Ships being built today—as well as those designed centuries ago—are meant to stay afloat and afford all aboard a safe and pleasant voyage. Sometimes, however, ships can sustain damage caused by rough weather, icebergs, weapons, collisions, and other unanticipated events.
Sunken ships continue to capture the interest of marine archaeologists, historians, divers, photographers, filmmakers, and even people like you who are intrigued by the ships resting on seafloors around the world.
Perhaps NOAA’s Ocean Exploration says it best: “Shipwrecks are like time capsules, preserving a single moment in time, and by studying them, archaeologists can begin to understand the past. While archaeological research has taught us much about how ships have influenced the course of human history, scientists are also beginning to learn how sunken ships influence ecology in the deepwater marine environment.”
Harbor Breeze Cruises has compiled what we believe to be 10 of the most famous shipwrecks of all time.
Famous Shipwreck #10: SS Sultana
According to American Battlefield Trust, “The Union navy grew to comprise more than six hundred ships by 1865, the largest in the world at the time, giving the North a consistent advantage in the war on the water.” As the Civil War came to an end, a paddle-wheel steamboat named SS Sultana was used to transport POWs from the Union Army back home. Unfortunately, three of the ship’s four boilers exploded and the Sultana sank on April 27, 1865, in Marion, Arkansas (across the river from Memphis, Tennessee). It’s recognized as the worst maritime disaster in the history of the United States, as more than 1,800 people lost their lives.
Famous Shipwreck #9: RMS Empress of Ireland
The sinking of the RMS Empress of Ireland is another unfortunate maritime disaster, and it remains one of the worst in history. This transatlantic passenger ship collided with Storstad, a steam cargo ship, in the early hours of May 29, 1914. RMS Empress of Ireland, a British-built ocean liner, came to rest at the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River in Rimouski, Québec, Canada. Thick fog was to blame for its sinking.
Famous Shipwreck #8: SS Edmund Fitzgerald
Know this about the SS Edmund Fitzgerald: it’s one of an estimated 6,000 shipwrecks within the Great Lakes region. SS Edmund Fitzgerald was a massive, record-breaking American freighter that, across 17 years of service following its official launch in June 1958, carried taconite iron ore from mines to ironworks sites and steel factories. November 9, 1975, marked the beginning of the ship’s final voyage. As SS Edmund Fitzgerald traveled from Wisconsin to a steel factory in Detroit, a powerful storm hit, bringing with it hurricane winds and high waves. SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank on the evening of November 10. All 29 crew members died. Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot wrote a ballad about the ship titled, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (to listen to Gordon Lightfoot’s song about this famous shipwreck, click here).
Famous Shipwreck #7: Queen Anne’s Revenge
The reason why Queen Anne’s Revenge has made our list of the 10 most famous shipwrecks is because it’s associated with the most famous pirate of all time: Blackbeard. According to Ancient North Carolinians, Queen Anne’s Revenge was built sometime around 1710 and was christened La Concorde. Once it was captured by Blackbeard in the Caribbean, he traveled upon the ship before running it aground in Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina. It was one of the most famous shipwrecks never found—until November 1996, that is, when a private salvage company searching for a different wreck located a cluster of cannon and anchors on the seabed near Beaufort Inlet.
Famous Shipwreck #6: Flor de la Mar
All the famous shipwrecks on our list have been found, which begs the question: are there any famous shipwrecks never found despite exhaustive searches? The answer is yes. Flor de la Mar, or Flor do Mar, was a Portuguese carrack ship built in Lisbon in 1502. “The Flower of The Sea” sank in a storm in November 1511; the storm was so severe that it supposedly split the ship in two. Approximately 400 men lost their lives, and only a few passengers survived. Its final resting place is said to be off the coast of Sumatra, perhaps in the Strait of Malacca. Flor de la Mar is one of the most famous shipwrecks never found because it was carrying the riches of the Sultan of Malacca. Diamonds, gold, rubies, emeralds, and other precious stones supposedly went down with the ship on its voyage back to Portugal.
Famous Shipwreck #5: MV Doña Paz
En route from Leyte to Manila, Philippines, the MV Doña Paz sunk in the Tablas Strait near Mindoro Island. The Philippine ferry was carrying passengers, while the tanker with which it collided, the MT Vector, was carrying oil and other chemicals. The ferry was said to be overcrowded, lacked a radio, and didn’t afford passengers access to life jackets. The explosion and fire engulfed both ships, causing more than 4,000 people to lose their lives on December 20, 1987. The sinking of the MV Doña Paz is still regarded as one of the deadliest shipwrecks in history and is often referred to as “Asia’s Titanic.”
Famous Shipwreck #4: RMS Republic
The RMS Republic was built in 1903 but did not last even a decade. That’s because on January 23, 1909, the steam-powered ocean liner collided with the SS Florida off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, due to dense fog. Six people died. To this day, treasure hunters remain convinced that the ship was carrying gold coins that, by today’s valuations, could be worth billions of dollars. Those interested in recovering the sunken treasure believe that even though the ship is deteriorating, the vaults in which the treasure is stored remain intact.
Famous Shipwreck #3: The Mary Rose
Why did The Mary Rose sink? That’s a question that remains unanswered to this day. The Mary Rose, an English warship commissioned during the reign of King Henry VIII, was built in England and used extensively by the Royal Navy for over three decades. Known as Henry VIII’s favorite warship, The Mary Rose capsized on July 19, 1945, during the Battle of Solent; approximately 500 men went down with her. Some experts speculate that the ship was hit by a cannonball, while others suggest it may have taken in water through the lowest row of gun ports. The ship sank in the English Channel, was located in 1971, and raised in 1982.
Famous Shipwreck #2: RMS Lusitania
The sinking of the RMS Lusitania not only contributed to the deaths of approximately 1,197 people but also indirectly caused the United States to enter World War I. Launched in 1906, this British ocean liner crossed the trans-Atlantic 202 times. On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat torpedoed the RMS Lusitania. The news shocked the world. Library of Congress’s webpage notes, “The sinking of the Lusitania was not the single largest factor contributing to the entrance of the United States into the war two years later, but it certainly solidified the public’s opinions towards Germany. President Woodrow Wilson, who guided the U.S. through its isolationist foreign policy, held his position of neutrality for almost two more years. Many, though, consider the sinking a turning point—technologically, ideologically, and strategically—in the history of modern warfare, signaling the end of the ‘gentlemanly’ war practices of the nineteenth century and the beginning of a more ominous and vicious era of total warfare.”
Famous Shipwreck #1: RMS Titanic
It probably comes as no surprise that the Titanic has claimed the top spot and is, in our estimation, the most famous shipwreck of all time. While this shipwreck stunned people around the world when it happened, it became even more famous thanks to filmmaker James Cameron’s blockbuster movie of the same name, which was released in 1997. Ever since, Titanic’s fate continues to fascinate people of all ages. RMS Titanic set sail on April 10, 1912, and hit an iceberg just before midnight on April 14. It sank in fewer than three hours and split in two as it traveled to the bottom of the sea. A total of 1,514 passengers lost their lives. Many artifacts have been recovered from the Titanic, which was described as “unsinkable” and therefore further adds to its worldwide allure.
Board Our Safe, Eco-Friendly Catamarans
Our whale watching cruises are fun, affordable, and memorable. At Harbor Breeze, we also prioritize your safety and comfort across every aspect of your journey with us. Considering that you’ve just read about 10 famous shipwrecks and now we’re encouraging you to join us for a cruise on the Pacific Ocean, we want to take this moment to assure you that our catamarans have been thoroughly inspected by the US Coast Guard. The US Coast Guard has certified all our vessels, too.
Our catamarans come complete with amenities such as a snack bar, lavatories, and seating. And, of course, there are life jackets available for all passengers. Tickets can be easily reserved online or by calling 562-983-6880. If you’re interested in joining us for a whale-watching cruise, please do!
