List of shipwrecks in 1953
The list of shipwrecks in 1953 includes all ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during 1953.
January
8 January
- Avanti (
Sweden): The cargo ship broke in two north east of Okinawa, Japan. 40 crew rescued by Eastern.[1] At least 8 deaths. - Klipfontein (
Netherlands): The cargo liner struck a submerged object 100 nautical miles (190 km) north of Lourenço Marques, Mozambique and sank. All passengers and crew rescued by Bloemfontein Castle (
United Kingdom).[2] - Maraat V ( Netherlands): The cargo ship ran aground at Sea Palling, Norfolk, United Kingdom.[3] Refloated on 9 January after being aground for 28 hours.[4]
9 January
- Jumper Hitch (
United States): The cargo ship collided with another vessel off Japan. Reported to be in danger of sinking and requested assistance.[5] - RFA Wave Commander (
Royal Fleet Auxiliary): The Wave-class oiler ran aground off Cape Henry, Virginia, United States.[5]
11 January
- Campo Grande (
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Spain): The cargo ship ran aground off the Cork Lightship, off the coast of Essex, United Kingdom.[6]
15 January
- American Veteran ( United States): The cargo ship was in collision with the ferry Gold Star Mother in New York Harbor. Both ships were damages, with Gold Star Mother taking in water by the bows and having eleven of her 1,900 passengers injured.[7]
- American Leader ( United States): The cargo ship collided with Chickasaw ( United States) in New York Harbor. American Leader was severely damaged at the bows.[7]
- Esso Wilmington ( United States): The tanker ran aground in New York Harbor.[7]
17 January
- L F Mathies (
West Germany): The cargo ship ran aground off Portishead, Somerset, United Kingdom. Later refloated and docked at Avonmouth.[8]
18 January
- Santi ( Spain): The cargo ship was in collision with British Dragoon ( United Kingdom) and sank off Cape Espichel, Portugal. Thirty-six survivors rescued by British Dragoon.
21 January
- Palomares ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground off Avonmouth. Refloated the next day.[9]
- Arklow (flag unknown): The coaster ran aground off Avonmouth. Refloated the next day.[9]
23 January
- Kent County (
Norway): The ore carrier ran aground at Bell Island, Nova Scotia, Canada.[10]
25 January
- Empress of Canada ( United Kingdom): The ocean liner caught fire, capsized and sank at Liverpool, Lancashire. Refloated and scrapped in 1954.
30 January
- Clan Macquarrie ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground 10 nautical miles (19 km) off the Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides.[11]
31 January
- Princess Victoria ( United Kingdom): RORO passenger ferry sinks in the North Channel during a severe windstorm. 133 fatalities.
- HMS Berkeley Castle (
Royal Navy): The Castle-class corvette capsized in Sheerness Dockyard.[12] - HMS Sirdar ( Royal Navy): Sank in Sheerness Dockyard. Later raised, repaired and returned to service.
February
15 February
- Stanley Force ( United Kingdom): The coaster struck a submerged object and sank off Guernsey, Channel Islands.[13]
26 February
- Huglen ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground at Huglen, Norway.[14]
March
1 March
- Baalbek ( Norway): The cargo ship collided with the Great Nore Sands Fort, in the North Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) off Sheerness, Kent, United Kingdom. One of the seven towers of the fort collapsed and the ship ran aground. Four of the fourteen crew of the fort were reported missing.[15]
2 March
4 March
- Rigel ( Sweden): The cargo ship collided with Senegal (
Italy) 25 nautical miles (46 km) north of Margate, Kent, United Kingdom and sank. All 29 crew rescued by Arnhem ( United Kingdom).[17] - Northumbrian Coast ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship collided with Egyptian Prince ( United Kingdom) and was beached on the Mucking Flats in the Thames Estuary.[17]
8 March
- Sollum (
Egyptian Navy): The Bangor-class minesweeper sank 12 nautical miles (22 km) off Alexandria with the loss of 53 of her 115 crew. The 63 survivors were rescued by Czech (.svg.png)
Poland).[18]
11 March
17 March
- Lairds Ben ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground in the Clyde at Old Kilpatrick, Renfrewshire.[20]
20 March
- Milborne ( United Kingdom): The coaster ran aground off Anglesey. Refloated but leaking, towed by Empire Punch ( United Kingdom) to Holyhead. Later repaired and returned to service.
29 March
- Mountcharles ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship sank in the Bristol Channel. Crew rescued by RFA Black Ranger ( Royal Fleet Auxiliary).[21]
April
Conway after grounding
1 April
- Ciudad de Palma ( Spain): The passenger ship ran aground at Cala Figuera, Majorca. All 670 passengers and crew rescued.[22]
5 April
- TCG Dumlupınar (
Turkish Navy): The Balao-class submarine collided with Naboland ( Sweden) and sank in the Dardanelles with the loss of 81 of her 86 crew.
6 April
- Susan Vittery (
Republic of Ireland): The schooner foundered in Dungarvan Bay. All crew survived.[23]
10 April
- Angela (
Finland): The coaster ran aground on Coll, Inner Hebrides, United Kingdom. All 12 crew survived.[24]
13 April
- Taboga (
Panama): The cargo ship foundered 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) west south west of Saint Mathieu Point, Ouessant, France.[25]
14 April
- Conway ( United Kingdom): The Mercantile Marine Service Association training ship ran aground in the Menai Strait and was subsequently declared a total loss.
18 April
- Kronprins Frederick (
Denmark): The ferry caught fire at Harwich, Essex, United Kingdom and was burnt out and sank. Refloated and towed to Elsinore, Denmark in September 1953 for repair.[26][27]
May
6 May
- Duke of York ( United Kingdom): The ferry collided with Haiti Victory ( United States) 40 nautical miles (74 km) east of Harwich, Essex and was cut in two. The bow section sank, three lives were lost of the 396 people on board. The stern section was towed to Harwich.[28] A new bow was built and Duke of York returned to service.
17 May
- Nasr ( Egyptian Navy): The Bangor-class minesweeper collided with Jaguar ( Sweden) in Suez Bay and sank with the loss of her captain. The rest of her 111 crew were rescued.[29]
- F.P.B. 1023 ( Royal Navy): The fast patrol boat caught fire and sank at Aarhus, Denmark. HMS Gay Archer (P1041) ( Royal Navy) was damaged by the fire.[30]
19 May
- Lady Wolmer ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground on Cheju Island, Korea and broke up. All crew rescued by USS Henrico and a Royal Navy ship.[31]
24 May
- Andaman ( Sweden) : The cargo ship collided with Fortune ( Panama) in the English Channel and sank in the South Goodwins. All crew rescued and landed at Dover, Kent.[32]
- Ternefjell ( Norway) : The cargo ship collided with Dotterell ( United Kingdom) off Start Point, Devon and sank. All 26 crew rescued by Dotterell.[32]
June
4 June
- Serapide ( Italy): The cargo ship sank off Cape Palos, Spain. All 24 crew rescued by Legazpi (
Armada Española).[33]
7 June
- Phoenix ( United States): The tanker was in collision in the Delaware River with Pan Massachusetts ( United States) and sank at Delaware City, Delaware. Both ships caught fire and were total losses.[34][35]
16 June
- Brand V ( Norway): The cruise ship ran aground at Ålesund and was a total loss. All passengers and crew were rescued.[36]
July
2 July
- Sangola ( United Kingdom): The passenger ship ran aground in the Hoogly River at Budge Budge, India.[37]
7 July
- Cornhusker Mariner ( United States): The cargo ship ran aground at Pusan, Korea and broke in two. The stern section was salvaged by USS Current ( United States Navy).[38][39]
14 July
- Jacob Luckenbach ( United States): The cargo ship collided with Hawaiian Pilot ( United States) and sank 18 nautical miles (33 km) south west of San Francisco, California.[40]
26 July
- Duero ( Spain): Collided with Culrain ( United Kingdom) and sank in the Strait of Gibraltar (35°37′N 5°25′W / 35.617°N 5.417°W). All 28 crew saved.[41][42]
August
9 August
- St Columba ( United Kingdom): The ferry ran aground in Ettrick Bay, Kyles of Bute, Buteshire. Refloated the same day.[43]
31 August
- Akademik Karpinsky (
Soviet Union) foundered on a voyage between Kaliningrad and Amsterdam.
September
3 September
- Raeburn ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground at the Monkstone Rock Lighthouse in the Bristol Channel.[44]
7 September
- Eugenia ( Panama): Hurricane Carol: The cargo ship was driven ashore at Provincetown, Massachusetts. Crew taken off by breeches buoy.[45]
8 September
9 September
- Esmereldas (
Armada de Ecuador): The naval yacht ran aground in the Gunyas River and was declared a total loss.[46]
21 September
- Greenville (
Liberia): The cargo ship sank in the Atlantic Ocean with the loss of one crewmember. The 25 survivors were rescued by Île de France (
France).[47]
23 September
- RFA Wave Ruler ( Royal Fleet Auxiliary): The Wave-class oiler ran aground off Swansea, Wales. Refloated on 5 October and returned to service.
29 September
- HMS Tyrian ( Royal Navy): The T-class destroyer ran aground in the North Sea 17 nautical miles (31 km) east south east of Cromer, Norfolk. Later refloated.[48]
October
12 October
- Beckenham ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground and broke in two in the Kara Sea, Soviet Union.[49] All crew rescued by Suvorov ( Soviet Union).[50]
21 October
- Bharatveer (
India): The cargo ship was driven ashore 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north of Madras in a cyclone. A fire broke out two days later and she was subsequently declared a constructive total loss.[51]
22 October
- Eiho Maru (
Japan): The tanker ran aground in the River Mersey, United Kingdom three times within 24 hours.[52]
November
4 November
- Tonghai ( Sweden): The cargo ship collided with Esso Cardiff ( United Kingdom) off the coast of Spain. Tonghai was taken in tow by the tug Abeille 26 ( France) but sank on 6 November. All crew were rescued by Esso Cardiff.[53]
6 November
- Björkö ( Sweden): The cargo ship collided with USAS Seawind (
United States Army) and sank off Cuxhaven, West Germany.[53] Seven of her eighteen crew were killed.[54]
8 November
- Columbus ( Netherlands): The coaster sank 50 nautical miles (93 km) north west of Texel. All eleven crew were rescued.[55]
16 November
- Vittoria Claudia ( Italy): The cargo ship collided with Perou ( France) and sank in the English Channel 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) off Dungeness, Kent, with the loss of twenty of her 25 crew.[56]
24 November
- Vespa ( United Kingdom): The tug was in collision with Malmo ( United Kingdom) and sank in the River Thames at Woolwich. All five crew rescued.[57]
25 November
- Marsworth ( United Kingdom): The cable layer collided with Milford ( United Kingdom) and sank off Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.[58]
30 November
- Oliver Olson ( United States) ran aground at Coquille, Oregon, subsequently incorporated into a jetty.
December
14 December
- Dimitris (
Greece): The cargo ship ran aground off Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, United Kingdom.[59] All sixteen crew rescued. Dimitris was declared a total loss.[60] - Olympia ( Greece): The ocean liner ran aground in Southampton Water, Hampshire, United Kingdom. Later refloated, repaired and returned to service.[61]
15 December
- Brockley Combe ( United Kingdom): The coaster ran aground at the Minquiers, Jersey, Channel Islands and broke in two. All crew rescued by the Jersey lifeboat.[62]
24 December
- Alf Everard ( United Kingdom): The Thames barge exited the Medway and collided with a coaster, she then hit a second vessel before being rammed amidships by the City of Johannesburg ( United Kingdom) and sank in the Thames Estuary. All seven crew were rescued by the collier Alexander Kennedy which was one of the two earlier vessels with which she collided. ( United Kingdom).[63]
- Gustaf Reuter ( Sweden): The tanker exploded and sank at Gothenburg, killing one of the eleven crew on board at the time.[64]
Unknown date
References
- ↑ "Crew's Ordeal In Pacific Gale" The Times (London). Friday, 9 January 1953. (52515), col F, p. 6.
- ↑ "Dutch Liner Sunk" The Times (London). Friday, 9 January 1953. (52515), col F, p. 6.
- ↑ "Dutch Ship aground" The Times (London). Friday, 9 January 1953. (52515), col F, p. 6.
- ↑ "News In Brief" The Times (London). Saturday, 10 January 1953. (52516), col E, p. 3.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Collision Off Japan" The Times (London). Saturday, 10 January 1953. (52516), col D, p. 6.
- ↑ "Spanish Steamer Aground" The Times (London). Monday, 12 January 1953. (52517), col G, p. 6.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Fog In New York Harbour" The Times (London). Friday, 16 January 1953. (52521), col B, p. 5.
- ↑ "News In Brief" The Times (London). Monday, 19 January 1953. (52523), col C, p. 2.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Stranded Vessels Refloated" The Times (London). Friday, 23 January 1953. (52527), col A, p. 3.
- ↑ "Norwegian Tanker Runs Aground In Blizard" The Times (London). Saturday, 24 January 1953. (52528), p. 5.
- ↑ "Steamer Aground" The Times (London). Saturday, 31 January 1953. (52534), col F, p. 6.
- ↑ Bob Ogley, Ian Currie and Mark Davison (1991). The Kent Weather Book. Brasted Chart: Froglets Publications Ltd. pp. p84. ISBN 1-872337-35-X.
- ↑ "Ship Sunk In The Channel" The Times (London). Monday, 16 February 1953. (52547), col E, p. 3.
- ↑ "British Ship Aground" The Times (London). Friday, 27 March 1953. (52557), col C, p. 8.
- ↑ "Ship Hits Nore Fort In Fog" The Times (London). Monday, 2 March 1953. (52559), col D, p. 8.
- ↑ "Ten Saved From Schooner Sinking" The Times (London). Tuesday, 3 March 1953. (52560), col D, p. 8.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Ship Sunk In Channel" The Times (London). Thursday, 5 March 1953. (52562), col D, p. 8.
- ↑ "Egyptian Ship Sunk" The Times (London). Monday, 9 March 1953. (52565), col F, p. 8.
- ↑ "Japanese Whaling Ship Lost" The Times (London). Thursday, 19 March 1953. (52574), col D, p. 6.
- ↑ "News In Brief" The Times (London). Wednesday, 18 March 1953. (52573), col B, p. 3.
- ↑ "News in Brief" The Times (London). Monday, 5 October 1953. (52744), col G, p. 4.
- ↑ "670 Rescued From Spanish Ship" The Times (London). Thursday, 2 April 1953. (25286), col D, p. 7.
- ↑ "Schooner Sunk Off Irish Coast" The Times (London). Wednesday, 8 April 1953. (52590), col A, p. 6.
- ↑ "Crew Escape From Grounded Ship" The Times (London). Saturday, 11 April 1953. (52593), col C, p. 3.
- ↑ ""Ship Sinking" Near Ushant" The Times (London). Tuesday, 14 April 1953. (52595), col C, p. 6.
- ↑ "Kronprins Frederick (+1953)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 23 September 1953.
- ↑ "Danish Welcome The Kronprins Frederick" The Times (London). Saturday, 19 September 1953. (52731), col D, p. 5.
- ↑ "Railway Ship Cut In Two" The Times (London). Thursday, 7 May 1953. (52615), col D, p. 8.
- ↑ "Egyptian Warship Sinks" The Times (London). Monday, 18 May 1953. (52624), col C, p. 6.
- ↑ "Explosion In Patrol Boat" The Times (London). Monday, 18 May 1953. (52624), col F, p. 6.
- ↑ "British Ship Breaking Up On Rocks" The Times (London). Saturday, 23 May 1953. (52629), col B, p. 6.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Crews Rescued From Sunken Vessels" The Times (London). Monday, 25 May 1953. (52630), col C, p. 6.
- ↑ "Crew Of 24 Saved By Spanish Warship" The Times (London). Friday, 5 June 1953. (52640), col C, p. 5.
- ↑ "Phoenix". Auke Visser. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
- ↑ "American Tankers In Collision" The Times (London). Monday, 8 June 1953. (52642), col D, p. 6.
- ↑ "Norwegian Cruise Ship Strikes Rock" The Times (London). Wednesday, 17 June 1953. (52650), col E, p. 6.
- ↑ "British India Ship Aground" The Times (London). Friday, 3 July 1953. (52664), col D, p. 5.
- ↑ "Charles H. McGuire Papers". Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
- ↑ "Current". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History & Heritage Command. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
- ↑ "U.S. Cargo Ship Lost After Collision" The Times (London). Wednesday, 15 July 1953. (52674), col E, p. 8.
- ↑ "WWI STANDARD BUILT SHIPS L - W". Mariners. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ↑ "Crew of Spanish Ship Rescued" The Times (London). Monday, 27 July 1953. (52684), col E, p. 5.
- ↑ "300 Passengers Taken From Grounded Ship" The Times (London). Monday, 10 August 1953. (52696), col C, p. 3.
- ↑ "News in Brief" The Times (London). Saturday, 5 September 1953. (52719), col G, p. 2.
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 "Bermuda Hurricane Moving North" The Times (London). Tuesday, 8 September 1953. (52721), col D, p. 8.
- ↑ "Turquoise". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History & Heritage Command. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
- ↑ "Liberian Crew Saved By French Liner" The Times (London). Tuesday, 22 September 1953. (52733), col D, p. 8.
- ↑ "Frigate Freed After Running Aground" The Times (London). Wednesday, 30 September 1953. (52740), col F, p. 6.
- ↑ "British Steamer Breaks In Two" The Times (London). Tuesday, 13 October 1953. (52751), col A, p. 7.
- ↑ "Crew Of British Ship At Archangel" The Times (London). Saturday, 17 October 1953. (52755), col C, p. 5.
- ↑ Mitchell, W H, and Sawyer, L A (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. not cited. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
- ↑ "News in Brief" The Times (London). Friday, 23 October 1953. (52760), col G, p. 4.
- ↑ 53.0 53.1 "Ships Collide At Sea" The Times (London). Saturday, 7 November 1953. (52773), col G, p. 6.
- ↑ "Search For Missing Men Abandoned" The Times (London). Monday, 9 November 1953. (52774), col C, p. 6.
- ↑ "Loss Of Dutch Ship" The Times (London). Monday, 9 November 1953. (52774), col C, p. 6.
- ↑ "Twenty Italians Drowned" The Times (London). Tuesday, 17 November 1953. (52781), col D, p. 8.
- ↑ "Tug Sunk In Thames Collision" The Times (London). Wednesday, 25 November 1953. (52788), col C, p. 5.
- ↑ "British Ship Founders" The Times (London). Thursday, 26 November 1953. (52789), col F, p. 8.
- ↑ "Greek Ship Aground" The Times (London). Tuesday, 15 December 1953. (52805), col C, p. 6.
- ↑ "Inspection Of Wrecked Ship" The Times (London). Wednesday, 16 December 1953. (52806), col D, p. 3.
- ↑ "Damaged Liner To Go Into Dry Dock" The Times (London). Tuesday, 6 November 1953. (52805), col F, p. 6.
- ↑ "Crew Of 11 Rescued By Lifeboat" The Times (London). Wednesday, 16 December 1953. (52806), col C, p. 3.
- ↑ "Wreck In Thames Estuary" The Times (London). Monday, 28 December 1953. (52814), col D, p. 4.
- ↑ "Swedish Tanker Sinks" The Times (London). Monday, 28 December 1953. (52814), col A, p. 6.
- ↑ "Belgian Merchant H-O". Belgische Koopvaardij. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
See also
| Ship events in 1953 | |||||||||||
| Ship launches: | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 |
| Ship commissionings: | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 |
| Ship decommissionings: | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 |
| Shipwrecks: | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 |