List of shipwrecks in 1955
The list of shipwrecks in 1955 includes all ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during 1955.
January
2 January
- Rosafred (
Sweden): The cargo ship ran aground off Stockholm. All 22 crew rescued by K A Wallenberg ( Sweden).[1]
7 January
- Lanarkbrook (
United Kingdom): The coaster collided with Artesien (
France) in the Seine. Lanarkbrook was holed and was beached to prevent her sinking.[2]
13 January
- Gatt (
Norway): The cargo ship ran aground at Hoek van Holland, Netherlands. Crew of 22 rescued by a Koninklijke Marine helicopter or a line from the shore.[3]
15 January
- Sudbury Hill ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground off Bermuda but was refloated undamaged.[4]
16 January
- Centauro (
Italy): The cargo ship was blown from her moorings at Hamilton, Bermuda and ran aground on a reef. Refloated on 17 January.[4]
17 January
- Gerda Maersk (
Denmark): The tanker ran aground on Scharhörn, in the mouth of the Elbe, West Germany[5]
18 January
- Theta Star ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground on Terschelling, Netherlands.[6]
- Greta Thordén (
Finland): The cargo ship collided with Olympic Brook (
Greece) off Brunsbüttel, West Germany.[5] - Markhor ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground in the Weser at Blexenreede, West Germany.[5]
19 January
- Edendale ( United Kingdom): Chinese Civil War: The cargo ship was sunk in an air raid at Swatow, China. All 52 crew survived.[7]
21 January
- Roskva ( Norway): The cargo ship ran aground off Burial Island, Co Down, Northern Ireland.[8]
- Mando (
Panama): The cargo ship ran aground off Round Island, Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom. All 26 crew rescued by the St. Mary's lifeboat.[9]
22 January
- Kingsbridge ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground off Christchurch, Dorset.[10]
23 January
24 January
- Bobara ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground at Rhosneigr, Anglesey.[12]
25 January
- Albertville (
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Belgium: The cargo ship ran aground in the Scheldt.[13] - Bullaren ( Sweden): The cargo ship ran aground in the Scheldt, Belgium.[13]
February
4 February
- HMS Wrangler (
Royal Navy): The W-class destroyer ran aground at Villefranche sur Mer, France. Refloated on 6 February by Marine Nationale and Marina Militare tugs.[14]
14 February
- Hoheweg (
West Germany): The cargo ship collided with Sunny Prince and sank in the English Channel off Dungeness, Kent. All fifteen crew rescued by Sunny Prince and landed at Dover.[15]
20 February
- Camas Meadows (
United States): The tanker sank at Genoa, Italy in a storm.[16]
21 February
- Monviso ( Italy): Ran aground at Hope Point, St. Margaret's Bay, Kent. Refloated by tugs and returned to service.[17]
- Nordanland ( Sweden): The cargo ship exploded and sank when her cargo of calcium carbide reacted with seawater and formed acetylene after the ship was badly damaged in a storm at Genoa, Italy the previous day.[16][18]
22 February
- Meta D ( United States): The cargo ship ran aground 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) off Selsey Bill, West Sussex, United Kingdom.[19] Refloated on 25 February and towed into Southampton, Hampshire.[20]
March
2 March
- Inchkeith (
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Hong Kong): The cargo ship struck an uncharted rock in the Bay of Bengal off Port Meadows, Andaman Islands and was abandoned as a total loss.[21]
14 March
- Iason ( Greece): The fishing vessel capsized and sank in the Ionian Sea with the loss of eleven of her fifteen crew. Stratheden ( United Kingdom) sent one of her lifeboats to the aid of Iason, but it capsized and all eight on board were drowned. Four survivors from Iason were rescued by Stratheden.[22]
20 March
- British Craftsman ( United Kingdom) : The tanker ran aground off Stockholm, Sweden.[23]
23 March
- Anna Henny (
Netherlands): The coaster was driven ashore at Aberavon, Glamorganshire in a storm. Refloated after five hours.[24] - Venus ( Norway): The ocean liner ran aground at Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom.[25]
24 March
- Urola (
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Spain): The cargo ship collided with Storaya Pyaltylotka (
Soviet Union off Setubal, Portugal and sank. Storaya Pyaltylotka was badly damaged, entering the Tagus still taking on water. All 33 crew from Urola were rescued.[26]
25 March
- Lea ( Netherlands): The coaster ran aground at Kettleness, Yorkshire.[27]
29 March
- Nigelock ( United Kingdom) : The coaster ran aground at Foochow, China.[28]
April
18 April
- Georgios Matsas ( Greece): Ran aground off Muros, Spain and subsequently sank. Raised on 17 June, but declared a constructive total loss. Repaired and sold, served a further ten years before being scrapped.
24 April
- Empire Fowey ( United Kingdom): The troopship ran aground in the Suez Canal, Egypt. Refloated after twelve hours.[29]
26 April
- Belgion ( Greece): The cargo ship was in collision with Tai Shan ( Norway) in the Scheldt at Fort Paarel, Belgium. Belgion capsized and sank with the loss of five of her 27 crew.[30]
- Germania ( Greece): The cargo ship collided with Maro ( Panama) in the English Channel and was beached off Beachy Head, East Sussex.[31]
May
6 May
11 May
- Shiun Maru (
Japan): The train ferry collided with Japanese National Railways ferry Uko Maru ( Japan) and sank with the loss of 168 lives.
18 May
- Urmajo ( Netherlands): The coaster ran aground on the Goodwin Sands, Kent, United Kingdom. All ten crew rescued by the Ramsgate lifeboat. They were later returned to the ship which refloated on the next tide. Urmajo was towed into Ramsgate by the tug Ocean Cock ( United Kingdom.[33]
- Zor (
Turkey): The cargo ship developed a heavy list in the North Sea off Norfolk. Ten crew were rescued by the collier Richmond Queen ( United Kingdom) and transferred to the Wells lifeboat. Richmond Queen and two other ships stood by as it was not possible to rescue all crew on board.[33]
22 May
- Zor ( Turkey): The cargo ship capsized and sank between the Humber and The Wash. She rose to the surface in a capsized state on 23 May.[34]
30 May
- HMS Northumbria ( Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve): The Ton-class minesweeper was in collision with Cyprian Prince (
Cyprus) off Newcastle upon Tyne and was holed. Cyprian Prince towed her into Newcastle upon Tyne.[35] - Harfry ( United Kingdom): The collier collided with Firmity ( United Kingdom) off Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Both ships were holed. Harfry was beached at Hemsby and Firmity put into Great Yarmouth.[36]
June
8 June
- Mona's Isle ( United Kingdom): The ferry collided with a fishing vessel and ran aground at Fleetwood, Lancashire. The fishing vessel was cut in two and sank with the loss of one of her three crew. Mona 's Isle was later refloated.[37]
9 June
- Johannishus ( Sweden): Collided with Buccaneer ( Panama) and caught fire. Ship a total loss, cargo of oil largely salvaged.[38]
19 June
- HMS Sidon ( Royal Navy): Sank following an onboard explosion of a torpedo. Thirteen lives lost.
July
12 July
- La Flecha (
Mexico): The passenger ship sank off Veracruz with the loss of 30 lives.[39]
13 July
- Geologist ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship collided with Sun Princess (
Liberia) and sank with the loss of twenty of her 42 crew.[40]
14 July
- Cygnet ( Liberia): The cargo ship was holed in a collision off the Goodwin Sands, Kent. All crew rescued by Baltic Clipper (flag unknown).[41]
16 July
- Middlesex Trader ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground in the Saint Lawrence River, 30 nautical miles (56 km) from Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.[42]
17 July
- Seine ( United Kingdom): The coaster collied with Drochobyz ( Soviet Union) 8 nautical miles (15 km) south west of Dungeness, Kent and sank. All seven crew were rescued by Drochobyz.[43]
22 July
- Punta ( Panama): The cargo ship ran aground on the Seven Stones reef, off Land's End, Cornwall, United Kingdom. All crew rescued.[44] The ship broke up and sank the following day.[45]
28 July
- Vir Pandian (
India): The coaster ran aground at Gopinath, India. Constructive total loss, scrapped in situ.
29 July
- Star of Malta (
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Malta): The passenger ship ran aground at Valletta and was wrecked. One crewmember and a passenger was killed.[46]
August
14 August
- Levin J. Marvel ( United States): The schooner capsized and sank in Chesapeake Bay with the loss of twelve of the 24 people on board.[47] It was lost during high waves in Hurricane Connie.[48]
Unknown date
- Hans Egede ( Netherlands): Caught fire off the Dutch coast. Towed to Dover where fire was extinguished.[38]
September
4 September
- Ambes ( France): The tug capsized and sank in the Gironde Estuary following a collision with Lipari ( United States). Three crew were killed.[49]
27 September
- Empire Claire ( United Kingdom): Operation Sandcastle: The cargo ship was scuttled with a load of 16,000 German chemical bombs at 56°30′N 12°00′W / 56.500°N 12.000°W.
30 September
- Lelonta II (
Thailand): The yacht capsized and sank off Capraia, Italy. All twenty on board were rescued, including the owner of the yacht, Prince Biram of Siam.[50]
October
4 October
- Fechenheim ( West Germany): The cargo ship ran aground at Oslo, Norway and broke in two. All 42 crew were rescued.[51]
6 October
- Thorodd ( Norway): The cargo ship foundered in a storm south of Risør, Norway. Crew rescued by the cutter Grant.
11 October
- Wallsend ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground at Hoek van Holland, Netherlands. Refloated by 13 October.[52]
12 October
- Conde de Barbate ( Spain): The coaster collided with Columbie ( France) and sank off Vigo with the loss of all five crew.[52]
16 October
- Bluebird ( United Kingdom): The Hydroplane sank in Lake Mead, Arizona and Nevada, United States. Salvaged and returned to service.[53]
19 October
- HNLMS Tijgerhaai ( Koninklijk Marine): The Zwaardvisch-class submarine ran aground at Weymouth, Dorset, United Kingdom. Refloated the same day.
26 October
- Antonio Sanchez Valdes (
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Mexico): The coaster sank in the Caribbean off the coast of Mexico with the loss of all 25 crew.[54]
28 October
- Karmas ( Sweden): The cargo ship ran aground at the mouth of the River Tees, Northumberland, United Kingdom. Refloated on 10 November.[55]
- William Lykes ( United States): The ocean liner ran aground in Table Bay, South Africa. Refloated on 31 October.[56]
29 October
- Novorossiyisk (
Soviet Navy): Sunk by an explosion, Sevastopol.
November
Early November
- Joyita ( United Kingdom): on 10 November was found awash and adrift with no persons on board, on a route between Suva and Funafuti, Pacific Ocean. Joyita was more than 600 miles (1,000 km) from her scheduled route, partially submerged and listing heavily, having left port on 3 October and expected to arrive on 5 October (searches in the region had found no trace of the ship). Joyita was later salvaged and repaired.
15 November
- City of Ghent (
Republic of Ireland): The coaster sank 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) off the Lizard Lighthouse, Cornwall, United Kingdom. All seventeen crew rescued by the Cadgwith lifeboat.[57]
16 November
- Foulney ( United Kingdom): The dredger was in collision off Fleetwood, Lancashire with the trawler Teroma ( United Kingdom), which sank. Foulney was beached and refloated the next day.[57]
18 November
- Mille (
Marine Nationale): The submarine ran aground in St. Paul's Bay, Malta. Refloated after six hours with assistance from two tugs.[58]
23 November
- Nang Suang Nawa ( Thailand) and Albacore (
Philippines): The cargo ship and tug were lost at sea between Thailand and Hong Kong. Last reported position was 17°56′N 113°54′E / 17.933°N 113.900°E.
25 November
- Gouvernour Galopin ( Belgium): The cargo ship ran aground on the Bank van Saaftingen, refloated 26 November.[59]
27 November
- Kismet II ( Liberia): The cargo ship ran aground at Cape St. Lawrence, Nova Scotia, Canada and was wrecked. All 22 crew were rescued by a Royal Canadian Navy helicopter.[60]
December
9 December
- Darton ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground off Gedser, Denmark but was refloated.[61]
14 December
- Victoria City ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship collided with Valentina Bibolini ( Italy) 10 nautical miles (19 km) north of Ameland, Netherlands and sank.[62]
27 December
- Tanda Maru ( Japan): The cargo ship was driven ashore in a typhoon on Honshu and broke in two. Fourteen of her 24 crew were rescued by an American helicopter.[63]
References
- ↑ "Telegrams in Brief" The Times (London). Monday, 3 January 1955. (53129), col G, p. 4.
- ↑ "British Ship Aground After Collision" The Times (London). Friday, 8 January 1955. (53133), col D, p. 8.
- ↑ "Ship's Crew Saved By Helicopter" The Times (London). Friday, 14 January 1955. (53139), col F, p. 8.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Ships In Trouble In Atlantic" The Times (London). Tuesday, 18 January 1955. (53142), col C, p. 8.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Gale Brings Flood And Thaw To Europe" The Times (London). Tuesday, 18 January 1955. (53142), col A, p. 8.
- ↑ "British Steamer Runs Aground" The Times (London). Wednesday, 19 January 1955. (53143), col F, p. 8.
- ↑ "Air Attack On Swatow" The Times (London). Friday, 20 January 1955. (53145), col A, p. 8.
- ↑ "Ship Aground And Holed Off Co Down" The Times (London). Saturday, 22 January 1955. (53146), col E, p. 6.
- ↑ "Lifeboat Takes 26f Grounded Ship" The Times (London). Saturday, 22 January 1955. (53146), col E, p. 6.
- ↑ "Coaster Aground On Rock" The Times (London). Saturday, 22 January 1955. (53146), col E, p. 6.
- ↑ "Telegrams in Brief" The Times (London). Monday, 24 January 1955. (53147), col E, p. 7.
- ↑ "Captain Swims Ashore" The Times (London). Tuesday, 25 January 1955. (53148), col G, p. 8.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Telegrams in Brief" The Times (London). Wednesday, 26 January 1955. (53149), col G, p. 7.
- ↑ "Telgrams in Brief" The Times (London). Monday, 7 February 1955. (53159), col C-D, p. 6.
- ↑ "Sinking Ship's Crew Of 15 Saved" The Times (London). Tuesday, 15 February 1955. (53166), col C, p. 8.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Damage To Genoa Shipping" The Times (London). Monday, 21 February 1955. (53171), col C, p. 8.
- ↑ "Ice Warning To Motorists" The Times (London). Tuesday, 22 February 1955. (53172), col D, p. 8.
- ↑ "Carbide Ship On Fire" The Times (London). Tuesday, 22 February 1955. (53172), col B, p. 8.
- ↑ "Attempt To Refloat U.S. Cargo Ship" The Times (London). Friday, 25 February 1955. (53175), col C, p. 5.
- ↑ "News In Brief" The Times (London). Saturday, 26 February 1955. (53176), col E, p. 4.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "19 Lives Lost In Sea Rescue" The Times (London). Tuesday, 15 March 1955. (53190), col D, p. 8.
- ↑ "British Tanker Aground" The Times (London). Monday, 21 March 1955. (53195), col D, p. 4.
- ↑ "Widespread Damage in 80-90 M.P.H. Gale" The Times (London). Thursday, 24 March 1955. (53198), col A, p. 4.
- ↑ "Norwegian Liner Aground At Plymouth" The Times (London). Thursday, 24 March 1955. (53198), col A, p. 16.
- ↑ "Spanish Ship Sunk In Collision" The Times (London). Friday, 25 March 1955. (53199), col C, p. 5.
- ↑ "Rescues From Coaster" The Times (London). Monday, 28 March 1955. (53200B), col D, p. 8.
- ↑ "Telegrams In Brief" The Times (London). Wednesday, 30 March 1955. (53200D), col D, p. 7.
- ↑ "Troopship Refloated" The Times (London). Monday, 25 April 1955. (53203), col A, p. 11.
- ↑ "Ship Sinks In Channel Of Scheldt" The Times (London). Wednesday, 27 April 1955. (53205), col C, p. 11.
- ↑ "Beachy Head Wreck" The Times (London). Thursday, 28 April 1955. (53206), col B, p. 6.
- ↑ "SS Pyidawtha [+1955]". wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 "10 Saved From Ship On Goodwins" The Times (London). Thursday, 19 May 1955. (53224), col C, p. 6.
- ↑ "Cargo Ship Upside Down" The Times (London). Tuesday, 24 May 1955. (53228), col D, p. 16.
- ↑ "Minesweeper Holed In Engine Room" The Times (London). Tuesday, 31 May 1955. (53234), col F, p. 6.
- ↑ "Collier Aground Off Norfolk" The Times (London). Tuesday, 31 May 1955. (53234), col F, p. 6.
- ↑ "Steamer Aground After Collision" The Times (London). Thursday, 8 June 1955. (53242), col C, p. 6.
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 Lane, Anthony (2009). Shipwrecks of Kent. Stroud: The History Press. pp. p32, 71, 78–79. ISBN 978-0-7524-1720-2.
- ↑ "30 Drowned in Wreck" The Times (London). Friday, 15 July 1955. (53273), col B, p. 8.
- ↑ "19 Missing After Sea Collision" The Times (London). Thursday, 14 July 1955. (53272), col F, p. 8.
- ↑ "Crew From Holed Ship Rescued" The Times (London). Friday, 15 July 1955. (53274), col F, p. 8.
- ↑ "Telegrams in Brief" The Times (London). Wednesday, 27 July 1955. (53283), col G, p. 7.
- ↑ "Russians Save 7 As British Ship Sinks" The Times (London). Monday, 18 July 1955. (53275), col D, p. 5.
- ↑ "Crew Taken Off Grounded Ship" The Times (London). Saturday, 23 July 1955. (53280), col D, p. 4.
- ↑ "News in Brief" The Times (London). Monday, 25 July 1955. (53281), col G, p. 4.
- ↑ "Ship Hits Reef Off Malta" The Times (London). Saturday, 30 July 1955. (53286), col D, p. 6.
- ↑ "Twelve Drown When Schooner Capsizes" The Times (London). Monday, 15 August 1955. (53299), col C, p. 5.
- ↑ David Longshore (2008). Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones, New Edition. Facts on File, Inc. p. 105. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ↑ "Telegrams in Brief" The Times (London). Tuesday, 6 September 2011. (53318), col G, p. 7.
- ↑ "Prince Birabongse's Yacht Wrecked" The Times (London). Saturday, 1 October 1955. (53340), col E, p. 5.
- ↑ "Telegrams in Brief" The Times (London). Wednesday, 5 October 2011. (53343), col G, p. 7.
- ↑ 52.0 52.1 "Telegrams in Brief" The Times (London). Thursday, 13 October 1955. (53350), col G, p. 6.
- ↑ "Bluebird Sinks After Test Runs" The Times (London). Monday, 17 October 1955. (53353), col F, p. 8.
- ↑ "Telegrams in Brief" The Times (London). Thursday, 27 October 1955. (53362), col G, p. 9.
- ↑ "News in Brief" The Times (London). Friday, 11 November 1955. (53375), col G, p. 5.
- ↑ "Telegrams in Brief" The Times (London). Tuesday, 1 November 1955. (53366), col G, p. 7.
- ↑ 57.0 57.1 "Lifeboat Rescues 17 From Sunken Ship" The Times (London). Wednesday, 16 November 1955. (53379), col C, p. 6.
- ↑ "Telegrams in Brief" The Times (London). Saturday, 19 November 1955. (53382), col G, p. 5.
- ↑ "Belgian Merchant A-G" (PDF). Belgische Koopvaardij. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
- ↑ "Telegrams in Brief" The Times (London). Monday, 28 October 1955. (53389), col G, p. 6.
- ↑ "Telegrams in Brief" The Times (London). Saturday, 10 December 1955. (53400), col G, p. 5.
- ↑ "New British Ship Sunk" The Times (London). Thursday, 15 December 1955. (53404), col C, p. 10.
- ↑ "Japanese Typhoon Toll" The Times (London). Thursday, 29 December 1955. (53414), col B, p. 5.
See also
| Ship events in 1955 | |||||||||||
| Ship launches: | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 |
| Ship commissionings: | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 |
| Ship decommissionings: | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 |
| Shipwrecks: | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 |