List of shipwrecks in 1961
The list of shipwrecks in 1961 includes all ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during 1961.
January
3 January
- Indian Navigator (
India). The cargo ship sank 60 nautical miles (110 km) off the Isles of Scilly.[1] Thirteen crew of Indian Success ( India) that were put on board to salvage the ship after it caught fire were lost. One of her 67 crew was also reported lost.[2]
5 January
- Arcadia (
United Kingdom): The ocean liner ran aground off Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. Refloated after two hours.[3] - Harry R. Jones (
United States): The cargo ship ran aground off Ardrossan, Ayrshire, Scotland whilst under tow to Troon for scrapping.[4]
10 January
- Egoz (
Israel): The passenger ship foundered in the Mediterranean Sea with the loss of 46 of the 49 people on board. She was on a voyage from Al Hoceima, Morocco to Gibraltar.
12 January
- HMS Oberon (
Royal Navy): The Oberon-class submarine ran aground at Rothesay Bay in the Firth of Clyde.[5] Refloated the next day with the assistance of three tugs and two boom defence vessels.[6]
20 January
- Caribbean Queen ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship sank between Cuba and Florida, United States. All crew rescued.[7]
26 January
- Vrmac (
Yugoslavia): The cargo ship capsized and sank off Venice, Italy with the loss of five of her 22 crew.[8]
Unknown date
- Yarasli (
Turkey): The coaster foundered in the Ionian Sea. She was last heard from on 25 January.
February
3 February
- De Vilhena (
.svg.png)
Malta): The tug foundered 40 nautical miles (74 km) north west of Calvi, Corsica, Italy.
8 February
- Braga (
Norway): The cargo ship foundered in the English Channel. All 27 crew and both passengers rescued by the tug Rennes and cargo ship Banora (both 
France) and landed at Newhaven, East Sussex or Dieppe, France respectively.[9]
17 February
- C 632 ( Royal Navy): The auxiliary vessel ran aground at Dungeness, Kent and was holed. A pump was put on board and the ship was escorted to Dover.[10]
- Eminence ( United Kingdom): The coaster collided with American Farmer ( United States) off Thames Haven, Essex and was holed, with her steering gear destroyed.[10]
- BP Explorer ( United Kingdom): The coastal tanker capsized and sank in the River Severn at Awre, Gloucestershire with the loss of all five crew.[11]
19 February
- Petromar Buenos Aires (
Argentina): The tanker collided with Pennsylvania (
Denmark) in the Paraná River 217 kilometres (135 mi) from river mouth. The ship and caught fire and was declared a constructive total loss.[12] - Lapwing ( United Kingdom) : The coastal tanker capsized in the River Humber with the loss of three lives.[13]
- Scaldis (
.svg.png)
Belgium): The tug capsized and sank at the mouth of the Scheldt. Two of the fourteen crew were reported missing.[14] - Runic ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground on a reef 400 nautical miles (740 km) north west of Sydney, Australia.[14] Declared a constructive total loss in March 1961.[15]
26 February
- Yoshiura Maru No. 5 (
Japan): the cargo ship sank south east of Hong Kong. All fifteen crew rescued.[16]
March
SS Dominator, May 1965
11 March
- Newfoundland ( United Kingdom): The ocean liner ran aground off Argentia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Refloated after six hours.[17]
16 March
- Dominator (
Greece) : The liberty ship ran aground off California, United States and was wrecked. All 31 crew rescued.[18] - Lizzonia ( United Kingdom) : The Channel tanker collided with Arctic Ocean (
Sweden) and sank near the Varne Lightship (
United Kingdom) in the English Channel. - Martin Lutjens (
West Germany) : The coaster collided with Schelde Lloyd (
Netherlands) off the coast of the Netherlands and sank. All crew rescued.[19]
19 March
- Verao (
Fiji) The cargo ship foundered off the coast of Queensland, Australia. All fifteen crew rescued by Iron Flinders (
Australia).[20]
21 March
- Mary P Cooper ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship collided with a coaster and sank in the Manchester Ship Canal, blocking it completely. All eight crew rescued.[21]
22 March
- Chresten ( Denmark): The Channel tanker struck a submerged object and sank near Stubbekøbing
- Mary P. Cooper ( United Kingdom): The sand hopper collided with another vessel and sank in the Manchester Ship Canal.[22]
April
8 April
- Dara ( United Kingdom): The passenger ship suffered an onboard explosion and fire off Dubai, with 238 of the 819 people on board killed. The ship was taken under tow, but sank on 10 April.
19 April
- Tuskar ( Netherlands): The coaster struck a rock and sank 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south west of Chicken Rock, Isle of Man. All five crew saved by the cable layer Ariel ( United Kingdom).[23]
25 April
- Ivernia ( United Kingdom): The ocean liner ran aground off Southampton, Hampshire. Refloated after five hours.[24]
Unknown date
- USS Makassar Strait ( United States Navy): The Casablanca-class escort carrier ran aground on San Nicolas Island, Channel Islands, California.
May
3 May
- Albatross ( United States): The brigantine foundered in the Gulf of Mexico during a squall. Six of the nineteen people on board were killed.[25]
28 May
- Madura (
Liberia): Typhoon Viola : The cargo ship ran aground at Hong Kong. Refloated on 10 August but declared a constructive total loss and consequently scrapped.[26]
31 May
- Vercharmian ( United Kingdom): The heavy lift ship ran aground in Mormugao Bay, India, She was refloated 7 July but leaking and beached. Scrapped in 1962.
- Marie Kerk ( Netherlands): The cargo ship ran aground on the Varne Shoal in the English Channel. She was refloated with the aid of the tugs Diligent, Dominant (both United Kingdom) and Jean Bart ( France).[27]
June
8 June
- Tien Hsiang (
Taiwan): The passenger ship sank 20 nautical miles (37 km) south west of Kaohsiung. Two survivors reported of her eleven crew and 33 passengers.[28]
18 June
- SS Southern Author (
South Africa): The 439 grt whaler was wrecked after running aground on Dassen Island, 50 nautical miles (93 km) N of Cape Town.[29]
25 June
- Evertsen ( Netherlands): The coaster collided with Favoriet ( Netherlands) and sank 17 nautical miles (31 km) south of Portland Bill, Dorset, United Kingdom. All twelve crew rescued by Favoriet and landed at Weymouth. Evertsen was only five weeks old at the time of her loss.[30]
July
9 July
- Save (
Portugal): The cargo liner ran aground at Quelimaine, Mozambique and caught fire.[31] Of the 549 passengers and crew, 259 were killed.[32]
21 July
August
23 August
- Peary ( United Kingdom): The coaster sank off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. All eight crew rescued by Fergus ( United Kingdom).[34]
24 August
- World Jury ( Greece): The tanker ran aground off Masirah Island, Oman and broke up. Twenty-eight of her crew rescued by HMS Llandaff ( Royal Navy).[35]
September
4 September
- Vencedor (
Colombia) The passenger ship capsized and sank off Buenaventura with the loss of 50 lives.[36]
16 September
- Heron ( Netherlands): The coaster sank off Jersey, Channel Islands. Of her eleven crew, six were rescued by Cranborne ( United Kingdom) and two by Port du Bouc ( France).[37]
17 September
- L'Opiniatre (
Marine Nationale): The frigate ran aground at Dales Voe, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom. Refloated by Haakon VII ( Norway) and towed to Lerwick.[37]
October
2 October
- Hess Mariner ( United States): The tanker suffered an explosion and fire and sank 100 nautical miles (190 km) east of Jacksonville, Florida.[38]
- Simferapol (
Soviet Union): The depot ship ran aground between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, South-West Africa and was wrecked.[39]
15 October
- Vibex ( United Kingdom): The tanker ran aground in the St Lawrence River, Canada.[40] Later refloated and returned to service.[41]
19 October
- HMS Barmouth ( Royal Navy) The Bar-class boom defence vessel was in danger of running aground between Bempton and Speeton, Yorkshire after her tow line parted. All nine crew rescued by a helicopter from RAF Leconfield.[42]
22 October
- Bianca C (
Italy): The passenger ship suffered an explosion and fire off Grenada. Although taken in tow by HMS Londonderry ( Royal Navy), she sank on 24 October. One crew member was killed and eight were injured. Over 700 people were rescued. - Bascobel ( United States): The tug sank at Mariners Harbor, New York. She was declared a constructive total loss, and scrapped in December 1963.
23 October
- Halronell (
Republic of Ireland): The cargo ship struck Black Rock, off Rosslare Co Wexford coast and broke in two. Three of her six crew were killed, the other three were rescued by a helicopter from RAF Brawdy, Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom.[43]
November
6 November
- Clan Keith ( United Kingdom) : The cargo ship hit rocks (initially thought to have exploded but later disproved) and sank off the coast of Tunisia with the loss of 62 of her 68 crew.[44]
7 November
- Union Reliance ( Taiwan): The cargo ship collided with Berea ( Norway) in the Houston Ship Channel, Texas, United States, killing twelve people on board Berea. Union Reliance subsequently caught fire and grounded and was abandoned by her owners. She was scrapped in March 1962.
10 November
- Freshfield ( United Kingdom): In a fog, the coaster was struck by the Guinness ship Lady Gwendolen ( Ireland)[45] and sank in the Crosby Channel, River Mersey. All nine crew rescued after taking to the liferafts.[46]
December
4 December
- Stientje Mensinga ( Netherlands): The coaster struck a rock off Eagle Island, County Mayo, Ireland and sank. Four crew took to a lifeboat. An attempt to rescue them was made by Maria Schulte ( West Germany), which resulted in the loss of five crew from that ship too. Six crew were rescued by an Irish Navy helicopter.[47]
6 December
- Antonakis (
Panama): The cargo ship ran aground at Cape Spartel, Morocco (35°43′N 5°57′W / 35.717°N 5.950°W) and broke in two. Declared a total loss.[26]
8 December
- Thorsheimer ( Norway): The tanker ran aground on the Goodwin Sands, off the coast of Kent, United Kingdom.[48]
9 December
- Sofia T ( Greece): The cargo ship sank off Marmara Island, Turkey (40°35′N 27°34′E / 40.583°N 27.567°E) with the loss of three crew.[49]
- Wiema ( Netherlands): The coaster sank 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) north of the South Bishop Lighthouse, Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom. Her cargo had shifted in a storm and she attempted to make for Pembroke. Assistance was offered by the Admiralty tug Empire Netta ( United Kingdom but refused. She sank following engine failure, all five crew were rescued by the Trinity House vessel Argus ( United Kingdom).[50]
10 December
- Combine I ( Panama): The cargo ship foundered 700 nautical miles (1,300 km) north east of Singapore. Only five of her 29 crew were rescued.[51]
- Ondo ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground in the Elbe and was abandoned after attempts to salvage her were abandoned.[52][53]
12 December
- Streatham Hill ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground in the Schelde at Westkapelle, Belgium. Later refloated and returned to service.[54]
13 December
- Allegrity ( United Kingdom): The coaster ran aground at St Anthony Head, Cornwall.
22 December
- Allegrity ( United Kingdom): The coaster capsized and sank on Veryan beach, Cornwall. Her fourteen crew were saved by the Falmouth lifeboat.[55]
29 December
- Malgomaj ( Sweden): The bulk carrier collided with the tanker Esso Berlin ( West Germany) in the Westerschelde and caught fire. Rondefjell ( Norway) ran aground trying to avoid the two ships.[56]
See also
- List of shipwrecks
References
- ↑ "Burning Ship Sinks" The Times (London). Tuesday, 3 January 1961. (54969), col F, p. 8.
- ↑ "Indian Salvage Cew Regarded As Lost" The Times (London). Wednesday, 4 January 1961. (54970), col B, p. 4.
- ↑ "P. & O. Liner Pulled Off Reef" The Times (London). Friday, 6 January 1961. (54972), col B, p. 10.
- ↑ "U.S. Ship Runs Aground at Ardrossan" The Times (London). Friday, 6 January 1961. (54972), col B, p. 10.
- ↑ "Submarine Goes Aground" The Times (London). Friday, 13 January 1961. (54978), col C, p. 12.
- ↑ "H.M.S. Oberon Refloated" The Times (London). Saturday, 14 January 1961. (54979), col C-D, p. 6.
- ↑ "Telegrams in Brief" The Times (London). Saturday, 21 January 1961. (54985), col F, p. 4.
- ↑ "Yugoslav Cargo Ship Capsizes" The Times (London). Friday, 27 January 1961. (54990), col A, p. 9.
- ↑ "29 Rescued in the Channel" The Times (London). Wednesday, 8 February 1961. (55000), col F, p. 12.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Firemen Help Keep Ship Above Water" The Times (London). Saturday, 18 February 1961. (55009), col B, p. 8.
- ↑ "Capsized Tanker Still Aground" The Times (London). Monday, 20 February 1961. (55010), col D, p. 3.
- ↑ "Belgian Merchant A-G". Belgische Koopvaardij. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
- ↑ "Motor Barge Overturns" The Times (London). Monday, 20 February 1961. (55010), col F, p. 10.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Two Missing as Belgian Tug Capsizes" The Times (London). Monday, 20 January 1961. (55010), col F, p. 10.
- ↑ "News in Brief" The Times (London). Friday, 24 March 1961. (55038), col C, p. 19.
- ↑ "Telegrams in Brief" The Times (London). Monday, 27 February 1961. (55016), col G, p. 9.
- ↑ "British Liner on Reef for Six Hours" The Times (London). Saturday, 11 March 1961. (55027), col C, p. 8.
- ↑ "31 Men Saved From Greek Ship" The Times (London). Friday, 17 March 1961. (55032), col F, p. 10.
- ↑ "News in Brief" The Times (London). Friday, 17 March 1961. (55032), col G, p. 13.
- ↑ "Crew Rescued in Heavy Seas" The Times (London). Monday, 20 March 1961. (55034), col G, p. 11.
- ↑ "Crash Blocks Manchester Ship Canal" The Times (London). Wednesday, 22 March 1961. (55036), col C, p. 12.
- ↑ Gray, Ted (2003). A Hundred Years of THE MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL. Manchester: Memories. p. 102. ISBN 1-85926-030-6.
- ↑ "Crew Saved When Coaster Sinks" The Times (London). Thursday, 20 April 1961. (55060), col E, p. 5.
- ↑ "Liner Aground for Over Five Hours" The Times (London). Wednesday, 26 April 1961. (55065), col F, p. 14.
- ↑ "School Ship Lost in Storm" The Times (London). Thursday, 4 May 1961. (55072), col C, p. 12.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 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.
- ↑ "Dover Tugs Free Ship" The Times (London). Thursday, 1 June 1961. (55096), col A, p. 14.
- ↑ "40 Feared Dead in Formosa Ship" The Times (London). Friday, 9 June 1961. (55103), col G, p. 14.
- ↑ "Loss of SS Southern Author".
- ↑ "Dutch Ships Sinks Off Dorset" The Times (London). Monday, 26 June 1961. (55117), col D, p. 10.
- ↑ "Many Reported Dead in Liner Fire" The Times (London). Monday, 10 July 1961. (55129), col F, p. 8.
- ↑ "Death Roll in Liner Fire now 259" The Times (London). Wednesday, 12 July 1961. (55131), col E, p. 8.
- ↑ "Arctic Ship Sinks" The Times (London). Saturday, 22 July 1961. (55140), col F, p. 8.
- ↑ "British Ship Sinks" The Times (London). Thursday, 24 August 1961. (55168), col G, p. 8.
- ↑ "Rescue Operation by Frigate" The Times (London). Friday, 25 August 1961. (55169), col E, p. 7.
- ↑ "50 Die as Holiday Ship Sinks" The Times (London). Tuesday, 5 September 1961. (55178), col E, p. 10.
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 "Captain and Wife Saved on a Raft" The Times (London). Monday, 18 September 1961. (55189), col A, p. 6.
- ↑ "U.S. Ship Sinks After Explosion" The Times (London). Tuesday, 3 October 1961. (55202), col D, p. 8.
- ↑ "Russian Depot Ship Goes Aground" The Times (London). Tuesday, 3 October 1961. (55202), col F, p. 8.
- ↑ "British Tanker Aground" The Times (London). Monday, 15 October 1961. (55213), col D, p. 9.
- ↑ "Vibex". Helderline. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ↑ "Helicopter Hauls Nine to Safety" The Times (London). Friday, 20 October 1961. (55217), col F, p. 5.
- ↑ "Three Saved by Helicopter" The Times (London). Tuesday, 24 October 1961. (55220), col C, p. 10.
- ↑ "62 Feared Dead After Ship Explosion" The Times (London). Tuesday, 7 November 1961. (55232), col A, p. 12.
- ↑ Bourke, Edward. "The Guinness Fleets". The Guinness fleets of Boats ships and yachts. Maritime Institute of Ireland. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ↑ "Coaster Sinks After Collision in Fog" The Times (London). Saturday, 11 November 1961. (55236), col A, p. 5.
- ↑ "9 Lost in Wreck and Rescue" The Times (London). Wednesday, 6 December 1961. (55257), col G, p. 6.
- ↑ "Tanker Stranded on Goodwins" The Times (London). Saturday, 9 December 1961. (55260), col E, p. 5.
- ↑ "Belgian Merchant H-O". Belgische Koopvaardij. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
- ↑ "Ordeal in Coaster Sinking" The Times (London). Monday, 11 December 1961. (55261), col C, p. 6.
- ↑ "20 Missing from Ship Sunk in Typhoon" The Times (London). Monday, 11 December 1961. (55261), col G, p. 9.
- ↑ "SHIP DESCRIPTIONS – O". The SHips List. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ↑ "40 Men Taken off British Ship" The Times (London). Monday, 11 December 1961. (55261), col G, p. 10.
- ↑ "Grounded British Ship Towed Clear" The Times (London). Wednesday, 13 December 1961. (55263), col E, p. 11.
- ↑ Noall, C (1969). Cornish Shipwrecks Illustrated. Truro: Tor Mark Press. p. p12.
- ↑ "Ship Blazes After Collision" The Times (London). Saturday, 30 December 1961. (55276), col G, p. 6.
| Ship events in 1961 | |||||||||||
| Ship launches: | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 |
| Ship commissionings: | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 |
| Ship decommissionings: | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 |
| Shipwrecks: | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 |