MARITIME DISASTERS
Added on: 10th Dec 2014
THIS LIST DOES NOT INCLUDE WARTIME DISASTERS.
HMS SUSSEX
The Sussex was lost in a severe storm on 1 March 1694 off Gibraltar.
There were only two survivors out of a crew of 500.
OTTOMAN FRIGATE ERTUĞRUL
Sank on 18 September 1890 after striking a reef during a typhoon
off Kushimoto, Japan. The maritime accident resulted in the loss of
533 sailors.
RMS ATLANTIC
During the ship’s 19th voyage, on 1 April 1873, it ran onto
rocks and sank off the coast of Nova Scotia, killing 535 people
SS GRANDCAMP
On 16 April 1947, the French registered ex-liberty ship caught
fire and exploded dockside while being loaded with ammonium
nitrate at Texas City, Texas. In what came to be called the Texas City
Disaster an estimated 581 people, including 28 firefighters, were
killed and 5,000 were injured.
SS PRINCESS ALICE
On 3 September 1878 the Princess Alice was sunk in a collision on
the River Thames with the collier Bywell Castle off Tripcock Point.
Over 650 people died making it the greatest loss of life in any
Thames shipping disaster.
SS NORGE
On 28 June 1904 the Norge ran aground close to Rockall on
St. Helen’s Reef. The final death toll was 635 with 160 survivors who
spent up to eight days in open lifeboats before rescue.
MV PRINCESS OF THE STARS
On 21 June 2008, the ferry Princess of the Stars capsized and sank
in Typhoon Fengshen off the coast of San Fernando, Romblon, in the
Philippines. Of the estimated 747 people aboard, only 57 survived.
SS CAMORTA
The Camorta was caught in a cyclone and sank in the Irrawaddy Delta
on 6 May 1902 with the loss of all 655 passengers and 82 crew. She
was en route from Madras, India, to Rangoon, Burma, across the
Bay of Bengal.
HMS BULWARK
On 26 November 1914, a powerful internal explosion ripped the
Bulwark apart in the River Medway estuary. All of her officers were
lost and out of 750 sailors only 14 sailors survived.
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