List of shipwrecks of North America

This is a list of shipwrecks located in or around North America.

Bermuda

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Alert	March 1877	A fishing sloop that was wrecked on the northern reefs.
Apollo	February 1890	A schooner that was wrecked on the reefs en route to Nova Scotia.
Avenger	February 1894	A brigantine that was wrecked on Mills Breakers.
Beaumaris Castle	25 April 1873	A cargo ship that ran aground on Mills Breakers and was abandoned after several unsuccessful salvage attempts.
Blanch King	2 December 1920	A schooner that was wrecked on the southwest reefs.
Caesar	17 May 1818	A brig that was wrecked on a reef en route from England to Baltimore.
Caraquet	25 June 1923	A mail steamship that was wrecked on the northern barrier reef.
HMS Cerberus	21 February 1783	A fifth-rate warship that was lost at Castle Harbour.
Collector	26 May 1823	A schooner that was wrecked northeast of St. George's.
Colonel William G. Ball	June 1943	A luxury yacht that was wrecked on Mills Breakers in severe weather.
Constellation	30 July 1942	A schooner that was wrecked on a reef with a cargo of drugs, cement, and whiskey, an incident which inspired the novel and film The Deep.
Cristobal Colon	25 October 1936	An ocean liner that ran aground on a reef, becoming Bermuda's largest shipwreck.
Curlew	17 March 1856	A barquentine that was wrecked on the northern reefs.
Darlington	22 February 1886	A steamship that was wrecked on the Western Reef.
Eagle	12 January 1659	A merchantman that was wrecked on the northeast breakers.
Elda	20 June 1956	A yacht that was wrecked close to the Eagle.
"Frenchman wreck"		An unidentified ship, wrecked around 1750; found in 1983.
Hermes	1984	An American ship that was scuttled as a dive wreck one mile off shore.
L'Herminie	3 December 1838	A frigate that was wrecked on a reef in rough weather.
Hunters Galley	11 January 1752	A sloop that foundered in a series of storms and was wrecked on the rocks at Hogfish Cut.
Iristo	16 March 1937	A Norwegian steamer also known as Aristo, that grounded after mistaking the Colon wreck for a ship still underway. She was recovered from the reef, but sank under tow the following day.
Kate	30 November 1878	A British steamer that struck a reef and was run aground to prevent her from sinking.
HMS Katherine	4 April 1763	A brigantine that was wrecked en route to Jamaica.
King	1984	An American tug that was scuttled as the first intentionally created dive site in Bermuda.
Lartington	14 December 1879	A cargo ship that ran aground near Western Blue Cut, after just five years of operation.
Lord Amherst	16 February 1778	A British armed transport and hospital ship that was wrecked on the western reefs.
Madiana	10 February 1903	A passenger steamer, formerly the Balmoral Castle, that struck a reef near Hamilton Harbour.
"Manilla wreck"		An unidentified ship, wrecked mid-18th century.
Mari Celeste	13 September 1864	An American Civil War blockade runner that struck a reef while being piloted by a Bermudian, and sank within eight minutes.
Mark Antonio	18 July 1777	A Spanish privateer that was wrecked on the reefs, and discovered in the early 1960s.
Minnie Breslauer	1 January 1873	A cargo ship that ran aground on the reefs, and although later recovered, sank en route to St. George's.
Montana	30 December 1863	An American Civil War blockade runner that hit a reef off the north shore.	32°21.817′N 64°54.812′W / 32.363617°N 64.913533°W
Mussel	7 February 1926	A Bermudian fishing ketch that was wrecked on the western reefs.
North Carolina	1 January 1880	A barque that was wrecked south of Gibs Hill Lighthouse.
Pelinaion	22 December 1940	A Greek steamer that was wrecked off David's Head.
Pollockshields	1915	A cargo ship, formerly the Herodot, that was wrecked near Elbow Beach.
Ramona		A Canadian yacht that was wrecked in 1967, refloated for salvaging, and re-sunk near the Royal Naval Dockyard.
Richard P. Buck	13 April 1889	A cargo ship that was caught fire and sank following a storm.
San Antonio	12 September 1621	A Portuguese nao that was wrecked on the west reefs, and discovered in 1960.
San Pedro	1595-1596	A 350-ton Spanish ship that was wrecked to the north of the main island, and discovered in 1951. Valuable treasures and artifacts have been raised, including a 32-ounce gold bar, two smaller gold bars, and an emerald-studded gold cross.
Sea Venture	25 July 1609	An English ship that was deliberately grounded after taking damage in a storm, and subsequently broke up and sank.
Taunton	24 November 1920	A Norwegian steamer that was wrecked on the northern reefs.
Virginia Merchant	26 March 1661	A passenger and cargo ship that ran aground off Sonesta Beach.
HMS Vixen	1896	A coastal defence ship that was scuttled as a blockship off Daniel's Head.	32°18′21.31″N 64°53′7.88″W / 32.3059194°N 64.8855222°W
Warwick	November 1619	An English cargo ship that was sunk in a gale in Castle Harbour.
Wychwood	14 August 1955	An English steamer that ran aground off Gibs Hill Light. The ship was refloated but then abandoned at Five Fathom's Hole, and later blown up as a hazard to navigation.
Zovetto	13 February 1924	A cargo ship, also known as Zovetta or Rita Zovetto, that ran aground off St. David's Light.

Canada

Caribbean

Bahamas

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
USS Adirondack	23 August 1862	A sloop-of-war that struck a reef off Man-O-War Cay.
HMS Algerine	20 May 1813	A Pygmy-class schooner that was wrecked on the Little Bahama Bank.
USS Chippewa	12 December 1816	A brig that ran aground on a reef.
HMS Conqueror	13 December 1861	A Conqueror-class ship of the line that was wrecked on Rum Cay.
USS Courier	14 June 1864	A storeship and gunboat that ran aground in the Abaco Islands.
SS El Faro	1 October 2015	A cargo ship that was sunk by Hurricane Joaquin near Crooked Island.
MS Logna	16 October 1982	A cargo ship that was scuttled as a dive site and artificial reef about two miles offshore of Xanadu Beach Resort & Marina, Grand Bahama; known as "Theo's Wreck".
HMS Nimble	4 November 1834	A schooner employed in anti-slave trade patrol until it struck a reef in the Old Bahama Channel.
USS San Jacinto	1 January 1865	A steam frigate that struck a reef near Great Abaco Island.
SS Sapona	1926	A cargo steamer run aground near Bimini during a hurricane.	25°39.040′N 79°17.593′W / 25.650667°N 79.293217°W

British Virgin Islands

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
HMS Astraea	23 May 1808	A British frigate wrecked on Anegada's Horseshoe Reef.
HMS Nymph	18 June 1783	A British sloop that caught fire, foundered, and sank in Road Town's harbour.
RMS Rhone	29 October 1867	A British packet ship wrecked during a hurricane off the coast of Salt Island.	18°22′07″N 64°32′08″W / 18.3687°N 64.5356°W

Cuba

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Almirante Oquendo	3 July 1898	An Infanta Maria Teresa-class armored cruiser that was scuttled about 700 metres offshore in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba.	19°58′39″N 76°8′40″W / 19.97750°N 76.14444°W
Cristóbal Colón	3 July 1898	A Giuseppe Garibaldi-class armored cruiser that was sunk in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba.	19°56′N 76°45′W / 19.933°N 76.750°W
USS Merrimac	2 June 1898	A steamship that was sunk by Spanish cruisers in the harbor at Santiago de Cuba.	19°58′37″N 75°52′18″W / 19.97694°N 75.87167°W
Vizcaya	3 July 1898	An Infanta Maria Teresa-class armored cruiser that was sunk in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba.	19°58′N 76°8′W / 19.967°N 76.133°W

Dominican Republic

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Astron	7 April 1978	A freighter that ran aground and broke in two off the coast of Punta Cana.	18°43′49.79″N 68°27′14.27″W / 18.7304972°N 68.4539639°W
Atlantic Princess		Originally a tourist mover that was to be sunk as an artificial reef off the coast of Bayahibe, but sunk accidentally right in front of Dreams resort.
Catuan	December 2006	Scuttled in the area of Juan Dolio at depths ranging from 24 to 60 feet (7.3 to 18.3 m).[1]
Conde de Tolosa	25 August 1724	A Spanish galleon that ran aground during a hurricane in Samaná Bay.
Diomedes		French ship lost in the fierce maritime Battle of Palenque, in the 17th century, in Palenque, Bani.
Dolphin		A 64 feet (20 m) long fishing boat, and sister ship of the Hickory. It lies in el Portillo, Las Terrenas, and has served as an underwater base for rescue operations.
Hickory	1986	140 feet (43 m) long. Former old US Coast Guard, commanded by Captain Tracy Bowden for underwater exploration and rescue operations, the Hickory was sunk by Hurricane George while carrying 50 passengers. All survived. It is now a national park in La Caleta, Santo Domingo.
Imperiale		French ship lost in the Battle of Palenque, in the 17th century, in Palenque, Bani.
RP-14 Limon		An old tugboat 155 feet (47 m) long that rests in about 80 feet (24 m) of water very close to the Hickory in the same park. This ship was scuttled there for the same reason – to serve as a tourist attraction. The depth where this shipwreck lies varies from 27–60 feet. The three propellers of this tugboat are still clearly visible.[1]
London		Sunk in the 17th century in Samana Bay.
Monte Cristi Pipe Wreck		Thought to have been a merchant trader, probably sunk in the later part of the 17th century. Named for the large number of clay smoking pipes it carried as cargo.
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe	24 August 1724	A Spanish galleon sunk by a hurricane in Samaná Bay.
Nuestra Señora de la Limpia y Pura Concepcion, known as El Concepcion	1641	Sunk at the Silver Bank and found by Cap. Burt Webber, with the most valuable cargo found in these waters; more than 95,000 silver coins, Ming Dynasty ceramics, gold chains, and many other artifacts were salvaged.
Quedagh Merchant,		An Indian merchant vessel captured on 30 January 1696 by William Kidd, who renamed it the Adventure Prize. Shortly before he was arrested for piracy, Kidd entrusted the ship to hired merchants, who sold off most of the goods, set fire to the ship, and absconded to Holland. The wreck was discovered in 2007 off the coast of Catalina Island.
Scipion		A French ship that took part in the blockade against Cornwallis and thus was instrumental in the American Revolutionary War; sunk in a battle against the British fleet. Found and positively identified by Tracy Bowden. Recovered October 2009 by Deep Blue Marine Inc.
St. George	1999	Sunk as an artificial reef near La Romana.

Granada

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Bianca C	24 October 1961	A passenger ship that was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine in 1944, before construction on the ship was completed. It sank for the second time near St. George's, following an explosion.	12°03′11″N 61°45′32″W / 12.053°N 61.759°W

Haiti

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Bluenose	28 January 1946	A celebrated Canadian racing schooner that foundered on a reef off Île à Vache.
Crête-à-Pierrot	6 September 1902	A cruiser that was scuttled to prevent capture while harboured at Gonaïves.
Mary Celeste	3 January 1885	A brigantine found in 1872 in the Atlantic Ocean, unmanned and under full sail, heading towards the Strait of Gibraltar. It was later deliberately run aground and burned in an insurance fraud attempt, off the western coast of Port-au-Prince.

Lesser Antilles

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
MV Angeln	21 February 2010	A container ship that capsized off Saint Lucia.
MS Antilla		A supply ship that was scuttled to prevent capture off Aruba.	12°36′06″N 70°03′29″W / 12.60175°N 070.05815°W
Cygne	13 December 1808	An Abeille-class brig that ran aground off Martinique and was scuttled to prevent capture.
Hilma Hooker	12 September 1984	A drug smuggling ship that was seized by the authorities at Bonaire, then took on water and sank at harbour.	12°06′14″N 68°17′22″W / 12.1039°N 68.2895°W
SS Pedernales		A lake tanker that was torpedoed by U-156, and later towed into a dry dock and cut in three. The fore and aft sections were joined together, and the middle section was sunk as a target.	12°34′44″N 70°03′30″W / 12.57889°N 070.05833°W

Saint Vincent

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
SS Antilles	8 January 1971	An ocean liner that ran aground on a reef near the island of Mustique.

Trinidad and Tobago

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
MV Mahiri	19 February 1974	An Empire F type coaster that sprung a leak and sank under tow off Port of Spain.	10°37′N 61°34′W / 10.617°N 61.567°W

Turks and Caicos Islands

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
2009 Turks and Caicos Islands migrant shipwreck	26 July 2009	A wooden boat carrying migrants from Haiti that capsized near West Caicos.
General Pershing	11 July 1921	A schooner that was wrecked on Endymion Rock.
Molasses Reef Wreck		Early 16th-century Spanish shipwreck, the earliest European shipwreck in the Americas to be scientifically excavated.
Trouvadore	March 1841	A Spanish slave ship that was wrecked off East Caicos. The crew were arrested upon reaching land, and the 168 Africans took up residence at Grand Turk Island.

Guatemala

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
SS Springfjord	27 June 1954	A cargo ship that was bombed and sunk off Puerto San José by the CIA, who were engineering a coup d'état in Guatemala.	13°55′59″N 90°49′01″W / 13.933°N 90.817°W

Mexico

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
USS Alabaster	1982	A patrol boat that caught fire off Puerto Vallarta.
USS Belet	16 January 1972	A Crosley-class high speed transport that ran aground on Bahia Peninsula.
Challenger	October 1875	An extreme clipper that was wrecked in a gale and drifted ashore at Manzanillo.
USS H-1	12 March 1920	A H-class submarine that ran aground off Isla Santa Margarita.
USS Jubilant	August 2001	An Admirable-class minesweeper that was sunk as an artificial reef off Veracruz.
HMCS Kootenay	2001	A Restigouche-class destroyer that was sunk as an artificial reef.
USS Palomas	25 May 1969	A schooner that ran aground on Sacramento Reef, 4.5 miles (7.2 km) off the coast of Baja California.
HMCS Restigouche	2001	A Restigouche-class destroyer that was sunk as an artificial reef off Acapulco.
USS Scuffle	1999	An Admirable-class minesweeper that was sunk off Cozumel.
USS Somers	8 December 1846	A brig that capsized off Veracruz.

Panama

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
SS Cheribon	11 April 1902	A cargo ship that was wrecked on a reef near Remedios District.
Nuestra Señora de Encarnación	1681	A merchant vessel that sank in a storm at the mouth of the Chagres River. The wreck was rediscovered in 2011.
Sub Marine Explorer		A submersible that was used for harvesting oysters and pearls in the Pearl Islands, until it was abandoned in 1869.	8°16′54″N 78°50′45″W / 8.28158°N 78.8459°W

United States

References

1. Lubos Kordac (2009). Historic shipwrecks of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. ISBN 978-1-61623-639-7. Retrieved 29 November 2009.

• "Bermuda Shipwrecks". Aqua Explorers, Inc.

Further reading

• Marx, Robert F. (1987). Shipwrecks in the Americas. New York: Dover. ISBN 0-486-25514-X.

External links

• WRECKSITE Worldwide database of + 65,000 wrecks with history, maritime charts and GPS positions (subscription required)
• Ship Information Database Contains historical data about ships that were registered with Canadian ports or that sailed Canadian waters.