (389 ft); 3,898 GRT
Aboard About 1,300 passengers (capacity 1,128 passengers plus 120 crew)
Lives lost 1,153 (JNR); up to 1,170; about 150 survived
She left Hakodate at 18:39 as Typhoon Marie approached. Her anchors failed to hold, water entered the engine room through the vehicle deck, and she capsized and sank at about 22:43.
Why she is remembered A major factor behind the building of the Seikan Tunnel.
Sources differ Deaths 1,153 (JNR), 1,159 (breakdown) or up to 1,170.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Italy (registered Genoa), Italian Line
SS Andrea Doria Collision
26 July 1956 · Off Nantucket, Massachusetts, North Atlantic; 40°29.408′N 69°51.046′W
The ship Transatlantic ocean liner, Italy (registered Genoa), Italian Line
Built Launched 16 June 1951, Ansaldo, Genoa, yard no. 918; maiden voyage 14 January 1953
Size 213.80 m (701 ft 5 in); 29,083 GRT
Aboard 1,706 (1,134 passengers, 572 crew)
Lives lost 51 in total: 46 on Andrea Doria and 5 crew of Stockholm
In fog at 11:10 pm on 25 July she was struck by the Swedish liner Stockholm. Her poor stability and unballasted fuel tanks produced a severe list, but she stayed afloat for about 11 hours while rescue ships including Île de France took off 1,660 people. She sank bow first at 10:09 am on 26 July.
Why she is remembered Often called one of the greatest sea rescues in history; rules followed on radar training and radio contact between approaching ships, and Harry Trask's photographs won a 1957 Pulitzer Prize.
The wreck today Visited a week after the sinking by Peter Gimbel and Joseph Fox. Lies at about 58 m and is collapsing; at least 22 divers have died there, earning it the name Mount Everest of scuba diving.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Denmark, Royal Greenland Trading Company
MS Hans Hedtoft Ice
30 January 1959 · About 35 nautical miles south of Cape Farewell, Greenland
The ship Cargo and passenger liner, Denmark, Royal Greenland Trading Company
Built 1958, Frederikshavns Værft, Frederikshavn
Size 82.65 m; 2,857 GRT
Aboard 95 (55 passengers, 40 crew)
Lives lost 95, all aboard
On her maiden voyage she struck an iceberg and sank within hours despite ships answering her distress calls. The only wreckage ever recovered was a life ring that washed ashore in Iceland in October 1959.
Why she is remembered She carried parish registers to Danish archives, a heavy loss for Greenlandic genealogy; Queen Margrethe unveiled a memorial in Copenhagen in 2005.
The wreck today Never found.
Sources differ Tonnage given as both 2,857 and 2,875 GRT.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Netherlands (1930 to 1963), Greece (1963)
TSMS Lakonia Fire
Also known as Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (1930 to 1963)
Fire 22 December 1963; sank 29 December 1963 · Atlantic about 230 nautical miles south-west of Lisbon and 250 nautical miles west of Gibraltar
The ship Ocean liner, later cruise ship, Netherlands (1930 to 1963), Greece (1963)
Built Launched 3 August 1929, completed 13 March 1930, Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Maatschappij, Amsterdam, yard 194
Size 586.2 ft (178.7 m); 19,040 GRT (20,314 after 1963 conversion)
Aboard 1,022 (646 passengers, 376 crew)
Lives lost 128 (95 passengers, 33 crew), of whom 53 died in the fire itself
On a cruise, fire broke out near the hairdressing salon from faulty wiring north of Madeira. Weak alarms, rusted davits and poor drills hampered evacuation; many died of exposure or injury after jumping. She was taken in tow but sank on 29 December.
Why she is remembered Her loss exposed failings in alarms, lifeboat equipment and drills; cruise passengers are now taught how to hold a lifejacket when jumping from a height.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · New Zealand, Union Steam Ship Company
TEV Wahine Storm
10 April 1968 · Barrett Reef and Wellington Harbour, New Zealand
The ship Turbo-electric ro-ro passenger ferry, New Zealand, Union Steam Ship Company
Built Launched 14 July 1965, Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co, Glasgow
Size 488 ft (149 m); 8,948 GRT
Aboard 734
Lives lost 53 (51 at the time and 2 later from injuries)
On the overnight crossing from Lyttelton to Wellington she was caught by the storm of Cyclone Giselle, with winds up to 275 km/h. She struck Barrett Reef, drifted into the harbour and capsized at about 14:30 in 11.6 m of water.
Why she is remembered Memorials include Wahine Memorial Park at Seatoun, her mast in Frank Kitts Park and an exhibition at the Wellington Museum.
The wreck today Broken up by a storm in 1969 and dismantled where she lay.
Sources differ The total is given as 734, but the breakdown given (610 passengers, 123 crew) does not add up to it.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Soviet Union (built for Germany)
SS Admiral Nakhimov Collision
Also known as SS Berlin
31 August 1986 · Tsemes Bay, about 8 nautical miles from the port of Novorossiysk, Black Sea
The ship Passenger liner (Black Sea cruise ship), Soviet Union (built for Germany)
Built Launched 24 March 1925, Bremer Vulkan, Vegesack, yard 614
Size 174.3 m (571 ft 10 in); 15,286 GRT originally, 17,053 GRT after conversion
Aboard 1,234 (888 passengers, 346 crew)
Lives lost 423 (359 passengers, 64 crew)
At 11:12 pm the bulk carrier Pyotr Vasyov rammed her starboard side, opening a hole of about 84 square metres between the engine and boiler rooms. Missing bulkheads and watertight doors without power meant she sank in about seven minutes.
Why she is remembered Built as the German transatlantic liner Berlin and a Second World War hospital ship before Soviet service; both captains were sentenced to 15 years in 1987.
The wreck today Lies on her starboard side at about 46 m (150 ft); recovery work stopped after two divers died.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Leo Medvedev/Лев Леонидович Медведев, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · United Kingdom (registered Dover)
MS Herald of Free Enterprise Other causes
Also known as Later renamed Flushing Range (1987 to 1988) for her scrapping voyage
6 March 1987 · Just outside Zeebrugge harbour, Belgium, about one kilometre from shore, North Sea
The ship Roll-on/roll-off car and passenger ferry, United Kingdom (registered Dover)
Built Launched 21 December 1979, Schichau Unterweser, Bremerhaven, West Germany; in service 1980
Size 131.91 m; 7,951.44 GT
Aboard 459 passengers and 80 crew
Lives lost 193
The ferry left Zeebrugge with her bow doors open because the assistant boatswain responsible was asleep, and the sea flooded the vehicle deck. She capsized within about 90 seconds, coming to rest on a sandbar in shallow water; most victims died of hypothermia.
Why she is remembered The Sheen inquiry found a disease of sloppiness throughout the company. A failed corporate manslaughter prosecution still set precedent in English law, and new rules required bow door indicators and better subdivision on ro-ro ferries.
The wreck today Salvaged in April 1987, sold for scrap, renamed Flushing Range and broken up in Taiwan from March 1988.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Philippines, Sulpicio Lines
MV Doña Paz Collision
Also known as Himeyuri Maru (1963 to 1975), Don Sulpicio (1975 to 1981)
20 December 1987 · Tablas Strait near Dumali Point, Marinduque, Philippines
The ship Passenger ferry, Philippines, Sulpicio Lines
Built Launched 25 April 1963, Onomichi Dockyard Co, Hiroshima, Japan, yard 118
Size 93.1 m; 2,324 GRT
Aboard Manifest 1,493 passengers and 59 crew (revised 1,583 and 58); estimates add 2,000 to 4,000 or more unlisted
Lives lost Up to 4,385; only 25 survivors (23 passengers and 2 tanker crew)
At 22:40 the overcrowded ferry collided with the oil tanker MT Vector, whose cargo ignited and engulfed both ships. There were no life jackets available, and the whole crew of Doña Paz died.
Why she is remembered Recognised as the deadliest peacetime maritime disaster in history. A memorial stands at Pieta Park in Catbalogan; in 1999 the Supreme Court held Vector's owners liable.
The wreck today Located in April 2019 by RV Petrel, upright at about 500 m in Tablas Strait and in good condition.
Sources differ Deaths: about 1,500 (first estimate); 3,134 (national bureau, February 1988); 4,342 passengers or 4,374 to 4,385 with crew (presidential task force, 1999).
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Egypt
MV Salem Express Reef and rocks
Also known as Fred Scamaroni
Night of 14 to 15 December 1991 · Hyndman Reef (Shaab Shehr), off Safaga, Egypt, Red Sea; GPS 26° 38.38′ N, 34° 03.67′ E
The ship Roll-on/roll-off passenger ferry, Egypt
Built Forges et Ateliers et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, La Seyne, France; completed April 1966 after a fire in June 1964 (one source says 1965)
Size 114.99 m long, 18 m beam; 4,471 GRT (some sources 4,770 GRT)
Aboard Officially 578 passengers and 71 crew; estimates up to 1,600, many pilgrims returning from Mecca
Lives lost Officially 464 to 470 including the captain; unofficial estimates about 1,200
Built for Compagnie Générale Transatlantique's Marseille to Ajaccio service, she ran between Safaga and Jeddah from 1988. Approaching Safaga late at night, Captain Hassan Moro's ship struck an outer pinnacle of Hyndman Reef and sank within about 20 minutes. About 180 people reached shore.
Why she is remembered One of the worst ferry disasters in the Red Sea. The wreck is dived but is regarded as a cemetery, and many believe it should be left alone.
The wreck today Lies on her side in about 30 m, the highest part of the hull about 10 m below the surface, with propellers, rudder, a lifeboat, vehicles and passengers' belongings still visible. A dive site to be treated as a grave.
Sources differ Date 14 December 1991 at 23:31 (Divernet) versus 15 December just before midnight (redsea-diving). Lies on port side (Divernet) versus starboard side (redsea-diving). Built 1965 versus completed 1966. Deaths 464 (Lloyd's), 470 (official), about 850, about 1,200 or more than 1,600 (unofficial estimates).
Sources divernet.com · redsea-diving.com · Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Estonia
MS Estonia Other causes
Also known as Viking Sally (1980 to 1990), Silja Star (1990 to 1991), Wasa King (1991 to 1993)
28 September 1994 · Baltic Sea, between Estonia, Finland and Sweden, on the Tallinn to Stockholm route
The ship Car and passenger ferry, Estonia
Built Launched 26 April 1980, Meyer Werft, Papenburg, West Germany, yard 590
Size 155.43 m; 15,598 GT
Aboard 989
Lives lost 852; 137 rescued
On the crossing from Tallinn to Stockholm the locks of the bow visor failed and water flooded the car deck, so that she capsized quickly. Free surface effect, power failure and a delayed emergency response added to the losses.
Why she is remembered Europe's deadliest peacetime ferry sinking. The Joint Accident Investigation Commission reported in 1997; a 2023 investigation noted further construction flaws in the visor, and the 2023 Finnish series Estonia dramatised the event.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Blahaaaaaaaa69420, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Tanzania
MV Bukoba Other causes
21 May 1996 · Lake Victoria, about 30 nautical miles off Mwanza, Tanzania, in 25 m of water
The ship Lake Victoria ferry, Tanzania
Built About 1979
Size 850 tonnes capacity; licensed for 430 passengers
Aboard Unknown: 443 on the first and second class manifest, third class unrecorded
Lives lost 894 (official); up to 1,000 estimated
The overloaded ferry capsized on Lake Victoria. Third class passengers were never manifested, and she lacked life jackets, lifeboats and proper inspection.
Why she is remembered Described as the deadliest maritime disaster in the Southern Hemisphere; national mourning was declared and nine Tanzania Railway Corporation officials were charged.
Sources differ Deaths 894 (official) or up to 1,000.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Greece (previously France)
MS Express Samina Reef and rocks
Also known as Corse (1966 to 1982), Golden Vergina (1982 to 1999)
26 September 2000 · Portes Islets, Bay of Parikia, off Paros, Aegean Sea, Greece
The ship Ro-pax ferry, Greece (previously France)
Built 1966, Chantiers de l'Atlantique, Saint-Nazaire, yard F23
Size 115.00 m; 4,455 GRT
Aboard 533
Lives lost 81, plus two indirect deaths
On autopilot with no proper bridge watch and a failed port stabiliser, the ferry drifted onto the Portes rocks. Nine of eleven watertight doors were open against regulations, the engine room flooded and power failed, and only three of eight lifeboats could be launched.
Why she is remembered Led to voyage data recorders on passenger ferries and stricter inspections of ageing Greek ferries; the captain and first officer were convicted.
Sources differ The stated breakdown (473 plus 61) sums to 534, not 533. The total is given as 533, but the breakdown given (473 passengers, 61 crew) does not add up to it.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Peter J. Fitzpatrick, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Senegal (government owned)
MV Le Joola Storm
26 September 2002 · Atlantic off the coast of The Gambia
The ship Roll-on/roll-off ferry, Senegal (government owned)
Built Launched 22 March 1990, completed 12 November 1990, Schiffswerft Germersheim, Germany
Size 79.5 m; 2,087 GT
Aboard Approximately 1,863 to 2,000 (designed for 536 passengers)
Lives lost At least 1,863; estimates over 2,000; 64 survived
Sailing beyond her licensed coastal waters, with one engine out of action and nearly four times her design load, the ferry capsized in rough seas. Rescue was delayed for hours.
Why she is remembered One of the worst maritime disasters in history; a memorial museum opened in Ziguinchor in January 2024 and families continue to seek justice.
The wreck today Lies capsized at about 20 m and is believed to hold many unrecovered bodies.
Sources differ Deaths at least 1,863, with estimates over 2,000.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Liberia; owned by Gap Adventures
MS Explorer Ice
Also known as Lindblad Explorer (1969 to 1985), Society Explorer (1985 to 1992)
23 November 2007 · Bransfield Strait near the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica; 62°24′S 57°16′W
The ship Expedition cruise ship (polar), Liberia; owned by Gap Adventures
Built 1969, Uudenkaupungin Telakka, Uusikaupunki, Finland
Size 239 ft (73 m); 2,398 tons
Aboard 154 (91 passengers, 9 guides, 54 crew)
Lives lost None
Her captain entered an ice field believing it to be first year ice, but it was much harder land ice, and she struck an iceberg and sank. All aboard were evacuated by lifeboat within hours and rescued.
Why she is remembered Commissioned by Lars-Eric Lindblad, she pioneered Antarctic expedition tourism and made the first cruise ship transit of the Northwest Passage in 1984; she appears on South Georgia and Falkland Islands stamps.
The wreck today Lies at about 1,130 m in Bransfield Strait. A scale model is displayed at Canterbury Museum, Christchurch.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Greece (registered Piraeus)
MS Sea Diamond Reef and rocks
Also known as Birka Princess (1986 to 2006)
5 to 6 April 2007 · Near Nea Kameni, inside the caldera of Santorini, Aegean Sea, Greece
The ship Cruise ferry, later cruise ship, Greece (registered Piraeus)
Built 1985, Valmet, Vuosaari shipyard, Helsinki
Size 142.95 m; 22,412 GT after 2006 refit
Aboard 1,153 passengers plus crew
Lives lost 2 French passengers missing, presumed dead
She ran onto a volcanic reef inside the caldera on 5 April; most people were evacuated, and she capsized and sank stern first the next day.
Why she is remembered Fined for marine pollution, with the captain later sentenced to 12 years; the wreck remains an environmental concern in the caldera.
The wreck today Bow tip about 62 m deep and stern in up to 180 m; removal was announced in October 2017 for environmental and navigational reasons.
Sources differ Charts showed the reef at 57 m from shore against an actual 131 m.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Philippines (registered Cebu City), Sulpicio Lines
MV Princess of the Stars Storm
Also known as Ferry Lilac
21 June 2008 · Off San Fernando, Romblon, Philippines
The ship Ro-pax ferry, Philippines (registered Cebu City), Sulpicio Lines
Built 1984, IHI Corporation, Aioi, Hyogo, Japan, yard 2904
Size 193 m; 23,824 GT
Aboard 870 (reports of 747 to 866 manifested)
Lives lost 814 dead and missing; 56 known survivors
She left Manila on 20 June despite typhoon warnings; Typhoon Fengshen (Frank) changed course and overwhelmed her, and she capsized at about 1 pm on 21 June.
Why she is remembered One of the Philippines' deadliest maritime disasters; 10,000 kg of endosulfan pesticide was found illegally aboard, and in 2024 the Court of Appeals found the operator guilty of gross negligence.
The wreck today Salvaged and scrapped in 2011.
Sources differ Manifest figures vary from 747 to 866.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Honduras (previously Greece)
MV Spice Islander I Other causes
Also known as Marianna (1967 to 1988), Apostolos P (1988 to 2007)
10 September 2011 · Between Zanzibar and Pemba Island, Tanzania
The ship Ro-ro ferry, Honduras (previously Greece)
Built 1967, Greece
Size 60.00 m; 836 GRT
Aboard Over 800 passengers plus 45 crew (licensed for 654 passengers)
Lives lost 1,573 (revised January 2012); first estimate 2,976; 620 rescued, only 240 bodies recovered
The severely overloaded ferry sank between Zanzibar and Pemba, carrying far more than her licensed number of passengers. Most victims were never recovered.
Why she is remembered Most of the dead were never recovered: only 240 bodies were found.
Sources differ Deaths first estimated at 2,976, revised to 1,573.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Italy (registered Genoa), Costa Cruises
Costa Concordia Reef and rocks
13 January 2012 · Off the east shore of Isola del Giglio, Tuscany, Tyrrhenian Sea
The ship Concordia-class cruise ship, Italy (registered Genoa), Costa Cruises
Built Launched 2 September 2005, Fincantieri, Sestri Ponente
Size 290.20 m; 114,147 GT
Aboard 4,252 (3,229 passengers and 1,023 crew)
Lives lost 32
Sailing close to Giglio, she struck a rock that tore a 53 m gash in her port side; flooding cut power, and the partly submerged wreck lay in danger of slipping into a 70 m deep trough. The evacuation took over six hours.
Why she is remembered Captain Francesco Schettino was convicted of manslaughter, causing a maritime accident and abandoning ship, and sentenced to sixteen years in 2015. She was righted by parbuckling on 17 September 2013.
The wreck today Refloated in 2014, towed to Genoa and dismantled, completed 7 July 2017.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Robert Lender from Vienna, Austria, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · South Korea (previously Japan)
MV Sewol Other causes
Also known as Ferry Naminoue (1994 to 2012)
16 April 2014 · About 1.5 km off Donggeochado, Jindo County, South Jeolla Province, South Korea
The ship Ro-pax ferry, South Korea (previously Japan)
Built Launched 13 April 1994, Hayashikane Shipbuilding and Engineering Co, Nagasaki, Japan, yard 1006
Size 145.61 m; 6,835 GT
Aboard 476 (443 passengers including 325 Danwon High School students, and 33 crew)
Lives lost 304 dead and missing, 250 of them students
Carrying twice her legal cargo limit after modifications that had reduced her stability, the ferry capsized on a routine overnight crossing. Investigations found falsified safety documents and a negligent coast guard response.
Why she is remembered A national trauma in South Korea, marked by yellow ribbons; it exposed regulatory failure and corporate malpractice and led to criminal sentences.
The wreck today Raised on 23 March 2017 and moved ashore at Mokpo on 12 April 2017, where she remained as of April 2024.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Tanzania
MV Nyerere Other causes
20 September 2018 · Lake Victoria, about 50 m from the dock at Ukara Island, Ukerewe District, Tanzania
The ship Lake ferry, Tanzania
Built Maiden journey 2004
Size Stated capacity 100 passengers
Aboard Estimates from about 270 (final government count) to more than 400
Lives lost 228 (final official count); 41 rescued
The ferry capsized as she approached the dock. Explanations included a sharp turn by an untrained helmsman, a rush of passengers shifting the load, and overloading; passenger records were lost.
Why she is remembered Over 400 children were orphaned, and a memorial tower was planned for Ukara Island.
The wreck today Righted on 28 September 2018 and retrieved for assessment.
Sources differ Death toll first 131, then 224, finally 228.
Sources Wikipedia
Liners, Ferries and Passenger Ships · Indonesia
MV Sinar Bangun Storm
18 June 2018 · Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia, on the Simanindo to Tiga Ras route
The ship Lake ferry, Indonesia
Size 35 tons; rated for 43 passengers
Aboard 188 (final official count)
Lives lost 164 missing presumed dead and 3 bodies recovered; 21 survivors
Carrying more than four times her rated load, she capsized to starboard in rough water and heavy rain soon after departure. There were only 45 life jackets and vehicles blocked the exits.
Why she is remembered President Joko Widodo ordered a nationwide review of ferry safety; one family lost 18 members.
The wreck today Located at about 450 m depth in Lake Toba.
Sources differ Early estimates of those aboard ranged from 80 to 200.
Sources Wikipedia
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