Wreck of ships ... Such an incident is always shrouded in an aura of secrets, myths and legends. Famous shipwrecks are black pages of history, which can be read only by looking into the depths of the sea. Sadly, the majestic giants-liners very often fall prey to the raging waters of the seas and oceans.
The most famous shipwrecks were made public. Today, there are many unspoken lists that name the most impressive ship disasters in the history of mankind. Below are just a few of those that went down in world history.
Wrecked ships
For many, the first thing that comes to mind is a story that shocked the whole world with its tragedy. It has eclipsed any other shipwreck. This is the story of the "Titanic" ... Although this story over time was overgrown with many guesses and conjectures, everyone is still interested to know what really happened. The crew was so blinded by the majesty of their ship and its superiority over other ships that for the time being everyone became overconfident.
Possible causes of the tragedy
At that time, many said that a ship was finally built that could not be sunk. But the reality turned out to be unpredictable. One night the ship was sailing at full speed along its route, and the sailors only at the very last moment were able to notice the top of a huge block of ice towering above the water's surface. Urgent attempts were made to steer the ship aside, but it was too late: the ship was wrecked. Almost at full speed, the Titanic touched an iceberg with its starboard side.
The ship breaks in half
Gradually, the lower tiers in the bow compartment of the ship begin to flood. Almost half of the vessel is filled with cold water Atlantic Ocean... A counterweight is created on the ship, as a result of which it is half submerged in the water. The case does not withstand the monstrous load and breaks in half. Both parts of the broken ship are deprived of electricity and sink. Eyewitnesses of the tragedy recall that terrible day with a shudder, but nevertheless some facts remain in the shadows. For example, class discrimination against passengers.
Could more have been saved?
Some witnesses claim that the individual boats were only half full of passengers. Only a few people sat in them, who set off as soon as possible, in fear that the boat would overflow and sink. As a result, far fewer passengers were saved than they could have. However, do not forget that heroic deeds took place that night. Many, risking their lives, helped others to escape. Anyway, this disaster became a symbol of arrogance.
complicated story
Another, no less tragic collision occurred with the steamer "Admiral Nakhimov". It became a resounding sensation in the twentieth century. The warm day of August began with the arrival at the port cruise ship... The city of Novorossiysk said goodbye to the passengers who were about to go on an exciting trip soon. Around the same time a ship called "Peter Vasev" was planning to enter the port. The crews of both ships were warned about each other and had to act carefully, no one knew that soon there would be a shipwreck.
Who is guilty and does it make sense to find out now?
As a result of short negotiations, it was decided to disperse at the exit from the port on the right sides. However, something went wrong, namely the automatic guidance system malfunctioned. The technique is imperfect, this should never be forgotten. The shipwreck is a vivid evidence of this. When it was noticed that the ship was moving at full speed towards "Admiral Nakhimov", the situation almost completely got out of control.
Dry cargo ship "Peter Vasev" crashed into a passenger liner and made a hole in its side, measuring eight by ten meters. in eight minutes. Some of the circumstances under which the ship crashed raised questions for many. Why did the passenger ship sink to the bottom like a stone, if, according to the rules, it must have sufficient buoyancy to stay on the surface of the water for at least an hour after the wreck? In addition, information was received that the captain complied with the order of the port dispatcher and changed the route of the sailing vessel. There will be many gaps and white spots in this story.
However, the most inconsolable fact is the death of almost half a thousand people. Perhaps the scale of the disaster would not have been so dire if it had been possible to launch lifeboats. But what could be done in just eight minutes? It takes at least half an hour to organize the boarding of people in one boat. And this is even under favorable conditions.
In the case when the ship "Nakhimov" crashed, there was neither time nor factors that would allow people to escape in the boats. As time passes after the disaster, it becomes increasingly difficult to find out the true circumstances of the crash. Surely the true facts rest in the depths of water, so it makes no sense to speculate, because time, like human lives, cannot be returned back.
These are just two stories, but they are not the only ones. The following list of the most famous shipwrecks will show that the wrecks of the largest liners are far from uncommon.
- SS America.
- "Discoverer of the World".
- "Mediterranean sky".
- MB Captayannis.
- BOS 400.
- Fort Shevchenko.
- "Evangelia".
- "SS Maheno".
- "Santa Maria".
- "Dimitrios".
- "Olympia".
The ships were built for years, solemnly left their native ports against the wind and eventually sank, ran aground, leaving only fragments and piles of iron in memory of themselves.
11/07/2011
The sunken motor ship "Bulgaria" claimed the lives of dozens of people, and made us think once again about the safety of river and sea transport. Most people are only familiar with the Titanic tragedy, about which many films have been made and many stories told.
H oh, oddly enough, it was not the Titanic that took the largest number of human lives to the bottom. This rating lists the worst shipwrecks in history and is based on those killed in these disasters. It is worth noting that all these catastrophes occurred in peacetime.
1.Dona Paz - 4,375 dead
Passenger ferry registered in the Philippines. Sank on December 20, 1987 after collision with the tanker "Vector". At the same time, approximately 4,375 people died, which makes this maritime disaster the largest in peacetime. The ferry was built in 1963 at the Japanese shipyard "Onomichi Zosen", Onomichi, and was called "Himeuri Maru". The Himeuri Maru, owned by Ryukyu Kaiun Kaisa, cruised Japanese waters with a capacity of 608 passengers. In 1975, the vessel was sold to Sulpicio Lines, a Filipino passenger ferry operator, and was named Don Sulphico and later Doña Paz. A month before the collision, the ferry was being repaired at the docks. During Don's clash, Paz performed twice a week passenger Transportation along the route Manila-Tacloban-Katbalogan-Manila-Katbalogan-Takloban-Manila.
2. Explosion in Halifax - 1,950 dead
The Halifax Explosion is an explosion that occurred on Thursday, December 6, 1917 in the harbor city of Halifax. The massive explosion of the French military transport "Mont Blanc", loaded with explosives, which occurred as a result of the collision of "Mont Blanc" with the Norwegian ship "Imo", the port and much of the city were completely destroyed. About 2 thousand people were killed in the explosion, under the rubble of buildings, and because of the fires that emerged after the explosion. Approximately 9 thousand people were injured.
3. Joola - 1,863 dead
A Senegalese state ferry that capsized off the coast of the Gambia on September 26, 2002. The disaster killed at least 1,863 people. On September 26, 2002, the Yoola ferry departed from Ziguinchor in the Casamance region on one of its routine journeys to the Senegal capital Dakar. During the voyage, the vessel, designed to carry about 580 passengers, accommodated about 2000 people. On the way, the ship capsized as a result of strong winds off the coast of the Gambia. Detailed reports show it happened in less than five minutes.
4. Sultana - 1,800 dead
The steamer Sultana, sailing on the Mississippi River, was destroyed by an explosion in one of four boilers on April 27, 1865. This led to the greatest maritime disaster in United States history. About 1,800 of the 2,400 passengers on board were killed. The steamer sank near Memphis, Tennessee.
5. Titanic - 1,517 dead
The Titanic is a British steamer of the White Star Line, one of three twin ships of the Olympic class. The largest passenger liner in the world at the time of its construction. During the first voyage on April 14, 1912, it collided with an iceberg and sank after 2 hours and 40 minutes. Onboard there were 1316 passengers and 892 crew members, a total of 2208 people. The Titanic catastrophe became legendary and was one of the largest shipwrecks in history. Several feature films have been shot on its plot.
6. Empress of Ireland - 1,012 dead
The Empress of Ireland is a Canadian passenger liner laid down on the stocks of the Govan shipyard, near Glasgow, Scotland. Launched in January 1906, underwent sea trials until June 27, 1906. One of the largest vessels of its class, owned by the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company. Made flights between England and Canada. The comfort of the premises, the high speed of the ship, as well as the excellent service on board, have earned him popularity among those wishing to cross the Atlantic Ocean. During its next voyage on May 29, 1914, the Empress of Ireland collided with the Norwegian coal carrier Sturstadt on the St. Lawrence River and sank 14 minutes later at a depth of more than 40 meters. He carried on board 1,477 people (420 crew members and 1057 passengers).
7. Estonia - 852 dead
The ferry "Estonia" was built in 1979 in Germany at the shipyard "Meyer Werft" in Papenburg. "Estonia" sank on the night of September 27 to September 28, 1994. In this case, 852 people out of 1049 who were on board died. The ferry was originally built for Viking Line and was named Viking Sally. He was supposed to run between Turku, Mariehamn and Stockholm. In 1986, it was sold to Silja Line and renamed Silja Star, leaving it on the same route. In 1991, the ferry was operated by Wasa Line, wholly owned by Silja Line, and the ferry, now named Wasa King, began operating between the Finnish town of Vaasa and the Swedish town of Umeå. In January 1993, the Swedish company Nordström & Thulin and the Estonian Shipping Company (Estonian Shipping Company, abbreviated as ESCO) established a joint venture company Estline to provide ferry connections between Tallinn and Stockholm. EstLine A / S ”), which acquired the ferry“ Wasa King ”, renaming it“ Estonia ”(“ Estonia ”).
8. Eastland - 845 dead
It was a passenger ship based in Chicago. It was used for excursions to the Great Lakes. The ship sank on July 24, 1915 as a result of a natural disaster. This was the largest shipwreck in the Great Lakes region.
9. Birkenhead - 460 dead
Birkenhead is a ferry built specifically for the Royal Navy. It was designed as a frigate but was later used to transport troops. On February 26, 1852, while transporting troops, the ship crashed off the coast of Cape Town in South Africa.
10. Mary Rose - 400 dead
Mary Rose was the three-deck flagship of the British Navy under King Henry VIII Tudor. This massive karakka was launched in Portsmouth in 1510. The name was probably given in honor of the French queen Mary Tudor (the king's sister) and the rose as the heraldic symbol of the Tudor house. During the Italian Wars, the Mary Rose was commanded by the admiral brothers Edward and Thomas Howard. In 1512 "Mary Rose" took part in the attack on Brest. In 1528 and 1536. it was modernized: the number of guns was increased to 91, the displacement was increased to 700 tons. In 1545, King Francis I of France landed on the Isle of Wight. The British sent 80 ships led by the Mary Rose to the Solent Strait to protect the island. The karakka, overloaded with artillery, never distinguished by stability, suddenly began to heel and sank along with Admiral George Carew. Only 35 sailors managed to escape. By the way, the remains of this ship were found, and now they are kept in the Maritime Museum in Portsmouth .
optopus.ucoz.ru, photo from pajamasmedia.com
The top 10 lists only civilians that occurred in peacetime or in neutral waters, shipwrecks were recorded during wars, more terrible shipwrecks were recorded, for example, the death of the liner "Armenia", which transported more than 9,000 refugees from Sevastopol.
1.Dona Paz Ferry, Philippines, December 20, 1987 (4,386 people)
The worst disaster at sea, in which more than 4,000 people died, this terrible shipwreck happened on December 20, 1987, when the Philippine ferry Dona Paz collided with the oil tanker Vector in Tablas Sound, 180 kilometers south of Manila.The ferry was full of passengers eager to reach their destination before the Christmas holidays began.Although the sea was calm and visibility was perfect, the lack of competence of the crew on both ships led to this disaster.As soon as the ships collided, 8,800 barrels of oil and gasoline from the tanker ignited and almost no one survived in this terrible fire.
2. Steamship Kiyangiya, China, December 3, 1948 (3,335 people)
The Chinese passenger steamer Kiyangiya was shipwrecked on December 3, 1948 while sailing from Shanghai to Ningbo. The steamer carried refugees from China, 2,000 people were officially registered on it, but as it turned out later, the number of passengers was about 2 times more than declared. During the transition, he ran into a Japanese mine and began to sink quickly, approximately3,335 people died in the shipwreck and only about 700 were able to escape.
3. Ferry Le Joola, Senegal, September 26, 2002 (1,863 people)
One of the worst disasters at sea in the history of the world. The ferry carried more than 2,000 passengers from the port of Senegal when, 35 kilometers off the coast of the Gambia, on September 26, 2002, it capsized in 5 minutes. The reason for the loss of the ferry was the overload, if it was possible to take on board no more than 550 passengers, the ferry took on board more than 2,000 people.
4. Steamer Hoi Chu, China, November 8, 1945 (1,800 people)
The massive 1,800 deaths occurred when the Chinese steamer Hoi Chu, bound for Hong Kong from Canton and carrying some 2,000 troops, 100 civilians and crew members, sank at Bocca Tigris at the mouth of the Canton River. The cause of death, a mine left after the war, only 300 people survived the crash.
5. Steamer Sultan, USA, April 27, 1865 (1,600 people)
The explosion of the steamboat Sultan, which killed nearly 1,600 passengers, was perhaps the largest maritime disaster in United States history.The Sultan carried some 2,300 POWs down the Mississippi River from Vicksburg, as well as several civilian passengers and crew.Literally a couple of hours after midnight on April 27, 1865, one of the Sultan's three boilers exploded, after which the steamer quickly sank.
6. Liner "Titanic", UK / USA, April 15, 1912 (1,514 people)
The tragedy of the 20th century with the participation of the superliner Titanic has inspired writers and filmmakers for decades, and dozens of books and films have been written and shot on this disaster. One of the largest and most luxurious liners of its time, it embarked on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York, USA on April 10, 1912. Built with the most advanced technology of its time, the Titanic was believed by many to be unsinkable. However, nothing is guaranteed on the high seas and on April 14 the ship collided with an iceberg off the coast of Newfoundland. As a result of the collision, its hull was damaged and the liner sank; 1,514 people died in this crash.
7. Steamship Taiping, China, January 27, 1949 (1,500 people)
Nearly 1,500 passengers, mostly expatriates from China, who had traveled to Taiwan, sailed from Shanghai on board the steamer Taiping in search of a better life. They all died on the fateful day of January 27, 1949, when the ferry was rammed by another Chinese ship.
8. Ferry Toya Maru, Japan, September 26, 1954 (1,153 people)
The brutal Typhoon, called No. 15 'in Japan, with no name, just a number, killed almost 1,153 passengers aboard the commercial ferry Toya Maru on September 26, 1954. The event is presented as the worst civilian shipwreck in Japanese history. The ferry ran between Hakodate on Hokkaido Island and Aomori on Honshu Island. The previously scheduled departure of the ferry was canceled in anticipation of the arrival of the typhoon. Nevertheless, the captain decided to go in the evening, believing that the worst part of the storm had already passed. This was a serious mistake, after leaving the harbor, the crew lost control of the vessel and it sank off the coast of Japan. 1,153 passengers and crew members went into the depths of the ocean.
9. General Slokam, 1021 killed
June 15, 1904, marked as a black day in the history of New York, on this day the largest shipwreck occurred in the waters of the city. General Slokam, a passenger steamer that carried people on a tour of New York, carried 1,342 passengers, mostly members of the Lutheran congregation, to a church picnic in Locust Grove, Long Island. The passengers were mostly Germans from small Germany, the Manhattan area, including a large group of women and children.
The reason for the death of the ship was the disgusting training of the crew and the captain of the ship, when leaving the port, after 20 minutes old furniture in one of the ship's rooms began to smolder, the fire was noticed in time, the team quickly rolled out a fire hose, but when water was started up, the hose broke in several places, because of which it was not possible to extinguish the fire, as a result of which the ship was flooded. It took the fire only half an hour to destroy the steamer.
10. Salam-98, 1,101 people died
On February 3, 2006, Salam 98, a vessel carrying more than 1,300 passengers and an additional 103 crew members, sank in the waters of the Red Sea, killing 1,101 people. Ship out Saudi Arabia, the port of Duba went to Egypt, the port of Safaga. Most of the passengers were Egyptians working in Saudi Arabia and returning home from work.
The captain of the ferry, Syed Omar, was responsible for the incident, since when a fire broke out on the upper deck, the ferry was close to the shore, but the captain decided to go to the Egyptian port anyway, his actions led to the death of more than 1,100 people.
For thousands of years, ships have sunk during war, natural disasters and in some cases even human error. Identified ten of the largest and most famous shipwrecks that have ever occurred.
The Titanic sailed from Southampton to New York, where it collided with an iceberg and sank after 2 hours and 40 minutes. Its hull, divided into two parts, lies on the seabed, at a depth of over 3,700 meters.
Sultana
Almost forgotten, but one of the deadliest disasters. During the crash of this ship, more than 1,800 people died. It was the greatest maritime disaster in all American history. The explosion of four cauldrons turned the ship into a huge ball of fire, engulfing everyone and everything. The explosion killed 80% of everyone on board. The disaster was in the background in the press, due to the fact that President Lincoln was killed just the day before. 
... The ship was designed for only 85 passengers, but there were approximately 2,400 people on board. Its wreckage lies near Memphis, Tennessee.
L.R. Doti
This ship was launched in 1894 in the state of Michigan, in western Bay City. He was caught in a terrible storm, which caused his flooding, killing all 17 crew members on board. The crash site was found 111 years after the sinking of the ship. It is located at a depth of 92 meters in Lake Michigan; the maize cargo is still intact. This place is considered one of the most dangerous dive sites due to the muddy water.
Oriskani
This ship, nicknamed the Mighty O, was one of 24 massive Essex-class ships ordered by the US Navy. The ship has witnessed many battles in many places, from Guantanamo Bay in Cuba to the Vietnam War. 
... In 2004, the ship was converted into an artificial reef and has become a very successful home for millions of fish. Today it is considered one of the best places for diving in the world.
Jula
The sinking of this ship is considered the second worst non-war maritime disaster. The disaster claimed at least 1,863 lives. The ship was designed for 500 passengers, but at the time of the accident it was carrying more than 2000 passengers. The ship capsized after being hit by a storm. It sank in just five minutes. Rescue teams arrived only in the morning after the incident, a huge number of victims died in the water while awaiting rescue. The vessel is still considered missing.
Vida Galli
This ship has very interesting story... It served primarily for the slave trade, but then in late February 1717, a pirate named "Black Sam" Bellamy hijacked the ship and claimed it as his property. During the year he owned the ship, he used the Vida Galli to capture and plunder more than 50 ships. The ship was caught in a violent storm, as a result of which its main mast collapsed, and it capsized, dragging all the pirates under the water. The ship was discovered more than 250 years after it disappeared along with its prey. He was at a depth of only 5 meters. It was the first real pirate ship ever discovered.
Rona
Quite possibly the most beautiful shipwreck in the world. A British packet boat crashed off the coast of Salt Island, British Virgin Islands on October 26, 1867. The ship went straight for the hurricane, which damaged it and killed 123 people. Now this is a place for diving, and, I must say, absolutely stunning in beauty. Wildlife has taken the ship into its possession, and now it is covered with corals, eels, different types of fish and even sharks live in it.
Costa Concordia
Most recent cruise ship wreck. Although the ship only partially sank, the crash cost 34 passengers their lives. This crash was widely reported in the press. Captain Scettino tried to make a spectacular maneuver to port. To do this, he turned off the ship's navigation system, which reported how close the ship approached the stone shoal. The ship bumped into a large rock and water began to fill the ship, causing it to capsize. The Costa Concordia is still in the Giglia Island region of Tuscany and has become a popular tourist attraction; now plans are being developed to lift and tow it.
Mont Blanc
The Mont Blanc became known as the ship that caused the Halifax explosion. The ship was heading for France from New York and was carrying a huge amount of ammunition and explosives. The vessel was not too old, but very slow due to the weight of the cargo carried. It entered Halifax, Nova Scotia to meet a convoy bound for France. When entering the port, the ship crashed into another ship, the Imo. The collision caused a fire, explosives on board ignited. The force of the explosion was 2.9 kilotons, it was the largest non-nuclear explosion in history. More than 2,000 people were killed and 9,000 injured.
Sweepstakes
The Sweepstakes are immensely popular with divers due to the wildlife and scenery at the wreck site. The ship lies in a large harbor and can be seen at water level. The ship was damaged off Cove Island in August 1885. Fortunately, he was brought back to port by a small tug "Jesse". The schooner was seriously damaged and could not be repaired, so it sank in the port itself. Fortunately, the huge cargo of coal was lifted from the side of the sunken ship.
We all know about the ill-fated story of the Titanic, but few people know that this tragedy was only the third largest casualty in the history of shipping. Today we invite you to familiarize yourself with a list of the 10 most terrible disasters that have occurred on the water.
1. MV Wilhelm Gustloff.
In January 1945 this German ship was hit by three torpedoes in the Baltic Sea while participating in the evacuation of civilians, military personnel and Nazi officials who were surrounded by the Red Army in East Prussia. The ship sank in less than 45 minutes. More than 9,400 people are estimated to have died.
2. MV Doña Paz.
This Filipino ferry sank after collision with the MT Vector oil tanker on December 20, 1987. More than 4,300 people died. The collision occurred in the middle of the night and led to a fire, and the life jackets were locked, forcing passengers to jump into the burning water, moreover, infested with sharks.
3. RMS Lusitania.
This British liner sailed from Liverpool to New York. During World War I, the ship was shot down by German torpedoes on May 7, 1915 and sank within just 18 minutes after the impact. The crash killed 1,198 of the 1959 people on board.
4. RMS Lancastria.
This British ocean liner was requisitioned by the government during World War II. It sank on June 17, 1940, taking 4,000 lives with it. This disaster caused the death of more people than the sinking of the Titanic and Lusitania combined.
5. RMS Empress of Ireland.
This Canadian liner sank in the St. Lawrence River after colliding with a Norwegian bulk carrier on May 29, 1914 due to heavy fog. 1012 people were killed (840 passengers and 172 crew members).
6. MV Goya.
The German transport ship MV Goya carried 6,100 passengers when it was sunk by a Soviet submarine in the Baltic Sea on April 16, 1945. The ship sank just 7 minutes after the impact. Almost all of the people on board were killed. Only 183 people survived.
7. USS Indianapolis (CA-35).
On July 30, 1945, Indianapolis was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-58 and sank 12 minutes later. Of the 1,196 people, only 300 survived.
8. MV Le Joola.
A Senegalese ferry capsized off the coast of The Gambia on September 26, 2002, killing at least 1,863 people. As it became known, the ferry was overloaded, therefore, when faced with a storm, it capsized after 5 minutes. Only 64 people survived.
9. SS Mont-Blanc.
This French ammunition freighter exploded in Halifax harbor on December 6, 1917. The explosion caused the death of 2,000 people, including residents of the city. The explosion was triggered by a collision with the Norwegian ship SS Imo. The fire from the collision caused an ammunition explosion that destroyed the harbor and city.
10. RMS Titanic.
This is perhaps the most famous sea tragedy of all times and peoples. The Titanic was a passenger liner that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912, after hitting an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. The death of the Titanic claimed 1,514 human lives.
