The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
From the Saint-Géran and the frigates of Grand Port to St Brandon, Rodrigues, Réunion and the Wakashio, and on to the Cape, the Red Sea and Western Australia.
This chapter of Lost at Sea holds 121 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
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Portugal
Conceição Reef and rocks
22 August 1555 (Chagos News) or 1556 (Wikipedia) · Peros Banhos atoll, Chagos Archipelago (Nelson Island suggested as an alternative)
The ship Nau (Portuguese merchantman), Portugal
Aboard About 400 (estimate)
Lives lost About 300 or more
Under Captain Francisco Nobre, she ran onto shoals after the pilot ignored signs of shallow water. 165 survivors were left on a sandy islet of Peros Banhos.
Why she is remembered Castaway Manoel Rangel recorded the ordeal in 'A Tragédia dos Baixos de Pero dos Banhos'.
The wreck today Never found; an old anchor reported in the reef at Nelson Island may merit investigation.
Sources differ Year 1555 versus 1556; location Peros Banhos versus Nelson Island.
Sources chagos-trust.org · Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Portugal
Santo Alberto Other causes
1593 · Sunrise-on-Sea, Eastern Cape, South Africa
The ship Galleon (Portuguese India route), Portugal
Aboard 285
Leaking after leaving Cochin, she was run ashore; everyone reached land, and the party negotiated with local people to be guided to Maputo Bay.
Why she is remembered Unusually, her whole company reached shore and set out overland for Maputo Bay.
The wreck today Found in 1979 by Graham Bell-Cross, identified by Ming porcelain.
Sources theheritageportal.co.za
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Dutch Republic (VOC)
Banda Storm
5 March 1615 · West coast of Mauritius, off Pointe Moyenne at the foot of the Médine cliffs
The ship East Indiaman of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), Dutch Republic (VOC)
Size 800 tons (400 last)
Aboard About 100 people
Lives lost 30 dead reported, including Admiral Pieter Both, first Governor General of the Dutch East Indies
Returning homeward from Bantam in Pieter Both's four-ship fleet, the Banda was caught by a cyclone at Mauritius and struck a reef while seeking shelter. Of the fleet (Banda, Delft, Gelderland, Geünieerde Provinciën) only the Delft returned to the Netherlands.
Why she is remembered Mauritius's second highest mountain, Pieter Both, is named after the admiral who drowned; the Banda is the oldest recorded wreck in Mauritian waters.
The wreck today Located in 1979 by Patrick Lizé and Jacques Dumas with Pierre de Sornay's Mauritius Underwater Group, at depths of 2 to 50 m. Over 400 objects raised, including about 90 intact porcelain pieces, a Portuguese bronze astrolabe dated 1568, cannons, anchors and coins; finds shown at the National History Museum, Mahébourg.
Sources differ Location given as off Médine/Pointe Moyenne (Le Mauricien, l'Express) but as anchored off Port Louis (GlobeRovers).
Sources mass.cultureelerfgoed.nl · Le Mauricien · l'Express · globerovers.com
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Dutch Republic (VOC)
Gelderland Storm
1615 · Off Port Louis, north-west Mauritius
The ship Dutch East India Company ship (VOC), Dutch Republic (VOC)
One of the ships of the VOC fleet of Pieter Both lost in a violent storm while anchored off the north-west coast of Mauritius in 1615, together with the Banda and the Geünieerde Provinciën.
Why she is remembered Part of the earliest group of shipwrecks recorded at Mauritius, the fleet of Pieter Both.
The wreck today Le Mauricien reported in 2015 that she was the subject of ongoing archaeological research, while the Delft of the same fleet escaped in extremis.
Sources globerovers.com · Le Mauricien
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Dutch Republic (VOC)
Geünieerde Provinciën (Provinces Unies) Storm
March 1615 · Reef north of Albion, west coast of Mauritius
The ship VOC ship, Dutch Republic (VOC)
One of the three ships of Pieter Both's homeward fleet wrecked at Mauritius in the cyclone of March 1615.
Why she is remembered Part of the 1615 disaster that killed Admiral Pieter Both and gave his name to a Mauritian mountain.
The wreck today Found by fishermen in 1975 and excavated in 1990 under Erick Surcouf; six iron cannons, porcelain fragments and three lead ingots recovered.
Sources Le Mauricien · mass.cultureelerfgoed.nl
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Dutch Republic (VOC)
Batavia Reef and rocks
4 June 1629 · Morning Reef near Beacon Island, Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia
The ship East Indiaman (VOC), Dutch Republic (VOC)
Built Amsterdam, 1628
Size 600 tons; 45.3 m x 10.19 m
Aboard 341
Lives lost About 40 drowned; about 110 to 125 survivors murdered by mutineers
On her maiden voyage she struck Morning Reef. While commander Pelsaert sailed a boat some 3,000 km to Batavia, Jeronimus Cornelisz led a mutiny and massacre; soldier Wiebbe Hayes's group resisted until rescue came on the Sardam, and Cornelisz was executed.
Why she is remembered Remembered for the mutiny and massacre; a full-scale replica built 1985 to 1995 is at Lelystad; Mike Dash's Batavia's Graveyard (2001) and other books and films.
The wreck today Sighted in 1963 by lobster fisherman David Johnson, excavated in the 1970s; about 20 tonnes of hull timber conserved at the WA Museum, Fremantle and Geraldton.
Sources differ Aboard given as 341, 332 or 322; 122 reached port alive. Murdered: at least 110 versus about 125.
Sources Wikipedia
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Dutch Republic (VOC)
Nieuwe Haerlem Storm
25 March 1647 · Milnerton beach, Table Bay, South Africa
The ship Dutch East Indiaman, Dutch Republic (VOC)
Built Amsterdam
Size 500 tons
Homeward bound, she ran aground in a sudden gale.
Why she is remembered Their favourable reports to the VOC led Jan van Riebeeck to found the refreshment station at the Cape in 1652, the start of Cape Town.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Dutch Republic (VOC)
Vergulde Draeck (Gilt Dragon) Reef and rocks
28 April 1656 · Off Western Australia between Seabird and Ledge Point, about 100 km north of Perth
The ship Jacht (VOC), Dutch Republic (VOC)
Built Before 1653 (bought by the VOC in 1653)
Size 38.78 m; 260 tons
Aboard 193 crew; eight chests of silver coin and trade goods
Lives lost 118 believed lost
Bound for Batavia, she struck a submerged reef. 75 reached shore; seven sailed a boat to Batavia in 41 days to get help, but rescue voyages failed to find the others.
Why she is remembered Her lost survivors are among the first Europeans known to have lived in Australia.
The wreck today Found on 14 April 1963 by John Cowen, Jim, Alan and Graeme Henderson and Alan Robinson; under archaeological control from 1972; finds at the WA Maritime Museum, Fremantle.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Steve Caffery GDRG, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Dutch Republic (VOC)
Arnhem Storm
12 February 1662 · Saint Brandon Rocks (Cargados Carajos), about 200 km north-east of Mauritius
The ship Dutch East Indiaman (VOC), Dutch Republic (VOC)
Built Amsterdam, about 1654
Size 1,000 tons
Aboard Crew under Captain Pieter Anthoniszoon
Part of a seven-ship VOC return fleet that left Batavia on 23 December 1661, she was separated in a violent storm on 11 February 1662 and ran aground the next day on Saint Brandon. Survivors, among them Volkert Evertsz, reached Mauritius in a small boat and lived for about three months on goats, birds, tortoises and pigs until rescued by the English ship Truroe in May 1662.
Why she is remembered Her survivors on Mauritius are thought to have been the last people to see living dodos.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Dutch Republic (VOC)
Oosterland Storm
24 May 1697 · Table Bay, near the Salt River mouth, Cape Town, South Africa
The ship East Indiaman (VOC), Dutch Republic (VOC)
Built Zeeland, 1685
Size 1,123 tons; 160 ft
Aboard About 200 to 300
Lives lost Between 185 and 298 (reports conflict)
Homeward from Ceylon, she anchored in Table Bay; in a north-westerly gale the Kallendijk's anchor struck her, breaking the bowsprit and mainmast, her cables parted and she was driven ashore with the Waddinxveen.
Why she is remembered A key site in South African maritime archaeology, excavated by Bruno Werz.
The wreck today Found in 1988 by divers Graham Raynor, Michael Barchard and Christopher Byrnes at about 6 m; excavated from the early 1990s with the University of Cape Town (cinnamon, textiles, diamonds); protected under the National Heritage Resources Act.
Sources differ Death toll 185 to 298. Wikipedia 'Shipwrecks of Cape Town' says the site is now under reclaimed land.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · England (privateer of Captain William Kidd)
Adventure Galley Scuttled
April 1698 · Île Sainte-Marie, off north-east Madagascar
The ship Oared frigate (galley frigate), England (privateer of Captain William Kidd)
Built William Castle, Deptford; launched 4 December 1695
Size 287 tons burthen; 124 ft keel; 28 ft beam; 32 to 34 guns
Kidd's rotten and leaking ship was abandoned at the pirate haven of Île Sainte-Marie after most of his crew deserted. Crewman William Jenkins said Kidd ran her ashore, stripped and burned her; Kidd said he could not keep her from sinking.
Why she is remembered The ship of Captain Kidd, whose capture of the Quedah Merchant branded him a pirate.
The wreck today Barry Clifford claimed to have found her remains in 1999 to 2000, but UNESCO experts later concluded the site was part of old port structures.
Sources differ Cause: burned on purpose (Jenkins) versus sank from leaks (Kidd). Wreck identification by Clifford rejected by UNESCO.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Pirate (English pirate John Bowen)
Speaker Reef and rocks
1702 · Reefs near Île aux Cerfs and Trou d'Eau Douce, east coast of Mauritius, about 2,400 m from shore
The ship Pirate ship, Pirate (English pirate John Bowen)
The ship of the English pirate John Bowen was wrecked on the east coast reefs of Mauritius, carrying cannons and treasure taken from Arab merchant ships.
Why she is remembered Described as the first pirate treasure ever found; a bronze cannon has been lent to the Mauritius Museums Council.
The wreck today Site studied; an evaluation study was completed in December 2021.
Sources l'Express · globerovers.com
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · England
Falcon Reef and rocks
1703 · St Brandon (Cargados Carajos)
The ship Ship, England
Under Captain Edward Ledger she ran aground at St Brandon and was nearly lost.
Why she is remembered One of the earliest recorded English wrecks on the St Brandon shoals.
Sources Wikipedia · saintbrandonconservation.org
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Dutch Republic (VOC)
Zuytdorp Missing
1712 (sailed from the Netherlands 1 August 1711) · Zuytdorp Cliffs, Western Australia, between Kalbarri and Shark Bay, about 40 km north of the Murchison River
The ship VOC trading ship (East Indiaman), Dutch Republic (VOC)
Built Early 18th century
Aboard Over 100 new crew had joined at the Cape of Good Hope in March 1712
Lives lost All aboard presumed lost; no survivors documented
Carrying freshly minted silver coins for Batavia on the Brouwer Route, she never arrived and was never heard from again. Her remains were later found at the foot of the cliffs that now bear her name.
Why she is remembered A long-lost VOC ship whose fate was solved centuries later; the cliffs are named after her.
The wreck today First sighted in 1927 by local families, identified in 1954 by Phillip Playford, first dived in May 1964. Protected zone under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 and the Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018; finds at the Western Australian Museum (Fremantle and Geraldton).
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Dutch Republic (VOC)
Zeewijk Reef and rocks
9 June 1727 · Half Moon Reef, Pelsaert Group, Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia, 60 km west of Geraldton
The ship East Indiaman (VOC, Zeeland Chamber), Dutch Republic (VOC)
Built 1725
Size 41.0 m x 11 m; 36 guns plus 6 swivels
Aboard 208 seamen and soldiers; 315,836 guilders in treasure
Lives lost 126 of 208
The skipper ignored VOC instructions and his steersman's protests, and the lookout took breakers for moonlight, so she struck the reef at night. Survivors built the 20 m sloop Sloepie and 82 reached Batavia on 30 April 1728.
Why she is remembered The Sloepie was the first European vessel built in Australia.
The wreck today Found in March 1968 by journalist Hugh Edwards and divers; finds at the Western Australian Museum.
Sources differ Length 41.0 m versus 145 ft (44 m).
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · France
Saint-Géran Reef and rocks
Night of 16 to 17 August 1744 · Near Île d'Ambre (Amber Island), off the north-east coast of Île de France (Mauritius), south of the Passe des Citrons, Indian Ocean
The ship East Indiaman of the French East India Company (Compagnie des Indes), France
Built Launched at Lorient
Size 600 tons
Aboard Crew of 90 sailors (mostly Breton), 18 warrant officers and 19 cabin boys, plus officers, chaplain, surgeon, domestics, about 13 passengers and 30 enslaved people embarked at Gorée
Lives lost About 131 or more; only 9 survived (8 sailors and one passenger)
On her fourth voyage the Saint-Géran was lost at night through a navigational error and sank south of the Passe des Citrons. Passenger Louise Augustine Caillou is said to have refused to undress to swim for safety, and she and first ensign Montendre died together.
Why she is remembered The wreck inspired Bernardin de Saint-Pierre's novel Paul et Virginie, in which the heroine dies in the wreck of the Saint-Géran; a monument stands at Poudre d'Or.
The wreck today Local divers found artefacts in 1966; archaeologist Jean-Yves Blot confirmed the identity in 1979, at about 6 m depth. The ship's bell is in the Naval Museum at Mahébourg.
Sources differ Histoires Mauriciennes gives Mauritius, more than 200 aboard and 9 survivors of 181 recorded; Wikipedia's List of shipwrecks in 1744 says off Réunion with 51 of 60 lost.
Sources histoiresmauriciennes.com · Wikipedia · Wikipédia (FR) · globerovers.com · l'Express
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · France (Royal Navy)
Ambulante Storm
1 March 1772 · Reef passage off Morne Brabant (Le Morne), south-west Mauritius
The ship Merchant frigate converted to a naval flûte (store ship), France (Royal Navy)
Built Marseille, 1758; converted to a flûte in 1762
Built as a merchant ship and bought by the French Royal Navy, she struck the reef passage at Le Morne and sank during a cyclone on 1 March 1772.
Why she is remembered A French royal navy store ship of the Île de France period, now an underwater archaeological site.
The wreck today Surveyed in 2018 and 2019 by the Mauritius Marine Conservation Society: iron knees, mast hoops, ballast stones, a pump piston shaft and one cannon.
Sources mmcs-ngo.org
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom (East India Company charter)
Grosvenor Reef and rocks
4 August 1782 · Pondoland coast, South Africa, north of the Umzimvubu River
The ship East Indiaman, United Kingdom (East India Company charter)
Built 1777
Size 729 tons
Aboard 150 (132 crew, 18 passengers including 6 children)
Lives lost 27 in the wreck; about 96 more died on the trek or stayed among local communities
The crew failed to recognise signs of land at night and she ran aground. Captain Coxon led about 108 survivors toward Cape Town, badly underestimating the distance; only 18 reached it.
Why she is remembered Legends of treasure and of women survivors living among local people; a 1790 expedition found three white women, two possibly from the Grosvenor.
The wreck today Salvage from 1880 under Captain Sidney Turner recovered Indian coins, Venetian ducats and cannons; 340 more coins found by 1896.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Possibly George Carter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Great Britain
Atlas Reef and rocks
30 May 1786 · Ocean side reef of the east arm of Diego Garcia, Chagos Archipelago
The ship East India Company merchant ship, Great Britain
She was wrecked on the outer reef of Diego Garcia; her crew survived and joined the settlement there.
Why she is remembered One of the earliest recorded wrecks of Diego Garcia, contemporary with the first settlement of the atoll.
The wreck today Broken up by the sea.
Sources zianet.com
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Great Britain
Hampshire Reef and rocks
1793 · Barton Pass, entrance to the lagoon of Diego Garcia, Chagos Archipelago
The ship Merchant ship, Great Britain
She was wrecked while trying to enter the Diego Garcia lagoon through Barton Pass.
Why she is remembered An early recorded loss at the lagoon entrance of Diego Garcia.
Sources zianet.com
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · France
La Revanche Reef and rocks
25 October 1795 · St Brandon (Cargados Carajos)
The ship Corsair (privateer), France
Lives lost 8 crew died; 5 survivors reached Port Louis
The privateer was wrecked at St Brandon; five survivors made their way to Port Louis on Île de France, while eight of the crew perished.
Why she is remembered A loss from the great age of the Île de France corsairs during the French Revolutionary Wars.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · France
Preneuse War
11 December 1799 · Ashore near Baie du Tombeau, just north of Port Louis, Île de France (Mauritius)
The ship Frigate, Preneuse class, 44 guns (28 x 18-pounders, 12 x 8-pounders), France
Built Rochefort, launched 16 February 1795
Size 47.8 m long, beam 11.9 m, 1,400 tonneaux
Returning to Île de France under Captain Jean-Mathieu-Adrien Lhermitte, she was chased by HMS Tremendous while HMS Adamant blocked her escape. Erratic winds drove her ashore under the coastal forts; Lhermitte struck his colours and scuttled her, and the shore batteries drove off British attempts to take her off.
Why she is remembered Her destruction under the guns of Port Louis in December 1799 is known as the Battle of Port Louis.
The wreck today Destroyed where she lay; a British boarding party under Lieutenant Edward Grey set the wreck alight at 21:00 on the night of the action.
Sources differ One account says British attempts to recover her were repelled by the coastal batteries after Lhermitte scuttled her; another says a boarding party from HMS Adamant reached the wreck and burned it without loss.
Sources Wikipedia
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom (Royal Navy)
HMS Sceptre Storm
5 November 1799 · Table Bay, Cape Town, South Africa, off present-day Woodstock Beach
The ship 64-gun third-rate ship of the line, United Kingdom (Royal Navy)
Built Randall, Rotherhithe; launched 8 June 1781
Size 1,398 tons burthen; 159 ft gundeck; 44 ft 4 in beam
Aboard 481 men
Lives lost About 349 seamen and marines
At anchor in Table Bay during a gale, her cables parted and at about 7 pm she was driven onto a reef and broken to pieces. 51 men reached shore, 9 of whom died on the beach; the survivors were acquitted at court martial on 14 December 1799.
Why she is remembered One of the worst naval disasters at the Cape.
The wreck today Near the present Royal Cape Yacht Club, Cape Town.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
La Victoire Other causes
1804 · Off Pointe aux Canonniers, north-west Mauritius
The ship Slave ship
A slave ship lost off Pointe aux Canonniers in 1804.
Why she is remembered One of the slave-trade wrecks in Mauritian waters under study.
The wreck today Preliminary study under way to decide whether excavation is warranted.
Sources l'Express
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Great Britain
HMS Blenheim Missing
February 1807 · Never found; presumed foundered off Madagascar. The French frigate Sémillante reported seeing her off Rodrigues in a gale on 18 February 1807
The ship Second-rate ship of the line, 90 guns, razeed to a 74-gun third rate in 1801, Great Britain
Built Woolwich Dockyard, launched 5 July 1761, designed by Israel Pownoll
Size 176 ft 1 in on the gundeck, 1,827 tons burthen
Aboard About 590
Lives lost About 590 in Blenheim; 280 in HMS Java, lost with her
Flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Troubridge, she left Madras in January 1807 so leaky that she needed constant pumping. After parting from HMS Harrier in a gale on 5 February she was last seen flying distress signals, and neither she nor the frigate Java was ever seen again.
Why she is remembered One of the Royal Navy's great disappearances, taking an admiral and some 870 men in two ships; it is speculated that Java was lost trying to rescue Blenheim's crew.
The wreck today Never found.
Sources Wikipedia · histoiresmauriciennes.com
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · France (captured from the United States)
Diligente Scuttled
Also known as Samson
August 1810 · Île de la Passe, entrance of Grand Port, south-east Mauritius
The ship Merchant ship used as a French supply ship (described as a fluyt), France (captured from the United States)
Originally the American ship Samson of New York, she was captured on 2 September 1809 by François Fidèle Ripaud de Montedevert of the corvette Créole, with a cargo of opium and 27,814 Spanish eight reales silver coins. Renamed and used as a supply ship, she was scuttled in August 1810 during the Battle of Grand Port.
Why she is remembered A French casualty of the Battle of Grand Port, alongside the British frigates Sirius and Magicienne.
The wreck today Discovered in 2005 and investigated in 2008 by the Mauritius Marine Conservation Society: only the keel and part of the wooden hull survive under a large ballast mound.
Sources mmcs-ngo.org
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom (Royal Navy); originally France
HMS Magicienne Scuttled
Also known as Magicienne (French Navy frigate, captured 1781)
24 August 1810 · Grand Port, south-east Mauritius
The ship Frigate (fifth rate), ex-French, United Kingdom (Royal Navy); originally France
Built Toulon, designed by Joseph-Marie-Blaise Coulomb, 1778; captured by HMS Chatham off Cape Ann on 2 September 1781
Size 600 port tonneaux; about 800 tons displacement; 32 guns in the Grand Port order of battle; crew 280
Aboard Crew of about 280
Lives lost 8 killed and 20 wounded in the final engagement
Magicienne grounded while attempting the channel at Grand Port and, unable to manoeuvre in calm conditions, was rapidly flooding with her capstan smashed. She was set on fire at 7.30 pm on 24 August 1810 to prevent capture, and her magazines exploded at 11 pm.
Why she is remembered One of the two British frigates destroyed by their own crews at Grand Port, the British Navy's most serious frigate defeat of the Napoleonic Wars.
Sources differ The ship article heads her as Magicienne (1778) while the URL refers to 1781, the year of capture; guns given as 36 as a French ship and 32 in the Grand Port order of battle.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom (Royal Navy)
HMS Sirius Scuttled
25 August 1810 · Grand Port (Mahébourg bay), south-east Mauritius
The ship 36-gun fifth-rate frigate, United Kingdom (Royal Navy)
Built John Dudman, Deptford; launched 12 April 1797
Size 148 ft 10 in on the gundeck; armed with 26 x 18-pounders, 6 x 12-pounders and 2 x 9-pounders; complement 247
Aboard Complement of 247 officers and men
During the Battle of Grand Port Sirius grounded on 22 August, was refloated and grounded again; every effort to kedge her off failed. Her crew was taken off and she was set on fire at 9 am on 25 August; her magazine exploded at about 11 am and the hull drifted briefly off the reef before sinking.
Why she is remembered Grand Port was the only French naval victory of the Napoleonic Wars inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe; the battle appears in Alexandre Dumas's Georges (1843) and Patrick O'Brian's The Mauritius Command (1977).
The wreck today Lies in some 20 to 25 m of water, broken up by her scuttling and by salvors, but of archaeological interest with many cannon exposed.
Sources Wikipedia
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom (East India Company charter)
Arniston Storm
30 May 1815 · Waenhuiskrans, near Cape Agulhas, South Africa
The ship East Indiaman, United Kingdom (East India Company charter)
Built William Barnard, Deptford, 1794
Size 1,468 tons burthen
Aboard 378, including wounded soldiers of the Kandyan Wars returning to England
Lives lost 372; 6 survived (the carpenter and five sailors)
Separated from her convoy in bad weather and without a marine chronometer, her officers mistook Cape Agulhas for the Cape of Good Hope by dead reckoning. Her anchors failed in the storm and she broke up on the rocks.
Why she is remembered The village of Waenhuiskrans is also called Arniston after her; the loss strengthened the case for the Cape Agulhas lighthouse (1847 to 1848) and shows the cost of sailing without a chronometer.
The wreck today In about 6 m of water; surveyed by the University of Cape Town in 1982. Artefacts in the Bredasdorp museum.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom
Blucher Storm
1 March 1818 · Île de France (Mauritius)
The ship Ship, United Kingdom
She was driven ashore and wrecked on Mauritius in the hurricane of 1 March 1818, in which the frigate HMS Magicienne also sank at the island before being refloated.
Why she is remembered A casualty of the 1818 hurricane at Port Louis.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Great Britain (East India Company)
Cabalva Reef and rocks
7 July 1818 · Cargados Carajos shoals (St Brandon), north-east of Mauritius
The ship East Indiaman, Great Britain (East India Company)
Built Wells, Wigram & Green, Blackwall (yard no. 146), launched 3 October 1811
Size 1,257 tons burthen, 165 ft 7 7/8 in overall, beam 42 ft, three decks
Aboard Complement of about 120
Lives lost Captain James Dalrymple, Assistant Surgeon Grant and 15 seamen, drowned when the longboat capsized
She sprang a leak off the Cape of Good Hope on 22 June 1818 and ran onto the Cargados shoals. The captain, the assistant surgeon and 15 seamen, the last to leave in the longboat, drowned when it capsized in heavy seas. The ship and cargo, valued at 149,570 pounds, were lost.
Why she is remembered Sixth Mate Charles William Francken led survivors to Mauritius without navigation instruments and was rewarded with 50 guineas and a presentation sextant.
The wreck today Wreck site located by divers in 1985; Spanish silver pieces of eight recovered from it were later sold at coin auctions.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · France
Paix Storm
1 March 1818 · Île de France (Mauritius)
The ship Ship, France
She was driven ashore and wrecked on Mauritius in the hurricane of 1 March 1818.
Why she is remembered A casualty of the 1818 hurricane at Mauritius.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Netherlands
Admiraal Evertsen Other causes
April 1819 (reached Diego Garcia 10 April 1819) · Off Diego Garcia, Chagos Archipelago; sank in deep water west of the atoll according to one local history
The ship Ship of the line, Netherlands
Aboard Rear-Admiral Buyskes, with the botanist Caspar Reinwardt's collections, commanded by Captain Q. M. R. Ver Huell
Lives lost Crew rescued; no deaths stated
Homeward bound from the Dutch East Indies in March 1819 with Reinwardt's botanical collections for Leiden, she leaked so badly that the pumps were worked continuously. Off Diego Garcia Rear-Admiral Buyskes overruled Ver Huell and ordered her abandoned; the American brig Pickering took off the crew, who went on via Mauritius to the Netherlands.
Why she is remembered Ver Huell, an artist as well as an officer, painted her just before she foundered with the Pickering in the background; he was court-martialled and acquitted.
The wreck today Not found; one source says she sank in deep water west of Diego Garcia.
Sources differ The Diego Garcia history page describes her as a 178 ft twin-screw steamer that caught fire and sank on 8 to 9 April 1819; Wikipedia's Ver Huell article calls her a ship of the line. Steam propulsion is not plausible for 1819 and is not confirmed elsewhere.
Sources Wikipedia · zianet.com
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · France
Le Coureur Reef and rocks
1821 · Pointe aux Feuilles, in the lagoon of south-east Mauritius, on the reef bordering the channel
The ship Two-masted lugger-rigged schooner (goélette), slave ship, France
Size Small to medium vessel for coastal navigation (no figures stated)
A schooner engaged in the illegal slave trade after its abolition, she ran onto the reef at Pointe aux Feuilles; the bow was destroyed by a violent impact with the reef. GlobeRovers states she struck the reef while pursued by the British.
Why she is remembered One of the few slave-ship wrecks excavated in the Indian Ocean, studied within the UNESCO Slave Route project.
The wreck today Found in October 2004 by Armiyo Vurdapa Naiken, dive chief at Mahébourg Marine Farm; excavated April to June 2005 by the Mauritius Museums Council and the National Heritage Fund with Egyptian archaeologist Ibrahim Metwalli and Yann von Arnim. Lies at 4 to 14 m; about 500 objects recovered.
Sources differ Date of loss: 1821 (GRAN excavation report, GlobeRovers) versus 1776 (l'Express).
Sources l'Express · globerovers.com
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom
Clelie Storm
23 February 1824 · Port Louis harbour, Mauritius
The ship Brig, United Kingdom
The brig sank at Port Louis harbour, Mauritius in the storm of 23 February 1824, one of some thirty vessels listed as driven ashore or lost at Mauritius that day.
Why she is remembered A casualty of the storm of 23 February 1824, which drove some thirty vessels ashore or under at Mauritius in a single day.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United States
Concorde Storm
23 February 1824 · Mauritius
The ship Full-rigged ship, United States
The full-rigged ship driven ashore and wrecked at Mauritius in the storm of 23 February 1824, one of some thirty vessels listed as driven ashore or lost at Mauritius that day.
Why she is remembered A casualty of the storm of 23 February 1824, which drove some thirty vessels ashore or under at Mauritius in a single day.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom (Royal Navy)
HMS Delight Storm
22 or 23 February 1824 · Indian Ocean off Mauritius
The ship Cherokee-class brig-sloop, United Kingdom (Royal Navy)
Aboard 75 crew and 110 recaptured slaves
Lives lost All aboard: 75 crew and 110 recaptured slaves
In the storm that struck Mauritius and Île Bourbon in February 1824, the Royal Navy brig-sloop, carrying 110 recaptured slaves, foundered off Mauritius with everyone aboard.
Why she is remembered Her loss took with her 110 people who had been freed from a slave ship, as well as her whole crew.
Sources differ The Wikipedia list carries two entries for her, dated 22 February 1824 (with the loss of all 75 crew and 110 recaptured slaves) and 23 February 1824.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom
Governor Brisbane Storm
23 February 1824 · Port Louis, Mauritius
The ship Brig, United Kingdom
The brig driven ashore and wrecked at Port Louis, Mauritius in the storm of 23 February 1824, one of some thirty vessels listed as driven ashore or lost at Mauritius that day.
Why she is remembered A casualty of the storm of 23 February 1824, which drove some thirty vessels ashore or under at Mauritius in a single day.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · France
Jean Bart Storm
25 February 1824 · Île Bourbon (Réunion)
The ship Ship, France
Lives lost None; crew rescued
She was driven ashore and wrecked on Île Bourbon in the February 1824 storm; her crew were rescued.
Why she is remembered One of four French ships wrecked on Île Bourbon on 25 February 1824 in the same storm that devastated Port Louis.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · France
Magicienne Storm
25 February 1824 · Île Bourbon (Réunion)
The ship Ship, France
Lives lost None; crew rescued
She was driven ashore and wrecked on Île Bourbon in the February 1824 storm; her crew were rescued.
Why she is remembered One of four French ships wrecked on Île Bourbon on 25 February 1824 in the same storm that devastated Port Louis.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom
Peace Storm
23 February 1824 · Port Louis, Mauritius
The ship Lugger, United Kingdom
The lugger wrecked at Port Louis, Mauritius in the storm of 23 February 1824, one of some thirty vessels listed as driven ashore or lost at Mauritius that day.
Why she is remembered A casualty of the storm of 23 February 1824, which drove some thirty vessels ashore or under at Mauritius in a single day.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · France
Scythe Storm
23 February 1824 · Mauritius
The ship Brig, France
The brig driven ashore and wrecked at Mauritius in the storm of 23 February 1824, one of some thirty vessels listed as driven ashore or lost at Mauritius that day.
Why she is remembered A casualty of the storm of 23 February 1824, which drove some thirty vessels ashore or under at Mauritius in a single day.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · France
Sylph Storm
25 February 1824 · Île Bourbon (Réunion)
The ship Ship, France
Lives lost None; crew rescued
She was driven ashore and wrecked on Île Bourbon in the February 1824 storm; her crew were rescued.
Why she is remembered One of four French ships wrecked on Île Bourbon on 25 February 1824 in the same storm that devastated Port Louis.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · France
Tippoo Sain Storm
25 February 1824 · Île Bourbon (Réunion)
The ship Ship, France
Lives lost None; crew rescued
She was driven ashore and wrecked on Île Bourbon in the February 1824 storm; her crew were rescued.
Why she is remembered One of four French ships wrecked on Île Bourbon on 25 February 1824 in the same storm that devastated Port Louis.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom
Young Olympe Storm
23 February 1824 · Port Louis harbour, Mauritius
The ship Brig, United Kingdom
The brig sank at Port Louis harbour, Mauritius in the storm of 23 February 1824, one of some thirty vessels listed as driven ashore or lost at Mauritius that day.
Why she is remembered A casualty of the storm of 23 February 1824, which drove some thirty vessels ashore or under at Mauritius in a single day.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom
Britannia Reef and rocks
1833 (date unknown) · Reef off Amber Island (Île d'Ambre), north-east Mauritius
The ship Ship, United Kingdom
Lives lost None; all on board rescued
She was wrecked on a reef off Amber Island; all on board were rescued.
Why she is remembered A loss on the reefs of Île d'Ambre, north-east Mauritius, without loss of life.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · France
Deux Marie Other causes
1833 (date unknown) · Île Bourbon (Réunion)
The ship Ship, France
The ship was wrecked on Île Bourbon in 1833.
Why she is remembered One of the recorded nineteenth century wrecks of Réunion.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom
Samuel Brown Other causes
1833 (date unknown) · Mauritius
The ship Ship, United Kingdom
On a voyage from Bengal to London, she was wrecked at Mauritius.
Why she is remembered A loss on the Bengal to London route via Mauritius.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Letitia Reef and rocks
15 September 1845 · Frigate islet, St Brandon
The ship Sailing ship
Lives lost Captain Malcolm drowned
She ran aground on Frigate islet and her master, Captain Malcolm, drowned.
Why she is remembered One of a cluster of nineteenth century losses on Frigate island.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Indian Reef and rocks
1850 · St Brandon shoals
The ship Sailing vessel
She sank on the St Brandon shoals; little is on record about the loss.
Why she is remembered One of the many little documented losses on the atoll.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Mary Reef and rocks
16 November 1850 · Frigate island, St Brandon
The ship Barque
The barque foundered on Frigate island.
Why she is remembered One of a cluster of nineteenth century losses on Frigate island.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom (Royal Navy)
HMS Birkenhead Reef and rocks
26 February 1852 · Danger Point near Gansbaai, Western Cape, South Africa (34°38'42“S 19°17'9”E)
The ship Iron paddle steam frigate, later troopship, United Kingdom (Royal Navy)
Built John Laird, Birkenhead; launched 30 December 1845
Size 210 ft (64 m); 1,918 tons displacement
Aboard About 630 to 643 people, troops of ten regiments, families and crew
Lives lost About 450
Steaming at 8 knots in calm seas, the iron troopship struck an uncharted rock and sank within about twenty minutes. Soldiers stood fast so that women and children could board the few lifeboats; many drowned or were taken by sharks.
Why she is remembered One of the earliest known cases of 'women and children first'; the 'Birkenhead drill' became a byword for courage, notably in Kipling's 1893 poem.
The wreck today At about 30 m; a war grave protected by a 1989 British and South African agreement. Rumours of £240,000 in gold drew many salvage attempts. Danger Point lighthouse (1895) bears a 1936 remembrance plaque.
Sources differ Number aboard given as 630 and as 643, uncertain because the muster rolls were lost; survivors about 193.
Sources Wikipedia
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Great Britain
Cornwall Reef and rocks
14 to 15 July 1858 · Pointe aux Canonniers, north-west Mauritius
The ship East India Company transport, later merchant ship, Great Britain
Built Mathew Smith, Howrah, Calcutta, launched 3 July 1810
Size 798 to 872 tons burthen, 139 ft overall, beam 36 ft 10 in
After nearly fifty years of service, she was wrecked at Pointe aux Canonniers while on passage from Madras to Mauritius.
Why she is remembered She had served as a transport in the British expeditions that took Île Bourbon (Réunion) and Île de France (Mauritius) in 1810, and ended her career on the island she helped capture.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Nasser Sultan Reef and rocks
5 January 1860 · Northern reefs of Rodrigues
Aboard 46 men
Lives lost None; all 46 saved
She was lost on the northern reefs of Rodrigues; all 46 men aboard were saved.
Why she is remembered One of the recorded nineteenth century losses on the Rodrigues reef.
Sources iocp.potomitan.info
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom
Hammersmith Storm
3 January 1868 · Mauritius
The ship Barque, United Kingdom
Lives lost 3 crew
The barque was driven ashore and wrecked at Mauritius with the loss of three of her crew, one of six ships lost or driven ashore on the island that day.
Why she is remembered The only one of six ships lost or driven ashore at Mauritius that day with recorded deaths.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · France
Incomparable Storm
3 January 1868 · Mauritius
The ship Full-rigged ship, France
The full-rigged ship was driven ashore and wrecked on Mauritius on 3 January 1868.
Why she is remembered One of six ships lost or driven ashore at Mauritius that day.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom
Mauritius Storm
11 March 1868 · Port Louis, Mauritius
The ship Steamship, United Kingdom
The steamship was driven ashore and wrecked at Port Louis during a cyclone.
Why she is remembered A steamer bearing the island's own name, lost in its capital's harbour.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom
Serica Storm
12 March 1868 · Indian Ocean, 300 nautical miles (560 km) south-west of Mauritius
The ship Ship, United Kingdom
Lives lost 4
She foundered in a storm 300 nautical miles south-west of Mauritius with the loss of four lives.
Why she is remembered One of several losses of the March 1868 cyclone season around Mauritius.
Sources differ The same Wikipedia list also has a ship named Serca foundering at the same position on 11 March 1868; this may be a duplicate entry for the same vessel.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom
Vigilant Storm
3 January 1868 · Mauritius
The ship Ship, United Kingdom
The ship was lost at Mauritius on 3 January 1868.
Why she is remembered One of six ships lost or driven ashore at Mauritius that day.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom (P&O)
Carnatic Reef and rocks
12 September 1869 (struck the reef); broke up two days later · Sha'b Abu Nuhas reef near Shadwan Island, Gulf of Suez, Red Sea
The ship Steamship (P&O passenger and cargo), United Kingdom (P&O)
Built Samuda Brothers, Cubitt Town, London, 1862 to 1863
Size 1,776 GRT; 89.4 m
Aboard Passengers and crew
Lives lost 31
After grounding, Captain Jones judged her safe and kept passengers aboard. About 34 hours later water reached the boilers and, as the first boat was being loaded, she broke in half. Survivors reached Shadwan Island and were taken off by the P&O Sumatra.
Why she is remembered She carried £40,000 in gold; now a popular Red Sea wreck dive.
The wreck today Rediscovered in May 1984; a popular dive site.
Sources Wikipedia
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
City of Venice Other causes
1871 · Rodrigues
The ship Sailing ship
Built 1867
A sailing ship built in 1867 and wrecked in 1871; Rodrigues historian Yann Von Arnim lists a City of Venice wrecked at Rodrigues in 1871.
Why she is remembered One of about 82 wrecks recorded around Rodrigues.
Sources differ The Wikipedia name page records a sailing ship City of Venice built 1867 and wrecked 1871 without giving the place; that this is the same ship as the Rodrigues wreck is likely but not confirmed.
Sources histoiresmauriciennes.com · Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom
Dunraven Reef and rocks
22 April 1876 · Beacon Rock, Ras Muhammad, southern Sinai, Red Sea
The ship Steam and sail cargo ship, United Kingdom
Built C. Mitchell and Co, launched 14 December 1872
Size 1,600 GRT; 81.6 m x 9.8 m
Aboard Captain Care and 25 crew
Lives lost None
Through a navigational error she ran straight onto the reef. After 14 hours she broke free, capsized and sank; local fishermen rescued the crew. The Board of Trade suspended the captain's licence for a year.
Why she is remembered A favourite Red Sea wreck dive lying upside down on the reef.
The wreck today Rediscovered in 1977 (credited to a German oil company employee or to Sharm el-Sheikh divers including Howard Rosenstein), identified by porcelain bearing her name; lies inverted at about 25 m.
Sources differ Discoverer credited differently in sources.
Sources Wikipedia
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Great Britain
Maria Reef and rocks
19 June 1881 · Îlot Fourneau, south-east coast of Mauritius
The ship Barque, Great Britain
Built 1869
Size 542 tons
Bound for Port Louis from Kakinada (Cocanada) with gram, ghee, oil and tobacco, she was wrecked at Îlot Fourneau.
Why she is remembered An Indian Ocean trader supplying Mauritius from India, now an underwater archaeological site.
The wreck today Surveyed in 2018 and 2019 by the Mauritius Marine Conservation Society: an anchor, part of an iron hull, ballast stones and a windlass with gear wheels.
Sources mmcs-ngo.org
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom
Clan Campbell Other causes
1882 · South of Mauritius near Baie du Cap
The ship Iron screw steamer, United Kingdom
An iron screw steamer lost off south Mauritius; part of her cargo was whisky.
Why she is remembered A 19th century steamship wreck of the south coast, remembered for its whisky cargo.
Sources globerovers.com
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Stanhope Reef and rocks
1883 · Southern reefs of Rodrigues
Carrying a cargo of teak logs, she was lost on the southern reefs of Rodrigues; all the teak was salvaged.
Why she is remembered One of the recorded nineteenth century losses on the Rodrigues reef.
Sources iocp.potomitan.info
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · France
René Storm
6 September 1886 · Roadstead of Sainte-Marie, north coast of Réunion
The ship Three-masted sailing ship, France
Aboard Captain M. Lebreton and 13 crew
Lives lost None mentioned
Arrived from Pondicherry with spices and provisions, she unloaded at Sainte-Marie and weighed anchor at about 21:00 in a good breeze. A rising sea and torrential rain drove her onto the reef: the rudder broke, the masts went and she capsized to starboard. The crew sheltered at the stern overnight and were taken off next morning by the ship La Sendre.
Why she is remembered Part of the maritime heritage trail of Sainte-Marie, one of fifteen wrecks recorded along the town's coast.
The wreck today Remains still visible in the Sainte-Marie roadstead.
Sources ville-saintemarie.re
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · British India
Vaitarna (Vijli) Missing
8 November 1888 · Off the Kathiawar (Saurashtra) coast, Gujarat, near Madhavpur, Arabian Sea
The ship Passenger and cargo steamship, British India
Built Grangemouth Dockyard Co, Scotland; launched 27 June 1885
Size 292 GRT; 170.1 ft x 26.5 ft
Aboard About 746 (703 passengers and 43 crew), including thirteen wedding parties and students
Lives lost All aboard (more than 740)
Sailing from Mandvi to Bombay via Dwarka, she ran into the 1888 Arabian Sea cyclone and was never seen again. No bodies or wreckage were found.
Why she is remembered Called the 'Titanic of Gujarat' and 'Haji Kasam ni Vijli' after her electric lighting, she lives on in Gujarati folk songs and in Gunvantrai Acharya's 1954 novel.
The wreck today Never found.
Sources Wikipedia
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · France (Nantes)
Ker Anna Reef and rocks
9 December 1894 · Coral reef at Pointe des Aigrettes, Réunion
The ship Three-masted sailing ship, France (Nantes)
Aboard 14
Lives lost 8
Having left Saint-Denis the evening before, she ran onto the coral at dawn.
Why she is remembered The eight victims lie in the cimetière marin of Saint-Paul.
Sources fr-academic.com
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Traveller Reef and rocks
1897 · Reef north-west of Port Mathurin, Rodrigues, after anchoring west of Grand Pâté
The ship Barque
Size 1,492 gross tons
Aboard 19 crew
Lives lost 9 died of fever (Java fever), including the captain, and 2 took their own lives
Carrying sugar from Java to Philadelphia with a crew stricken by fever, she anchored off Rodrigues west of Grand Pâté; her anchor failed in the night and she was wrecked on the reef north-west of Port Mathurin. The survivors were quarantined for three months on Île aux Sables (Sable Island).
Why she is remembered The best documented of the roughly 82 wrecks recorded around Rodrigues.
The wreck today Most of the sugar cargo was recovered, according to the IOCP history of Rodrigues.
Sources differ Von Arnim gives the destination as Philadelphia and 9 fever deaths plus 2 suicides; the IOCP history gives Delaware and says eleven died before reaching Rodrigues, adding that the islanders refused the ship entry.
Sources histoiresmauriciennes.com · iocp.potomitan.info
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · British India (Royal Indian Marine)
Warren Hastings Reef and rocks
14 January 1897 · Off the coast of Réunion near the village of Saint-Philippe
The ship Troopship of the Royal Indian Marine (RIMS), British India (Royal Indian Marine)
Built Launched 18 April 1893, Barrow Shipbuilding Company
Size 330 ft long, beam 49 ft 3 in, 5,000 long tons displacement
Aboard 1,244: 526 of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, 510 of the 2nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment, 25 of the 2nd Middlesex Regiment, 20 women, 10 children and 253 crew
Lives lost 2 died during the evacuation
Steaming in heavy rain and fog, with her compass affected by magnetic disturbance, she ran about 8 miles off course and struck a rock off Réunion. Captain Holland ordered evacuation at 04:00; she listed heavily, the electric lights failed, but nearly everyone was brought ashore on ropes by 05:30. The troops were later carried on to Mauritius in the SS Lalpoora.
Why she is remembered Celebrated as a model of discipline in a shipwreck, the evacuation of over 1,200 people in darkness with only two deaths was praised in a Special Army Order; Captain Holland was court-martialled and reprimanded.
Sources Wikipedia
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Zeta Storm
1906 · Rodrigues
She was lost in a gale at Rodrigues in 1906.
Why she is remembered One of the recorded early twentieth century losses at Rodrigues.
Sources iocp.potomitan.info
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Japan
Hitachi Maru War
7 November 1917 · Among the Cargados Carajos islands (St Brandon), north-east of Mauritius
The ship Cargo and passenger steamer (freighter), Japan
Built 1906
Size 6,557 GRT
Aboard Crew plus a large number of passengers, including many women
Lives lost 14 crew killed and 6 wounded when she was shelled before surrendering
The German armed merchant raider SMS Wolf captured her south of the Maldives on 26 September 1917 after shelling her. Wolf kept her for over a month, stripping her of silk, copper and coal, and then scuttled her with explosives at St Brandon.
Why she is remembered One of the most photographed captures of the First World War raider campaign; the Australian War Memorial holds photographs of her passengers in the boats and of her sinking.
Sources differ The Wikipedia name page gives 6 November 1917 for the scuttling; the Australian War Memorial and the SMS Wolf article give 7 November 1917.
Sources awm.gov.au · Wikipedia · saintbrandonconservation.org
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom (Hain Steamship Company)
Trevessa Storm
3 June 1923 (Sailors' Home Society) or 4 June 1923 (RNLI) · Indian Ocean, about 1,200 miles from the coast of Western Australia
The ship Cargo steamship, United Kingdom (Hain Steamship Company)
Aboard 44 crew
Lives lost 11 (ten from exposure in the boats, one shortly after reaching Mauritius)
Loaded with zinc concentrates from South Australia, she took in water through a damaged bulkhead in heavy gales and foundered. The crew escaped in two open lifeboats: Captain Cecil Foster's boat reached Rodrigues after about 1,556 miles, and Chief Officer James C. Stewart Smith's boat reached the south coast of Mauritius after about 1,747 miles.
Why she is remembered One of the great open-boat survival voyages; both officers received the Lloyd's Silver Medal for Saving Life at Sea and the captain's boat was later displayed in London and on Hove seafront.
The wreck today Never found (sank in the open ocean).
Sources differ Date of loss 3 June versus 4 June 1923. Survivors 33 (RNLI) versus 34 (Sailors' Home Society). Captain's boat voyage 23 days (RNLI) versus 22 days 19 hours (Sailors' Home). Second boat landed at Souillac (RNLI).
Sources lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org · sailorshome.mu
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Wajao Storm
7 November 1933 · Agaléga (South Island according to Defimedia; North Island according to Chagos News)
The ship Steam cargo ship
Built 1903, Bremer Vulkan, Vegesack, Germany
Size 827 tonnes; 65.2 m by 9.3 m by 3.4 m
Owned by Rogers and operated by Agalega Ltd, which ran the coconut and copra plantations of the islands, the steamer supplied Agaléga from Mauritius. She was wrecked during a cyclone on 7 November 1933.
Why she is remembered A rare surviving visible wreck of the outer islands supply trade, still photographed by visitors to Agaléga.
The wreck today Wreck still visible; photographed on 1 March 2024.
Sources differ Defimedia places the wreck at South Island, Agaléga; Chagos News 26 says she ran aground at North Island.
Sources Defimedia · chagos-trust.org
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Mauritius
Labourdonnais Other causes
1934 · Mauritius
The ship Steam tug, Mauritius
Built 1924
A Mauritian steam tug in service from 1924 to 1934, whose wreck is under investigation.
Why she is remembered A twentieth century harbour craft now part of the Mauritian underwater heritage programme.
The wreck today Under investigation by the Mauritius Marine Conservation Society in 2025.
Sources mmcs-ngo.org
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Diego Reef and rocks
20 June 1935 · Eagle Island, Great Chagos Bank, Chagos Archipelago
The ship Three-masted barque
The supply barque of the Chagos plantation companies was wrecked on Eagle Island while carrying out a transfer of workers between the islands.
Why she is remembered Her loss marked the end of sail in the Chagos copra trade, the companies replacing their wrecked vessels with steamers.
Sources chagos-trust.org
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Australia (Royal Australian Navy)
HMAS Sydney War
Also known as Phaeton (ordered for the Royal Navy)
19 November 1941 · Indian Ocean off Western Australia, near Carnarvon; wreck about 26°S 111°E
The ship Modified Leander-class light cruiser, Australia (Royal Australian Navy)
Built Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson, Wallsend-on-Tyne; launched 22 September 1934
Size 562 ft overall; 7,198 tons standard; eight 6-inch guns
Aboard 645
Lives lost All 645
Sydney closed on what appeared to be a Dutch merchant ship, which was the disguised German raider Kormoran. The raider opened fire at close range, wrecking the bridge, and a torpedo struck forward; both ships were mortally damaged and Sydney disappeared in the night.
Why she is remembered Lost with all hands and no survivors, her fate remained a mystery until the wreck was found in 2008. In 2021 DNA identified a body from a Carley float found near Christmas Island in 1942 as Able Seaman Thomas Welsby Clark.
The wreck today Located on 17 March 2008.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Green, Allan C., 1878-1954, photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Germany (Kriegsmarine)
Kormoran Scuttled
Also known as Steiermark
19 November 1941 · Indian Ocean off Western Australia, 26°05'46“S 111°04'33”E
The ship Auxiliary cruiser (commerce raider), converted merchant ship, Germany (Kriegsmarine)
Built Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft, Kiel; launched 15 September 1938
Size 8,736 GRT; 19,900 tons displacement; 164 m
Aboard 399
Lives lost 82
After the battle with HMAS Sydney left her burning and disabled, her crew scuttled her. 318 survivors were captured and held as prisoners of war.
Why she is remembered The disguised German raider that sank HMAS Sydney with all hands and was herself lost in the same action.
The wreck today Found on 12 March 2008 by David Mearns' search team at 2,560 m, in two sections 1,300 m apart.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom
Thistlegorm War
6 October 1941 · Safe Anchorage F, near Ras Muhammad, Red Sea, Egypt
The ship Cargo steamship, United Kingdom
Built J.L. Thompson and Sons, Sunderland; launched 9 April 1940
Size 4,898 GRT; 415.1 ft x 58.2 ft
Aboard 41 crew and 9 naval gunners
Lives lost 9 (four sailors and five DEMS gunners)
At anchor waiting to reach Suez, she was hit at 01.30 by two bombs from German Heinkel He 111 aircraft hunting a troopship; ammunition in hold 4 exploded and she sank. Survivors were rescued by HMS Carlisle.
Why she is remembered Her cargo of Bedford trucks, motorcycles, Bren carriers, rifles, aircraft parts and two LMS Stanier 8F locomotives makes her one of the world's most famous wreck dives.
The wreck today Found by Jacques-Yves Cousteau in the early 1950s, who raised a motorcycle, the captain's safe and the bell; relocated in the early 1990s. Lies at about 30 m; HEPCA installed mooring buoys in 2007.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Woodym555, edited by Fir0002, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom (Royal Navy)
HMS Cornwall War
5 April 1942 · About 200 miles south-west of Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
The ship County-class heavy cruiser (Kent sub-class), United Kingdom (Royal Navy)
Built Devonport Dockyard; launched 11 March 1926
Size 630 ft; 9,850 tons standard
Aboard Complement 784
Lives lost 424
During the Japanese Easter Sunday Raid, Aichi D3A dive bombers from three carriers sank Cornwall and her consort HMS Dorsetshire. Survivors spent about thirty hours in the water before rescue by HMS Enterprise and two destroyers.
Why she is remembered Part of the Indian Ocean raid of April 1942 that also sank HMS Hermes.
Sources differ The 1,122 survivors cited refer to both cruisers together.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Royal Navy official photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom (Royal Navy)
HMS Dorsetshire War
5 April 1942 · About 320 km (200 miles) south-west of Ceylon
The ship County-class heavy cruiser, United Kingdom (Royal Navy)
Built Portsmouth Dockyard; launched 29 January 1929
Size 632 ft 9 in (192.86 m); 66 ft beam; 10,035 long tons standard
Aboard About 653 to 710 (figures vary)
Caught with HMS Cornwall by dive bombers of the Japanese carrier force, she was hit by ten bombs in about eight minutes, a magazine exploded and she sank stern first. 1,122 of the 1,546 men of the two cruisers were rescued the next day.
Why she is remembered In May 1941 she had fired the torpedoes that struck the crippled battleship Bismarck in her final battle.
Sources differ Crew figure 653 to 710 depending on source; her death toll is usually given jointly with HMS Cornwall.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Photographer not identified, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom (Royal Navy)
HMS Hermes War
9 April 1942 · Off Batticaloa, east coast of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), 7°35'28“N 82°05'55”E
The ship Aircraft carrier, the world's first ship designed as an aircraft carrier, United Kingdom (Royal Navy)
Built Armstrong Whitworth, Walker on the Tyne; launched 11 September 1919
Size 600 ft; 70 ft 3 in beam; 10,850 long tons standard
Aboard About 566 crew (complement, excluding aircrew)
Lives lost 307 from Hermes, including Captain Richard F. J. Onslow; seven more aboard the escorting destroyer HMAS Vampire
Sailing south from Trincomalee without aircraft during the Japanese Indian Ocean raid, she was found by a reconnaissance plane and overwhelmed by at least 32 Aichi D3A dive bombers. Most survivors were picked up by the hospital ship Vita.
Why she is remembered The first purpose-designed aircraft carrier to be built, and one of the major losses of the April 1942 raid on Ceylon.
The wreck today Lies in the Bay of Bengal off Batticaloa at a depth reachable by divers and is frequently visited by divers as a maritime heritage site.
Sources Wikipedia
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom (British India Steam Navigation Co)
Tilawa War
23 November 1942 · Indian Ocean, near the Seychelles
The ship Passenger liner (troopship role), United Kingdom (British India Steam Navigation Co)
Built Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn-on-Tyne, 1924
Size 10,006 GRT; 137.5 m
Aboard 732 passengers and 222 crew
Lives lost 280
Sailing from Bombay, she was torpedoed twice by Japanese submarine I-29. Survivors drifted for two days; 678 were picked up by HMS Birmingham and 4 by Carthage.
Why she is remembered Known as the 'Indian Titanic'; her silver cargo led to a UK Supreme Court ruling in favour of South Africa in May 2024.
The wreck today Located at about 2.5 km depth; Argentum Exploration recovered 2,364 silver bars in 2017.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom
Fort Franklin War
16 July 1943 · Indian Ocean south-east of Réunion
Aboard 55 crew
Lives lost 2
She was torpedoed and sunk south-east of Réunion by U-181; two of her 55 crew were lost.
Why she is remembered One of the ships sunk around the Mascarenes during U-181's patrol in mid-1943.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom (China Navigation Company, London)
Hoihow War
2 July 1943 · Indian Ocean about 105 nautical miles (194 km) north-north-west of Mauritius, 19 deg 30 min S, 55 deg 30 min E
The ship Passenger ship, United Kingdom (China Navigation Company, London)
Built 1933, Taikoo Dockyard & Engineering Company, Hong Kong
Size 2,798 GRT
Aboard 149: master William Mackensie Christie, 90 crew, 7 naval gunners and 47 passengers
Lives lost 145
Carrying food for the United Kingdom, she was followed out of Port Louis by U-181 under Korvettenkapitän Wolfgang Lüth, hit by two torpedoes and sank by the bow. Only four people, three crew and one passenger, survived; they were picked up by SS Mormacswan and landed at Montevideo on 25 July 1943.
Why she is remembered Only four of the 149 people aboard survived; they were rescued by SS Mormacswan and landed at Montevideo.
Sources differ The Hoihow article gives 105 nautical miles north-north-west of Mauritius; the July 1943 shipwreck list gives 103 nautical miles north-west.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom
Umvuma War
7 August 1943 · Indian Ocean south-east of Port Louis, Mauritius, 20 deg 18 min S, 57 deg 14 min E
The ship Cargo ship, United Kingdom
Built 1914
Size 4,419 GRT
Aboard 111
Lives lost 22
She was torpedoed and sunk off Mauritius by U-181 with the loss of 22 of the 111 people aboard; the survivors were rescued by the Maurice.
Why she is remembered One of the ships sunk close to Mauritius by U-181 in 1943; her survivors were rescued by the Maurice.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom
Fort Stikine Explosion
14 April 1944 · Victoria Dock, Bombay, India (18°57'10“N 72°50'42”E)
The ship Fort ship (wartime cargo ship), United Kingdom
Built Prince Rupert Drydock and Shipyard, British Columbia; launched 31 July 1942
Size 7,142 GRT; 441 ft 5 in
Aboard Crew and stevedores
Lives lost 231 service and port personnel killed, 476 injured; civilian deaths in excess of 500
Carrying explosives and ammunition, she caught fire in No. 2 hold during unloading. Two explosions at 16.06 and 16.33 split her in two, sent a surge through the dock and destroyed or badly damaged 13 other ships. Sabotage was ruled out.
Why she is remembered The Bombay explosion, a major wartime accident that wrecked the docks and 13 other ships.
The wreck today Obliterated in the explosion.
Sources Wikipedia
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom (requisitioned)
Khedive Ismail War
Also known as Aconcagua (1922 to 1935)
12 February 1944 · One and a Half Degree Channel, south-west of the Maldives
The ship Passenger liner used as troopship, United Kingdom (requisitioned)
Built Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering, Greenock, 1922
Size 7,290 to 7,513 GRT; 422.8 ft
Aboard 1,511, including 19 Wrens, 53 nursing sisters and 9 FANY
Lives lost 1,297 (1,220 men and 77 women)
Japanese submarine I-27 hit her with two torpedoes and she sank in about three minutes. The escorts sank I-27, but depth charges killed many in the water.
Why she is remembered The largest loss of servicewomen in Commonwealth history and the third largest loss of life from Allied shipping in the Second World War.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · India (Indian Cooperative Steam Navigation Company)
Ramdas Storm
17 July 1947 · Near Gull Island (Kashyacha Khadak), about 5 miles from Colaba Point, Bombay
The ship Coastal passenger ferry (twin-screw steamer), India (Indian Cooperative Steam Navigation Company)
Built 1936
Size 406 tons
Aboard About 1,437 (figure as given)
Lives lost 724
Bound for Rewas in monsoon weather, she was struck on the starboard side by a large wave at about 8.05 am; passengers rushed to port and she capsized. Port authorities learned of it only when survivors reached Sassoon Docks that afternoon.
Why she is remembered Rewas and Alibag fishermen who rescued survivors were granted land and a jetty, founding the settlement of Bodni.
The wreck today Salvaged in 1951; remains resurfaced at Ballard Pier in 1957.
Sources differ Wikipedia gives about 1,437 aboard alongside a figure of 713 passengers and crew; about 713 survived and 724 died.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom (British India Steam Navigation Co)
Dara Explosion
Explosion 8 April 1961; sank 10 April 1961 · Persian Gulf off Dubai
The ship Passenger and cargo ship (British India D class), United Kingdom (British India Steam Navigation Co)
Built Barclay, Curle and Co, Glasgow, 1948
Size 5,030 GRT; 398.7 ft
Aboard 819
Lives lost 238
While off Dubai in rough weather, an explosion on the port side of the engine casing jammed the steering, cut power and started fires. The Admiralty concluded it was an anti-tank mine placed by persons unknown.
Why she is remembered A heavy peacetime loss of life in the Gulf, attributed by the Admiralty to a mine placed by persons unknown.
The wreck today At 15 m off Dubai, a dive site.
Sources differ Cause: the Admiralty court attributed the loss to a planted mine, but there is no forensic proof of a bomb. Wikipedia gives 238 dead and also mentions 165 missing without saying whether these are included.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Djabeda Scuttled
1967 (DAN) · Off Coin de Mire island, north of Mauritius
The ship Vessel scuttled as an artificial reef
Intentionally sunk by local divers off Coin de Mire.
Why she is remembered A deep wreck dive for experienced divers with dense shoals of fusiliers and snappers.
The wreck today Average depth 24 m, from 20 m at the mast to 32 m at the keel (DAN); 30 m (PADI). Parts scattered on the sand.
Sources differ Depth: 20 to 32 m (DAN) versus 30 m (PADI).
Sources dansa.org · blog.padi.com
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Soviet Union
Argus Reef and rocks
3 October 1969 · Reef of St Brandon
The ship Tug, Soviet Union
Aboard 38
Lives lost None; 38 men rescued
The Soviet tug was wrecked on the St Brandon reef; all 38 men aboard were rescued.
Why she is remembered A Cold War era loss on the atoll.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · United Kingdom (Royal Fleet Auxiliary)
RFA Ennerdale Reef and rocks
Also known as Naess Scotsman
1 June 1970 · North of Mahé, Seychelles
The ship Dale-class mobile bulk tanker, United Kingdom (Royal Fleet Auxiliary)
Built Kieler Howaldtswerke AG, Kiel; launched 30 August 1963
Size 29,189 GRT; 710 ft; 98 ft 7 in beam; 62,000 tons displacement
Aboard Complement of 51
The tanker struck an uncharted pinnacle off Mahé and sank. Her hull broke during later salvage work.
Why she is remembered Described by the KOEK dive guide as the most significant Seychelles shipwreck by size, depth, integrity and marine life.
The wreck today Dive site at 18 to 35 m, 30 to 45 minutes by boat from Beau Vallon, covered in soft corals and sea fans.
Sources differ Length 710 ft (Wikipedia) versus 196 m (KOEK dive guide).
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Emily and Water Lily Scuttled
Early 1980s (1981 per DAN) · North-east coast of Mauritius
The ship Two fishing barges
Two barges purposely sunk side by side as artificial reefs.
Why she is remembered Showcase of fast soft coral growth on Mauritian wrecks.
The wreck today Dive site at about 25 m.
Sources blog.padi.com · dansa.org
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Panama
Sea Venture Other causes
16 November 1981 · Baie de Saint-Paul, west coast of Réunion, 40 to 45 m depth
The ship Cargo ship, Panama
Size 86 m long
Aboard 26 crew
Lives lost None; all 26 reached shore
While waiting at anchor in Saint-Paul Bay for a berth, she took on water, was destabilised by her cargo of timber for a local firm, and sank.
Why she is remembered A real accidental wreck that became one of Réunion's main deep dive sites.
The wreck today About 15 tonnes of diesel were pumped out in April 1998 after a leak in 1997 closed the site; it reopened to divers in September 2008.
Sources differ Depth given as 40 to 45 m (Paradise Plongée) and 40 to 49 m (Carte de La Réunion). Carte de La Réunion says the wreck is currently closed to divers because she is unstable.
Sources cartedelareunion.fr · paradise-plongee.com
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Tug II Scuttled
14 November 1981 · Off Flic en Flac, west coast of Mauritius, 20 m depth
The ship Harbour tug
Size 19 m by 4 m
After a long career guiding sugar cargo ships in Port Louis harbour, she was sunk as an artificial reef; the sinking was brought forward because of a cyclone warning.
Why she is remembered One of the first of the deliberately sunk dive wrecks of the Flic en Flac area.
The wreck today Dive site at about 20 m, open water level.
Sources diveseaurchin.com
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Kei Sei 113 Scuttled
11 October 1987 · Off Flic en Flac, west coast of Mauritius, about 35 to 36 m depth
The ship Fishing vessel, later a floating restaurant
Size 35 m by 6.55 m
Used as a floating restaurant, she was damaged at the stern by a cyclone; after two failed salvage attempts she was sunk as an artificial reef.
Why she is remembered Known to divers as the restaurant wreck.
The wreck today Deep dive site, home to lionfish and big-eye shoals.
Sources differ SeaUrchin gives 11 October 1987 and 36 m; Divingaway gives 1988, 35 m, and calls her a barge.
Sources diveseaurchin.com · divingaway.com
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Saint Gabriel Scuttled
10 May 1987 · Off Flic en Flac, west coast of Mauritius, 38 m depth
The ship Fishing vessel
Size 31.7 m by 6.2 m
Burnt out in 1986, she was sunk as an artificial reef in May 1987; a strong current carried her past the planned 28 m site into 38 m of water.
Why she is remembered Part of the group of artificial reef wrecks off Flic en Flac.
The wreck today Deep dive site at 38 m.
Sources diveseaurchin.com
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Japan (origin)
Stella Maru Scuttled
1987 · Off Trou aux Biches, north-west Mauritius (-19.9982, 57.4301)
The ship Japanese fishing trawler (one source: freighter), Japan (origin)
Size 52 m long (PADI); roughly 50 m (Diving Mauritius)
Deliberately sunk in 1987 by the Mauritius Conservation Society (as named by PADI and DAN) as an artificial reef.
Why she is remembered One of Mauritius's best-known wreck dives, almost intact and covered in coral, with morays, scorpionfish and frogfish.
The wreck today Dive site at 18 to 25 m.
Sources differ Type: Japanese trawler (PADI, DAN) versus Japanese freighter (divingmauritius.mu). Length 52 m versus about 50 m.
Sources blog.padi.com · dansa.org · divingmauritius.mu
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Greece (Piraeus)
Oceanos Other causes
Also known as Jean Laborde, Mykinai, Ancona, Eastern Princess
4 August 1991 · About 5 km off Coffee Bay, Wild Coast, South Africa
The ship Cruise ship, Greece (Piraeus)
Built Forges et Chantiers de la Gironde, Bordeaux, France, 1953
Size 14,000 GT; 153 m
Aboard 571 people
Lives lost None; all rescued
In heavy seas a burst ventilation pipe in the engine room flooded the ship, whose non-return valves had not been refitted. Captain Yiannis Avranas and some crew left early; entertainers including guitarist Moss Hills sent the mayday and organised the evacuation, and South African Air Force helicopters lifted people off before she sank.
Why she is remembered A celebrated rescue in which nobody died despite the crew's conduct; the captain and five officers were found negligent. Subject of documentaries including Nova 'Why Ships Sink' (2012).
The wreck today Lies at 92 to 97 m in strong currents.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Peter J. Fitzpatrick, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
L'Orient Scuttled
28 October 1992 · Off Flic en Flac, west coast of Mauritius, 45 m depth
The ship Fishing vessel
Size 26 m by 6 m
Sunk as an artificial reef in 1992; two later cyclones rolled her onto her side.
Why she is remembered One of the deep technical dive wrecks of the west coast.
The wreck today Lies on her side at 45 m.
Sources diveseaurchin.com
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Russia (Maritime State University, Vladivostok)
Admiral Nevelskoi Other causes
Found drifting in 1997 · Off Rodrigues; hull brought ashore on the island
The ship Yacht (expedition vessel), Russia (Maritime State University, Vladivostok)
The hull of the expedition yacht of the Maritime State University in Vladivostok was found drifting off Rodrigues in 1997 and brought ashore.
Why she is remembered An unusual derelict on Rodrigues; in 2010 there were plans to restore it as a private museum.
The wreck today Hull ashore on Rodrigues; museum plans reported in 2010.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Antonio Lorenzo Scuttled
16 December 1999 · Pointe des Châteaux, Saint-Leu, west coast of Réunion, 38 to 40 m depth
The ship Longline fishing vessel (seized illegal fishing boat)
Size Over 50 m long
A pirate longliner, she was cleaned of pollutants, towed from the port of Pointe des Galets and sunk off Saint-Leu as an artificial reef.
Why she is remembered Réunion's best known artificial reef wreck, the subject of a 3D survey model.
The wreck today Lies on her port side at 38 to 40 m with open holds; dive site for level 2 divers.
Sources cartedelareunion.fr
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Hoi Siong No. 6 Scuttled
2003 · Off Le Morne, south-west Mauritius; dive site at about 20 deg 25.361 min S, 57 deg 17.691 min E, average depth 18 m, maximum 29 m
She was sunk intentionally in 2003 off Le Morne to form an artificial reef.
Why she is remembered Regarded by divers as one of the best artificial reefs of Mauritius and the main wreck dive of the Le Morne area.
The wreck today Dive site, short boat ride, average depth 18 m and maximum 29 m.
Sources wannadive.net · mauritiusexplored.com
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Egypt
al-Salam Boccaccio 98 Fire
Also known as Boccaccio
3 February 2006 · Red Sea, between Duba (Saudi Arabia) and Safaga (Egypt)
The ship Ro-ro passenger ferry, Egypt
Built Italcantieri, Monfalcone, Italy, 1970
Size 11,799 GT; 130.99 m
Aboard About 1,312 passengers and 96 crew
Lives lost Around 1,000 (figures vary)
A fire broke out in the engine room; the voyage continued, and water used to fight the fire collected in the hull because drainage pumps failed, and she capsized. 388 were rescued.
Why she is remembered Around 1,000 deaths; owner Mamdouh Ismail was eventually sentenced to seven years.
The wreck today Remains on the Red Sea floor; no recovery attempted.
Sources differ Passenger and crew counts vary between sources, and the death toll is given only as around 1,000.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Carlo Martinelli, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Team Vestas Wind Reef and rocks
29 November 2014 (grounded at night) · Reef of St Brandon (Cargados Carajos), north-east of Mauritius
The ship Volvo Ocean 65 racing yacht
Aboard Racing crew (about 11 listed for the race)
Lives lost None
About ten days out of Cape Town on the second leg of the 2014 to 2015 Volvo Ocean Race to Abu Dhabi, she ran onto the St Brandon reef at night. The inquiry blamed human error together with navigation software that did not show the atoll at low or medium zoom on the route planning display.
Why she is remembered The best known modern grounding at St Brandon; the inquiry made it a case study in the risks of electronic chart display.
The wreck today Salvaged, rebuilt and raced again in the last two legs; the Wikipedia article on the boat now appears under her later name, Turn the Tide on Plastic.
Sources differ The St Brandon article gives 29 November 2014; the Turn the Tide on Plastic article gives 30 November 2014.
Sources Wikipedia
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Tian Xiang Scuttled
14 June 2014 · Off Flic en Flac, west coast of Mauritius, 46 m depth
The ship Fishing vessel
Sunk deliberately in June 2014, she is the newest and largest of the west coast artificial reef wrecks.
Why she is remembered The deepest wreck regularly dived off Flic en Flac.
The wreck today Dive site at 46 m.
Sources diveseaurchin.com
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Malaysia
Kha Yang Reef and rocks
31 January to 1 February 2015 · Reef of St Brandon
The ship Longline fishing vessel, Malaysia
Aboard 20
Lives lost None; 20 rescued
The longliner ran aground on the St Brandon reef with about 250,000 litres of fuel in her tanks; her 20 crew were rescued.
Why she is remembered Raised fears of fuel pollution in one of Mauritius's most pristine lagoons.
The wreck today Remained on the reef according to the St Brandon Conservation Trust.
Sources differ The St Brandon Conservation Trust gives 31 January 2015; Wikipedia gives 1 February 2015.
Sources Wikipedia · saintbrandonconservation.org
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Liberia
Benita Other causes
17 June 2016 (grounded) · Outer reef of Îlot Brocus, Le Bouchon, south-east coast of Mauritius
The ship Bulk carrier, Liberia
Built 1998
Size About 182 m long, 31 m wide
Lives lost None stated; one crew member seriously injured
On passage from Paradip, India, she ran aground after a fight among the crew; one man was seriously injured and the chief engineer was arrested by the Mauritian authorities. A national committee organised the removal of more than 200 cubic metres of contaminated fuel and lubricating oil, and a basalt rock lodged in hold No. 5 complicated the salvage.
Why she is remembered A rare grounding caused by a brawl on board, and a precursor to the Wakashio disaster on the same south-east coast four years later.
The wreck today Refloated in late July 2016 and towed away for demolition in India.
Sources differ VesselFinder gives her destination as Durban; GlobeRovers gives Port Elizabeth.
Sources marine-salvage.com · shipandbunker.com · globerovers.com
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Alam Manis Reef and rocks
2 February 2017 (grounded) · St Brandon (Cargados Carajos)
The ship Bulk carrier
On passage from Richards Bay to Pipavav she ran aground at St Brandon.
Why she is remembered A large modern merchant ship grounding on the atoll.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Mauritius (Mauritius Ports Authority)
Sir Gaëtan Duval Collision
31 August 2020 (night) · Off the south-east coast of Mauritius, near the wreck of the Wakashio
The ship Harbour tug, Mauritius (Mauritius Ports Authority)
Aboard 8 crew
Lives lost 3 confirmed dead and 1 missing according to Maritime Executive; first reports gave 2 dead and 2 missing; 4 rescued from a lifeboat
The Mauritius Ports Authority tug was towing the empty barge L'Ami Constant, to be stationed near the wrecked Wakashio in case more oil needed pumping, when she was caught in rough seas. The barge struck the tug, holing her hull, and she sank; the barge was later found adrift and intact.
Why she is remembered Her loss during the Wakashio clean-up added a human toll to the oil spill disaster.
The wreck today Sank; no oil leak was detected from the tug.
Sources differ Marine Log reported 2 dead and 2 missing; Maritime Executive reported 3 dead and 1 missing.
Sources maritime-executive.com · marinelog.com
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Panama (Japanese-controlled)
Wakashio Reef and rocks
Grounded 25 July 2020 · Coral reef off the southern coast of Mauritius
The ship Capesize bulk carrier, Panama (Japanese-controlled)
Built Universal Shipbuilding Corporation, Tsu, Mie, Japan; launched 9 March 2007
Size 299.95 m long, 50 m beam, 203,000 tonnes deadweight
Aboard 20 crew
Lives lost No injuries aboard; three crew of the tug Sir Gaëtan Duval died when it sank on 31 August 2020 during the response
The ship sailed close inshore, reportedly to pick up a mobile signal during a crew birthday, and failed to respond to warnings before grounding on the reef. About 1,000 tonnes of oil escaped and the hull broke in two.
Why she is remembered Called the worst environmental disaster Mauritius had seen, it prompted mass protests; Captain Sunil Kumar Nandeshwar was sentenced on 27 December 2021 to 20 months in prison.
The wreck today The bow section was towed out and scuttled on 24 August 2020; the stern was cut up on site by a Chinese salvage firm from December 2020.
Sources Wikipedia
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Mauritius (Hassen Taher company)
Sea Master Reef and rocks
5 June 2021 · Albatross Island, St Brandon
The ship Fishing vessel, Mauritius (Hassen Taher company)
The Mauritian fishing vessel was wrecked on Albatross Island.
Why she is remembered A recent loss in the St Brandon group.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Mauritius
Tresta Star Storm
3 February 2022, about 20:55 · Le Tremblet, Saint-Philippe, at the foot of the volcano, Réunion (French Indian Ocean)
The ship Bunker tanker (oil products supply vessel), Mauritius
Built 2019; IMO 9869629
Size 74 m long, 16 m (16.02 m) beam; 2,924 t DWT
Aboard 11 crew
Lives lost None; all 11 crew saved
Owned by Tresta Trading of Mauritius, she was sailing empty when her propulsion failed while she was fleeing Cyclone Batsirai, and she was swept onto the lava coast of Réunion. In very rough seas the crew were evacuated on 4 February by GRIMP firefighters using a zip line, in an operation coordinated by CROSS and the French Navy.
Why she is remembered A rare modern wreck on Réunion's wild south-east coast, abandoned where she lies because every removal option was judged too costly, dangerous or environmentally harmful.
The wreck today A salvage attempt was abandoned when the contractor was not paid; in December 2022 the Préfet of Réunion decided no further removal would be attempted and the wreck would be left for the sea to break up. Still in place and deteriorating as of 2025, with some leaks of oily water recorded.
Sources differ Grounding date 3 February 2022 (abandonedin360) or 4 February 2022 (L'Express, Mauritius). Decision date 7 December (Cedre) versus 12 December 2022 (gCaptain article date). Grounding place given as Quai de sel, Saint-Philippe (Cedre), Pointe du Tremblet (gCaptain) or Tremblet (Le Matinal).
Sources cedre.fr · gcaptain.com · english.lematinal.media · abandonedin360.com · l'Express
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)
Yu Feng 67 Reef and rocks
5 December 2022 · Off L'Île du Sud, St Brandon
The ship Fishing vessel, Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)
Aboard 20 crew (19 according to the Conservation Trust)
Lives lost None; crew saved by Raphael Fishing Company vessels
She ran aground off L'Île du Sud with about 70 tonnes of diesel and 208 litres of lubricants aboard. Diesel and some twenty tonnes of rotting bait fish gradually flowed into the lagoon.
Why she is remembered The worst recent pollution incident at St Brandon and a driver of conservation efforts there.
The wreck today Still on the reef, listed about 20 degrees to the west as of 29 December 2022.
Sources differ Wikipedia says twenty crew were saved; the Conservation Trust page refers to 14 of 19 sailors of the Yu Feng 67 leaving the country.
Sources Wikipedia · saintbrandonconservation.org
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · Taiwan
Lien Sheng Fa Storm
20 February 2023 · Hundreds of kilometres north-east of Mauritius
The ship Fishing trawler, Taiwan
Aboard 16 crew
Lives lost 16 crew missing
The trawler went missing during Cyclone Freddy at about 04:00 on 20 February 2023 and was found capsized on 23 February with none of her 16 crew.
Why she is remembered A cyclone loss with her whole crew missing, during Cyclone Freddy.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Diolinda Reef and rocks
Date not recorded · Coast of Agaléga
The ship Supply sailing vessel
A sailing supply vessel of the outer islands trade, she was wrecked on the coast of Agaléga.
Why she is remembered Part of the history of the island supply ships that linked Mauritius with Agaléga and the Chagos.
Sources chagos-trust.org
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Hai Siang Scuttled
1980s · About 3 km off Les Aigrettes, opposite Cap Homard, west coast of Réunion 54 m depth
The ship Taiwanese lobster fishing boat
Size 49 m long
She was deliberately sunk in the 1980s and rests upright on sand.
Why she is remembered A deep dive wreck of Réunion's west coast.
The wreck today Upright on white sand at 54 m with both masts standing; the funnel has collapsed; level 3 dive with strong currents.
Sources cartedelareunion.fr · dodopalme.com
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius · England
Hawk Reef and rocks
1780s · St Brandon (Cargados Carajos)
The ship Ship, England
Homeward bound for Europe from Surat, she foundered on St Brandon.
Why she is remembered An eighteenth century loss on the shoals that lay across the route from India.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Jane Bell Storm
· Rodrigues
She was wrecked at Rodrigues by a severe cyclone.
Why she is remembered One of the recorded cyclone losses at Rodrigues.
Sources iocp.potomitan.info
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
The Indian Ocean and Mauritius
Silver Star Scuttled
· Five minutes by boat from Pereybère, north Mauritius
The ship Large vessel scuttled as artificial reef
Size Described as a huge wreck
Deliberately sunk by the Mauritius Scuba Diving Association away from the reefs.
Why she is remembered Deep wreck with an intact propeller and shoals of spadefish and batfish.
The wreck today Dive site from 28 to 39 m, propeller at about 40 m.
Sources dansa.org
No free image of this ship has been found yet.
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- Polar Ships and Mysteries of the Sea48 ships
- The Indian Ocean and Mauritius121 ships
- Raised Wrecks and Dive Sites47 ships