This is a list of missing ships and wrecks. If it is known that the ship in question sank, then its wreck has not yet been located.
Ships are usually declared lost and assumed wrecked after a period of disappearance. The disappearance of a ship usually implies all hands lost. Without witnesses or survivors, the mystery surrounding the fate of missing ships has inspired many items of nautical lores and the creation of paranormal zones such as the Bermuda Triangle. In many cases a probable cause has been deduced, such as a known storm or warfare, but it could not be confirmed without witnesses or sufficient documentation.
Many disappearances occurred before wireless telegraphy became available in navigation applications in the late 1890s, which would have allowed crew to send a distress call. Sudden disasters such as military strike, collision, rogue wave, or piracy could also prevent a crew from sending a distress call and reporting a location.
Among the many missing ships on the list are submarines, which have limited communication, and provide the crew almost no chance of survival if struck by disaster under water.
The advancement of radar technology by the end of World War II and today's Global Positioning System make it more likely that a distressed vessel will be located.
Most vessels currently listed as missing disappeared over a vast search area and/or deep water and there is little commercial interest in searching for the vessels and salvaging the wreck and its contents. Often the search and recovery costs are prohibitive even with today's sonar and wrecking technologies and could not be compensated by salvaged valuables, even if there were any on board. The search for these types of missing vessels is usually motivated by historical, legal or actuarial interests requiring the aid of government funding such as in the 2008 discovery of HMAS Sydney and Kormoran. [1]
The list is organised by the marine region in which the disappearance or sinking occurred, or the closest country to the area. The year of the disappearance, last known location, and possible location of the wreck are included.
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
HMS Blenheim | 1807 | Off the coast of Madagascar [2] |
SS Waratah | 1909 | somewhere between Durban and Cape Town [3] |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
L'Acadien II | 2008 | Somewhere off Cape Breton [4] (missing wreck) |
Andrea Gail | 1991 | Somewhere off Sable Island [5] |
SS Arctic | 1854 | Somewhere off Cape Race, Newfoundland [6] (missing wreck) |
Jutland | 1920 | Approximately 160 kilometers southeast of Halifax [7] |
SS Leafield | 1913 | Lake Superior, probably about 14 miles (23 km) southeast of Port Arthur, Ontario. [8] |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
Surcouf | 1942 | North of Cristóbal, Colón |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
SS Baychimo | 1969 | Ghost ship last sighted in the Beaufort Sea off Alaska. [9] |
SS Bannockburn | 1902 | Lost on Lake Superior 21 November 1902 |
SS Chicora | 1895 | Lake freighter that sank on 21 January 1895 in Lake Michigan. [10] |
SS D.M. Clemson | 1908 | Lake freighter vanished in a violent Lake Superior storm on 1 December 1908. [11] |
SS Hippocampus | 1868 | Lake freighter that capsized in Lake Michigan a few miles from Benton Harbor, Michigan. [12] |
SS Iosco | 1905 | Somewhere near the Huron Islands. [13] |
SS James Gayley | 1912 | Sank in a collision on Lake Superior on 7 August 1912, northwest of Caribou Island. |
SS Marine Sulphur Queen | 1963 | Somewhere in Florida Strait around 25°45′N86°00′W / 25.750°N 86.000°W . [14] (missing wreck) |
SS Plymouth | 1913 | Near Gull Island and Poverty Island in Green Bay. [15] |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
USS Albany | 1854 | Somewhere in Caribbean Sea [16] |
Cerisoles | 1918 | Minesweeper built for French Navy, lost in heavy weather in Lake Superior along with Inkerman in November 1918. [12] |
USS Cyclops | 1918 | Somewhere between Barbados and Baltimore, Maryland [17] |
Danube | 1892 | Somewhere between Guadeloupe and New York City [18] |
Le Griffon | 1679 | Lost between Green Bay and the Niagara River. [19] |
HMS Heureux | 1800 | Somewhere between the Caribbean and Halifax [20] |
Inkerman | 1918 | Minesweeper built for French Navy, lost in heavy weather in Lake Superior along with Cerisoles in November 1918. [12] |
USS Insurgent | 1800 | Somewhere in Caribbean Sea [21] |
Java | 1869 | Disappeared en route to Yokohama [22] |
USS Lynx | 1820 | Somewhere between St. Mary's, Georgia and Kingston, Jamaica [23] |
Maratonga | 2015 | Somewhere between Norfolk, Virginia and Portugal [24] |
SS Marquette & Bessemer No. 2 | 1909 | American or Canadian waters of Lake Erie |
USS Nereus | 1941 | Somewhere around the Virgin Islands. [25] |
USS Pickering | 1800 | Somewhere between Newcastle, Delaware and Guadeloupe [26] |
USS Proteus | 1941 | Somewhere in Caribbean Sea [27] |
SS R.G. Coburn | 1871 | Lake freighter lost in heavy weather in Lake Huron in October 1871. [12] |
USS Saratoga | 1781 | Somewhere in Caribbean Sea [28] |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
SS Vaitarna | 1888 | Somewhere off the coast of Saurashtra in Arabian Sea [29] |
MV Kairali | 1979 | Some miles away from Margao [30] |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
U-196 | 1944 | Somewhere south of Java near Sunda Strait [31] |
USS Capelin | 1943 | Somewhere near Sulawesi [32] |
HMS Lady Nelson | 1825 | Unconfirmed destruction at Aluta Island or Baba Island [33] |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
USS Kete | 1945 | Somewhere off Ryukyu Islands [32] |
USS Runner | 1943 | Somewhere off Japan [34] |
USS Swordfish | 1945 | Somewhere off Ryukyu Islands [35] |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
USS Grayling | 1943 | Somewhere off Manila or in Lingayen Gulf [36] |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
USS Porpoise | 1854 | Somewhere off the coast of China or Taiwan [37] |
USS Snook | 1945 | Somewhere between South China Sea and Luzon Strait [38] |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
HMS Sickle | 1944 | Probably sunk in Antikythera Channel [39] |
UB-3 | 1915 | Lost in the Aegean Sea west of Izmir [40] |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
SS Lord Spencer | 1895 | Somewhere between San Francisco and New York City. [41] |
U-47 | 1941 | Somewhere near the Rockall Banks around 60°N19°W / 60°N 19°W [42] |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
U-22 | 1940 | Somewhere in Skagerrak Strait [43] |
U-54 | 1940 | Somewhere in North Sea [44] |
U-122 | 1940 | Somewhere between North Sea and Bay of Biscay [45] |
U-240 | 1944 | Somewhere in North Sea west of Norway [46] |
U-337 | 1943 | Somewhere around 63°N12°W / 63°N 12°W [47] |
U-376 | 1943 | Somewhere in Bay of Biscay [48] |
U-398 | 1945 | Somewhere in North Sea [49] |
U-519 | 1943 | Somewhere in Bay of Biscay [50] |
Cymric | 1943 | Last seen 24 February 1943 off Dublin en route to Lisbon vanished with crew of 11 [51] |
U-703 | 1944 | Somewhere in Norwegian Sea [52] |
Eurydice | 1970 | Somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea |
Gibraltar | 1867 | Reportedly sunk in English Channel [53] (missing wreck) |
HMS Seahorse | 1940 | Somewhere in Heligoland Bight [54] (missing wreck) |
HMS Snapper | 1941 | Somewhere in Bay of Biscay [55] |
ORP Orzeł | 1940 | Somewhere in North Sea [56] |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
Albion | ? | Somewhere between Table Cape and Circular Head [57] |
Amelia J. | 1920 | Somewhere around the Furneaux Group [58] |
Amy Louise | 1909 | Somewhere between Pernambuco, Brazil and Sydney [59] |
Argo | 1814 | Somewhere off the coast [57] |
Awahou | 1952 | Somewhere between Sydney and Lord Howe Island [60] |
Awarau | 1891 | Somewhere off Macquarie Island [61] |
Celestia | 1887 | Somewhere between Russell, New Zealand and Hobart [57] |
Chris | 1903 | Somewhere between Hobart and Adventure Bay [57] |
SS Christina Fraser | 1933 | Somewhere between Gabo Island, last sighting, and Geelong [62] [63] |
City of Hobart | 1873 | Somewhere between Hobart and Blackman's Bay [57] |
Despatch | 1826 | Somewhere off Cape Pillar [57] |
Douglas Mawson | 1923 | Somewhere between Cairns and Thursday Island [33] |
Elizabeth Radcliff | 1850 | [57] |
Fleetwing | 1876 | [57] |
Flying Duck | 1876 | Somewhere off Swan Island (unidentified/missing wreck) [57] |
Grecian Queen | 1863 | Somewhere between Newcastle and Melbourne (unidentified/missing wreck) [57] |
John | 1806 | Somewhere between King Island and Sydney [60] |
John Leslie Griffiths | 1880 | Somewhere around King Island [64] |
Jumna | 1881 | Somewhere between Hobart and Fremantle [57] |
Lady Franklin | 1838 | Somewhere between Sydney and Hobart [57] |
Louisa | 1882 | Somewhere around Fortescue Bay [57] |
Morning Star | 1814 | Somewhere off Booby Island [65] |
Maid of Australia | 1834 | Somewhere between Port Arthur and Port Philip [57] |
Nft West | 1989 | Somewhere in Arafura Sea [33] |
Omega | 1921 | Somewhere between Hobart and Lyttelton, New Zealand [57] |
Peron | 1948 | Somewhere near Darwin [33] |
Phoenix | 1950 | Somewhere between Truscott and Darwin [33] |
Port Phillip Packet | 1838 | Somewhere between Launceston and Port Phillip Bay [57] |
Princess Charlotte | 1820 | Somewhere between Hobart and Sydney [57] |
Raven | 1806 | [57] |
Reindeer | 1862 | Somewhere around the Kent Group [66] (missing wreck) |
Resolution | 1832 | Somewhere between Launceston and Twofold Bay [57] |
HMS Sappho | 1858 | somewhere in Bass Strait |
Senorita | 1854 | Somewhere between Sydney and Hobart [57] |
Southern Cross | 1908 | Somewhere around the Furneaux Group [58] (unconfirmed wreck) |
Unity | 1813 | Somewhere off the coast [57] |
Venus | 1803 | Somewhere between Sydney and southern New Zealand [57] |
Viscount McDuff | After 8 August 1882 | Somewhere between Sydney and Madras (unidentified/missing wreck) [57] |
Vivid | 1854 | Somewhere between Melbourne and Circular Head, Tasmania [57] |
Whale | 1816 | Somewhere between Sydney and the mouth of the Hawkesbury River [60] |
Yarra Yarra | 1838 | Somewhere between Launceston and Port Phillip Bay [57] |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
USS Gudgeon | 1944 | Near Maug Islands, [67] or unconfirmed sinking southeast of Iwo Jima at 22°52′N143°32′W / 22.867°N 143.533°W [68] (missing wreck) |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
General Grant | 1866 | Off western shore of Auckland Island [69] (missing wreck) |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
USS Amberjack | 1943 | Probably sunk off Rabaul (missing wreck) [70] |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
USS Grampus | 1943 | Probably sunk in Blackett Strait (missing wreck) [71] |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
Independence | 1805 | Somewhere between Sydney and the Antipodes Islands, south east of New Zealand |
Active | 1810 | Tasman Sea [72] |
The following lists contain entries that could not be referenced to an area close to any one particular country or an area definitely in international waters.
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
U-355 | 1944 | [73] |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
U-116 | 1942 | Somewhere around 45°00′N31°30′W / 45.000°N 31.500°W [74] |
U-184 | 1942 | Somewhere east of Newfoundland near 49°N45°W / 49°N 45°W [75] |
U-192 | 1943 | Somewhere southeast of Cape Farewell, Greenland around 53°06′N45°02′W / 53.100°N 45.033°W [76] (missing wreck) |
U-338 | 1943 | Somewhere around 57°N30°W / 57°N 30°W [77] |
U-381 | 1943 | Somewhere south of Greenland [78] |
U-420 | 1943 | [79] |
U-529 | 1943 | [80] |
U-553 | 1943 | [81] |
U-1226 | 1944 | [82] |
Africa | 1883 | Somewhere between New York City and Leith [83] |
America | 1882 | Somewhere between New York City and Hamburg [83] |
Apollo | 1894 | Somewhere between New York City and Antwerp [83] |
HMS Atalanta | 1880 | Somewhere between Bermuda and England [84] |
SS City of Boston | 1870 | Somewhere between New York City and Liverpool [83] |
SS City of Glasgow | 1854 | Somewhere between Liverpool and Philadelphia [83] |
City of Limerick | 1882 | Somewhere between New York City and London [83] |
City of London | 1881 | Somewhere between London and New York City [83] |
Colombo | 1876 | Somewhere between Hull and New York City [83] |
USS Cyclops | 1918 | Somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle [85] |
USS Epervier | 1815 | [86] |
Erin | 1889 | Somewhere between New York City and London [83] |
Henry Edye | 1881 | Somewhere between Antwerp and New York City [83] |
Hermann Ludwig | 1878 | Somewhere between New York City and Antwerp [83] |
Humber | 1885 | Somewhere between New York City and London [83] |
Huronian | 1902 | Smewhere between Glasgow and Saint John, New Brunswick [83] |
SS Ismailia | 1873 | Somewhere between New York City and Glasgow [83] |
FV Johannes Krüss | 1967 | Somewhere west of Cape Farewell, Greenland [87] |
København | 1928–1929 | Somewhere between Buenos Aires and Australia |
Ludwig | 1883 | Somewhere between Antwerp and Montreal [83] |
Madagascar | 1853 | Somewhere between Port Phillip and London [88] (also listed under Indian Ocean) |
Mercator | 1880 | Somewhere between Antwerp and New York City [83] |
Merrimac | 1899 | Somewhere between Quebec City and Belfast [83] |
Moy | 1905 | Somewhere between British Guiana and Liverpool [18] |
MS München | 1978 | Somewhere around 44°N24°W / 44°N 24°W [89] (missing wreck) |
SS Naronic | 1893 | Somewhere between Point Lynas, Wales and New York City [83] |
Neustria | 1908 | Somewhere between New York City and Marseille [83] |
Neva | 1887 | Somewhere between Banyuwangi and Lisbon [18] (also listed under Indian Ocean) |
Pacific | 1856 | Somewhere between Liverpool and New York City [83] |
Pauillac | 1900 | Somewhere between Glasgow and Saint John, New Brunswick [83] |
SS President | 1841 | Somewhere between New York City and Liverpool [83] |
De Ruyter | 1894 | Somewhere between Antwerp and New York City [83] |
Shannon | 1872 | Somewhere between Montreal and Liverpool [83] |
Shannon | 1885 | Somewhere between London and Calcutta [18] (also listed under Indian Ocean) |
Spray | 1909 | Somewhere between Vineyard Haven, United States and Venezuela [90] |
Tempest | 1857 | Somewhere between New York City and Glasgow [83] |
Titania | 1882 | Somewhere between New York City and Newcastle [83] |
Trojan | 1874 | Somewhere between Glasgow and Halifax [83] |
United Kingdom | 1869 | Somewhere between New York City and Glasgow [83] |
Vorsetzen | 1885 | Somewhere between Halifax and Antwerp [83] |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
Burmah | 1859/60 | Somewhere between London and New Zealand (last seen near 97E 48S) |
HMS Stonehenge | 1944 | Somewhere in Bay of Bengal or Andaman Sea [91] |
MV Kairali | 1979 | Somewhere 500 km off Margoa, India [92] |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
SS Canastota | 1921 | Somewhere between Sydney and Wellington [93] |
Ship | Date | Possible or Last Known Location |
---|---|---|
Amelia | 1816 | Somewhere between Sydney and Java [94] |
SY Aurora | 1918 | Somewhere between Newcastle, Australia and Iquique, Chile [95] |
Endeavour | 1914 | Somewhere between Macquarie Island and Hobart [61] |
HMCS Integrity | 1805 | Somewhere between Sydney, Australia and Valparaíso, Chile [96] |
Kakanui | 1891 | Somewhere between Macquarie Island and New Zealand [61] |
USS Kete | 1945 | Somewhere between Colnett Strait (Tokara Kaikyo) and Midway Island [97] |
Lyman D. Foster | 1919 | Somewhere between Nuku'alofa and San Francisco [98] [99] |
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)