List of shipwrecks of Canada

This is a list of shipwrecks located in or off the coast of Canada.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
The Norwegian steamship Imo (damaged in the Halifax Explosion in 1917)

British Columbia

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
Beaver 25 July 1888 A steamship run aground on rocks at Prospect Point in Vancouver's Stanley Park.
Bonnington 1960 A steamboat that retired from service and was partially dismantled before sinking off the shore off Beaton.
USAT Brigadier General M. G. Zalinski 26 September 1946 A troopship that struck the rocks off Pitt Island.
HMCS Charlottetown 1947 A River-class frigate that was scuttled as a breakwater in Oyster Bay.
HMCS Chaudiere 1992 A Restigouche-class destroyer sunk as an artificial reef in Sechelt Inlet.
City of Ainsworth 29 November 1898 A paddle steamer sternwheeler sunk during a storm in Kootenay Lake.
Clallam 8 January 1904 A steamboat that sunk in a storm in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
HMCS Columbia 1996 A Restigouche-class destroyer that was sunk as an artificial reef.
Cowichan 27 December 1925 A steamship that sank in a collision with the Lady Cynthia near the Whyte Rocks.
SS Eaglescliffe Hall 25 October 1961 A bulk freighter that served in WWII and later sank while under tow.
Ericsson 22 November 1892 Blown aground at the entrance to Barkley Sound, designed by inventor John Ericsson in 1851
HMS Grappler 3 May 1883 An Albacore-class gunboat that caught fire and sank in Discovery Passage.
HMCS Huron (DDG 281) 14 May 2007 Canadian destroyer sunk as a target.
HMCS Mackenzie 16 September 1995 A Mackenzie-class destroyer scuttled as an artificial reef off Sidney. 48°40.094′N 123°17.17′W / 48.668233°N 123.28617°W
Malahat March 1944 A schooner and rum-runner during the Prohibition era, that foundered in Barkley Sound and was towed to Powell River.
SS Mariposa 18 December 1917 Ran aground in the Salish Sea.
Mount Royal 6 July 1907 A Canadian Sternwheeler sunk in the Skeena River.
Nechacco April 1911 A sternwheeler that broke apart in ice on the Fraser River.
SS Pacific 4 November 1875 A sidewheel steamer sunk following a collision with the SS Orpheus.
Princess Sophia 25 October 1918 A steamer that ran aground on Vanderbilt Reef and sank the following day. 58°36′08″N 135°01′25″W / 58.6022°N 135.0236°W
MV Queen of the North 22 March 2006 A RO-RO ferry run aground on Gil Island in Wright Sound. 53°19.917′N 129°14.729′W / 53.331950°N 129.245483°W
Quesnel 13 May 1921 A sternwheeler that was wrecked on the Fraser River.
SS San Pedro 24 November 1891 3119 ton iron steamship built 1882 by William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia ran aground Brotchie Ledge Victoria, BC[1] 48°24′23″N 123°23′17″W / 48.4065°N 123.3880°W
HMCS Saskatchewan 14 June 1997 A Mackenzie-class destroyer scuttled as an artificial reef off Nanaimo.
Sechelt 24 March 1911 A steamboat that sank off Race Rocks Light.
USS South Dakota 18 February 1961 A Pennsylvania-class armored cruiser that was sold for scrap and sunk in Powell River.
USS Tattnall 1946 A Wickes-class destroyer sunk a breakwater off Royston.
Tonquin June 1811 An American merchant ship blown up at Clayoquot Sound, Vancouver Island.
Vanlene 14 March 1972 10,500 ton Freighter carrying cars, built 1951. Ran aground near Austin Island at Barkley Sound due to navigation error.[2]
SS Valencia 23 January 1906 A passenger steamer wrecked off the coast of Vancouver Island. 48°42′20″N 125°00′21″W / 48.70556°N 125.00583°W

Manitoba

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
SS Princess 24 August 1906 A steamboat that was wrecked in a storm off George Island.

New Brunswick

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
MS Transpet 30 October 1951 A tanker that suffered an internal explosion off Miscou Island.
Walton 14 September 1878 A barque that ran aground in fog off Grand Manan Island.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
SS Abyssinia 18 December 1891 A steamship destroyed by a fire in the cargo hold.
Administratrix 1948 A motor vessel that collided with Lovadal in fog near Cape Race.
Aeneas 23 October 1805 A troopship that ran ashore near the Isle aux Morts with the loss of over 200 lives.
SS Anglo Saxon 27 April 1863 A British Allan liner that ran aground off Cape Race, with 237 deaths.
Anton van Driel 1919 A Dutch steamboat that sank near Cape Race.
SS Arctic 27 September 1854 A paddle steamer that collided with the steamer SS Vesta and sank near Cape Race.
MS Arctic Explorer 3 July 1981 An icebreaker that sank off the Strait of Belle Isle, three hours after departing St Anthony.
Argo 28 June 1859 A steamboat that ran aground on a reef at Trepassey Bay.
Azariah 16 March 1831 A sealing ship from Cupids that ran aground on Baccalieu Island.
SS Belgian 27 June 1941 A steamboat that was torpedoed by U-96 near the Peckford Reef. 49°30′38″N 53°51′30″W / 49.51056°N 53.85833°W
SS Caribou 14 October 1942 A Newfoundland Railway ferry that was torpedoed by U-69 off Port aux Basques. 47°19′N 59°29′W / 47.317°N 59.483°W
SS City of Philadelphia 9 September 1854 A British steamboat that ran aground and sunk in fog near Cape Race.
HMS Comus 24 October 1816 A Laurel-class post ship that ran aground and sank in fog near Cape Race.
HMS Crusader 14 September 1942 A C-class destroyer that was torpedoed by U-91 off St. John's.
Delmar A Scottish steamer that sank near Cape Race in 1901.
Despatch 10 July 1828 A British brig that sank near Isle aux Morts.
HMS Drake 1822 Ran aground and sank near St. Shotts.
HMS Duchess of Cumberland 22 September 1781 A sloop that was wrecked near Cape Ray.
Duchess of Fife 1907 A schooner that sank near Bonavista.
Dunbrody 1875 A barque that foundered off the Labrador coast.
Erik 1918 A sealing steamer that was torpedoed off St. Pierre and Miquelon.
SS Ethie 1919 A coastal steamship that ran aground in a fierce storm.
MV Flare 16 January 1998 A bulk carrier that sank in a storm near Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
Florence 9 August 1840 An American Brig of 200 ton out of Rotterdam that sank in the fog near Cape Race with 50 dead.
SS Florizel 23 February 1918 A passenger liner that sank after striking a reef. 46°50′56″N 52°56′20″W / 46.84889°N 52.93889°W
George Cromwell 1877 A British steamer that sank near Cape Race.
George Washington 1877 An American steamer that sank near Cape Race.
Germania 1869 A German steamer that sank in fog near Cape Race.
Greenland 1898 A sealing steamer that lost 48 men on the ice.
Harcourt Kent 1949 A motor ship that sank near Cape Race.
Harpooner 1816 A British transport that ran aground and sank in fog near Cape Race.[3]
Harvest Home 1833 A British ship that sank off Cape Race.
Helgoland 1900 A German steamer that sank near Cape Race.
Indian 1859 A British Allan liner that sank off Cape Race.
SS Kristianiafjord 15 June 1917 A Norwegian liner that ran aground in fog near Cape Race.
SS Kyle 4 February 1967 A troopship that ran aground in Harbour Grace.
Lady of the Lake 11 May 1833 A Scottish brig sunk near Cape St. Francis. 46°30′N 47°06′W / 46.50°N 47.10°W
Lady Sherbrooke 1831 A barque that sank in a gale near Port Aux Basques.
Lion 1882 Reported missing in Baccalieu Tickle.
Lord Strathcona 1942 An iron-ore carrier that was torpedoed by a U-boat off Bell Island. 47°35′18″N 52°58′10″W / 47.58833°N 52.96944°W
Marvale 1923 A Canadian Pacific liner.
Ocean Ranger 15 February 1982 A semi-submersible offshore oil drilling unit that sank in a storm off St. John's. 46°43′33.53″N 48°50′9.13″W / 46.7259806°N 48.8358694°W
Phyllis October 1795 A British transport that ran aground and sunk off the Burin Peninsula on the southern coast.
P.L.M. 27 1942 An iron-ore carrier that was torpedoed by a U-boat off Bell Island.
USS Pollux 18 February 1942 A supply ship that sank along with USS Truxtun in a storm. 46°54′1″N 55°33′51″W / 46.90028°N 55.56417°W
President Coaker 1924 A schooner sunk in a gale near Cape Race.
Queen of Swansea 1867 Ran aground and sunk in storm at Gull Island.
HMS Raleigh 8 August 1922 A Hawkins-class heavy cruiser that sank in fog at Point Amour in Strait of Belle Isle.
Rose Castle 1942 An iron-ore carrier that was torpedoed by a U-boat off Bell Island.
Saganaga 1942 An iron-ore carrier that was torpedoed by a U-boat off Bell Island.
San Juan 1565 A Basque whaling ship that sank at Red Bay, Labrador.
HMS Sapphire 11 September 1696 A fifth-rate warship that was scuttled to prevent capture by France.
Sea Clipper 1867 A schooner that sank in a storm near Spotted Island, Labrador.
Southern Cross 31 March 1914 A Newfoundland sealing steamer that was lost in a blizzard.
USS Truxtun 18 February 1942 A Clemson-class destroyer that sank along with USS Pollux in a storm. 46°51′57″N 55°43′30″W / 46.86583°N 55.72500°W
HMS Tweed 1813 Sunk in a storm near Bay Bulls.
U-438 6 May 1943 A Type VIIC U-boat sunk by depth charges off Newfoundland. 52°00′N 45°10′W / 52.000°N 45.167°W
U-520 30 October 1942 A Type IXC U-boat sunk by Canadian aircraft off St. John's. 47°47′N 49°50′W / 47.783°N 49.833°W
U-656 1 March 1942 A Type VIIC U-boat sunk by depth charges off Cape Race.
Viking 15 March 1931 A sealing barque that exploded off Horse Islands during the shooting of extra footage for the film The Viking, killing 27, including the film's producer.
Village Belle 1872 A schooner that was lost at Cape St. Francis.
Waterwitch (schooner) 1875 Sunk near Pouch Cove.
MV William Carson 3 June 1977 A Canadian National ferry that struck an iceberg.

Northwest Territories

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
HMS Investigator 3 June 1853 An Arctic exploration ship that became trapped in the ice at Mercy Bay. The wreck was rediscovered in 2010. 74°05′04″N 119°00′09″W / 74.084397°N 119.002619°W

Nova Scotia

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
CGS Aberdeen 13 October 1923 A buoy tender that ran aground on the wreck of Snipe off Seal Island.
RMS Atlantic 1 April 1873 A White Star Line ocean liner that ran aground near Meagher's Island. 44°27′55.9″N 63°42′37.9″W / 44.465528°N 63.710528°W
Auguste 15 November 1761 A full-rigged transport, run aground on the northeastern side of Cape Breton Island.
USS Bear 19 March 1963 A steamship that foundered off Cape Sable Island while under tow. 42°40′N 65°11′W / 42.667°N 65.183°W
Capricieux 21 July 1758 A French warship that caught fire and burned in the siege of Louisbourg.
HMCS Cartier 1957 A hydrographic survey vessel and training ship that was scuttled off Sydney.
Célèbre 21 July 1758 A French warship that caught fire and burned in the siege of Louisbourg.
Chameau 27 August 1725 A French navy transport ship that was swept by a storm onto rocks near Louisbourg.
MV Christmas Seal 13 May 1976 A floating medical clinic that struck a reef off the Eastern Shore.
M.F.V. Enterprise 20 April 1970 A Newfoundland herring seiner fishing vessel which sank during a storm off the northeast coast of Cape Breton Island. All eight crew were lost. The MV Patrick Morris, while assisting in the search-and-rescue mission also sank.
Entreprenant 21 July 1758 A French warship struck with cannon fire by the Royal Navy off Louisbourg, burned and exploded.
Esperanto 30 May 1921 A schooner that hit a submerged wreck off Sable Island.
HMCS Esquimalt 16 April 1945 A Bangor-class minesweeper that was torpedoed by U-190 off Chebucto Head. 44°28′N 63°10′W / 44.467°N 63.167°W
HMS Fantome 24 November 1814 A brig-sloop that ran aground near the village of Prospect.
HMS Feversham 7 October 1711 A fifth-rate warship that was wrecked off Louisbourg.
Hannah 29 April 1849 An Irish famine ship which was holed by ice between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
SS Hungarian 19 February 1860 A steamship wrecked off Cape Sable Island, with the loss of 205 lives.
USS Ingraham 22 August 1942 A Gleaves-class destroyer that collided with USS Chemung.
HMCS Long Branch 1966 A Flower-class corvette that was scuttled off the coast of Nova Scotia.
Lord Clarendon 13 November 1851 A wooden cargo ship that ran aground at Low Point in Sydney harbour.
Maria 10 May 1849 An Irish famine ship which sank in Cabot Strait. They sailed from Limerick, Ireland for Quebec, carrying a crew of 10 plus 111 Irish emigrants. Sailing near midnight in a severe storm, the sailing ship sank immediately when it hit an iceberg, about 50 miles (80 km) from St. Paul Island. Only 12 on board survived.
SS Mont-Blanc 6 December 1917 A freighter that collided with SS Imo in Halifax Harbour, causing a fire that detonated her cargo of military explosives. The resulting Halifax Explosion killed an estimated 2000 people, and fragments of Mont-Blanc were scattered across Halifax and Dartmouth. 44°40′09″N 63°35′47″W / 44.66917°N 63.59639°W
MV Patrick Morris 20 April 1970 A Canadian National ferry that sank in storm off the northeast coast of Cape Breton Island while assisting in a search and rescue operation for a sinking fishing trawler, the M.F.V. Enterprise. Four crew, including the Captain, were lost. 46°50′N 59°56′W / 46.833°N 59.933°W
Prudent 22 July 1758 A French warship burned following the siege of Louisbourg.
HMCS Saguenay 1994 A St. Laurent-class destroyer scuttled as an artificial reef off Lunenburg.
Sankaty 1964 A steamboat that sank en route to be sold for scrap at Sydney.
Tikoma 25 May 1909 A barque that ran aground off Pictou.
HMS Tribune 16 November 1797 A frigate that sank off Herring Cove. 44°33′59.2″N 63°33′11.7″W / 44.566444°N 63.553250°W
Two Friends 22 October 1805 A sailing ship wrecked on the coast of Cape Breton Island.
U-754 31 July 1942 A Type VIIC U-boat that was sunk by depth charges near Yarmouth.
Unknown British transport 14 November 1760 A troopship that carried members of the 43rd (Monmouthshire) Regiment of Foot.
SS Charlottetown 18 June 1941 A CN Marine car ferry that ran aground and sank off Little Hope Island, near Port Mouton.

Nunavut

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
Breadalbane 21 August 1853 A British barque crushed by ice south of Beechey Island. 74°41′N 91°50′W / 74.683°N 91.833°W
HMS Fury 25 August 1825 A Hecla-class bomb vessel that was used for Arctic exploration, and was abandoned in Prince Regent Inlet.
Maud 1930 An Arctic exploration vessel that froze up at Cambridge Bay in 1926, whereafter she was used as a floating warehouse and wireless station until she sank four years later. 69°07′08″N 105°01′12″W / 69.11889°N 105.02000°W
SS Nascopie 21 July 1947 A steamship that was wrecked near Cape Dorset.

Ontario

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
Bruce 1875 A 99' wooden rear paddle wheeler steamership that caught fire in front of the Rideau Canal in the Ottawa River and sank in Ottawa. It was relocated under the Rideau Canoe Club wharf at the beginning the 1980s. Only the hull can be seen. 45°26′06″N 75°42′01″W / 45.4349°N 75.7004°W
Conestoga 22 May 1922 A wooden cargo ship that caught fire and sank off Cardinal.
Eastcliffe Hall 14 July 1970 A bulk carrier that sank in the Saint Lawrence River near Morrisburg.
Glen Isle 1930 A 105' schooner that caught fire and sank off Kettle Island, opposite Gatineau. 45°16′58″N 75°22′53″W / 45.282730°N 75.381500°W
Ivy 1890 A 100' paddle sidewheeler that caught fire, exploded and sunk at dock in Gatineau. 45°15′20″N 75°25′21″W / 45.255487°N 75.422377°W
Jean Richard 1987 A 96' wooden schooner, formerly Ville de Vanier, that was abandoned. 45°15′56″N 75°25′18″W / 45.265580°N 75.421730°W
John B. King 1930 A drill-boat containing dynamite which was struck by lightning, resulting in an explosion which killed thirty people. 44°33′46″N 75°42′42″W / 44.56283°N 75.71179°W
Lillie Parsons 5 August 1877 A schooner that hit rocks and sank near Brockville. 44°33′22″N 75°43′08″W / 44.55618°N 75.71878°W
Mary Ward 24 November 1872 A steamboat wrecked on a reef near Collingwood.
HMS Nancy 14 August 1814 A schooner that was scuttled in the Nottawasaga River to prevent capture, during the War of 1812. 44°31′09″N 80°01′12″W / 44.519214°N 80.019951°W
Princess Louise 1883 Wrecked in the Flood of 1883, London, Ontario.
Maggie Bell 1874 The wooden paddle steamer sank in Ottawa 45°16′31″N 75°24′11″W / 45.275287°N 75.402961°W
Mansfield 1896 The 104' steamer caught fire and sank in Ottawa 45°15′51″N 75°24′50″W / 45.264186°N 75.413805°W
Minnie 1930 The 95' barge leaked and sank in Ottawa at the West exit of the 8 locks of the Rideau Canal, near Parliament Hill 22°27′09″N 41°56′42″W / 22.4525595°N 41.945°W
Sand scow 6 August 1918 Stranded on the Canadian side of Niagara River above Horseshoe Falls.
Otter 1870 The 102' tugboat caught fire and sank in Ottawa at the West exit of the 8 locks of the Rideau Canal, near Parliament Hill 22°27′09″N 41°56′42″W / 22.4525595°N 41.945°W
Quinte Queen 1920 A 100' wooden steamership, formerly 'Salaberry', that leaked and sank in Ottawa. 45°16′31″N 75°24′08″W / 45.2752°N 75.4021°W
R.R. Foster 1948 A 78' ship that leaked and sank in Ottawa. 45°16′58″N 75°22′29″W / 45.282670°N 75.374600°W
Resolute 1890 The 56' tugboat caught fire and sank in Ottawa 54°27′10″N 75°24′58″W / 54.4526858°N 75.41612°W
William King 1841 A 95' paddle wheeler that was abandoned and sank in Ottawa. 45°27′09″N 75°25′13″W / 45.4526141°N 75.42026°W
Victoria 1881 A ferry that capsized and sank near London, Ontario, with the loss of 181 lives.[4]

Prince Edward Island

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
HMS Alert 1791 A 4-gun schooner that was wrecked in Charlottetown harbour or Hillsborough Bay, possibly salvaged and broken up in 1799.
Eagle 1 September 1922 A cargo ship that was crushed by pack ice and sank 28 km off North Cape.
George N Orr 4 December 1917 A Great Lakes freighter sold by Canada to the United States for coastal service during World War I. After losing its steering gear off East Point she drifted until running aground off Savage Harbour.
HMS Kempenfelt 19 October 1939 A C-class destroyer that was sold for scrap and ran aground while under tow off East Point.
Marco Polo 22 July 1883 A clipper that ran aground on a beach at Cavendish.
Olga 5 November 1906 A 1,100-tonne steel-hulled barque that ran aground and sank off Hermanville in the Yankee Gale of 1906.
HMS Phoenix 12 September 1882 A Doterel-class sloop that ran aground off East Point. 46°28.5′N 61°58′W / 46.4750°N 61.967°W
USS Seekonk 7 June 1963 A Mettawee-class gasoline tanker that burned and sank off Charlottetown.
Sovinto 5 November 1906 A 4-masted barque that ran aground and sank off Priest Pond in the Yankee Gale of 1906.
True Friend 25 September 1824 A passenger cargo ship that struck a reef and sank off East Point.
SS Tunstall May 11, 1884 A steamer owned by Black Diamond Line, which was carrying coal from Pictou, Nova Scotia, to Montreal, Quebec, when it sank after being crushed in the ice off Covehead. All the men aboard the Tunstall made it safely ashore and the wreck is now a popular site for scuba divers.

Quebec

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
HMCS Charlottetown 11 September 1942 A Flower-class corvette that was torpedoed and sunk off Cap Chat. 49°10′N 66°50′W / 49.167°N 66.833°W
Cimba 26 July 1915 A clipper that sank in fog near Pointe des Monts.
RMS Empress of Ireland 29 May 1914 A transatlantic ocean liner that was hit by the coal freighter SS Storstad in the Saint Lawrence River and sank with heavy loss of life. 48°37.5′N 68°24.5′W / 48.6250°N 68.4083°W
HMS Leopard 28 June 1814 A troopship that ran aground on Anticosti Island.
HMS Penelope 27 April 1815 A fifth-rate frigate that ran aground and broke apart near Cap des Rosiers in Gaspé.
CGS Simcoe 1917 A buoy tender that sank near the Magdalen Islands.
HMCS West York 7 November 1945 A Flower-class corvette that was struck by the Polaris at dock in Montreal.

Saskatchewan

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
City of Medicine Hat 7 June 1908 A paddle steamer that crashed into the newly built Traffic Bridge on the South Saskatchewan River.

Yukon

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
A. J. Goddard 22 October 1901 A sternwheeler that sank in a storm on Lake Laberge. 61°01′33″N 135°07′09″W / 61.0259°N 135.1191°W

References

  1. ↑ "SAN PEDRO CARGO SHIP 1882-1891". wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  2. ↑ "The Wreck of the Vanlene - BC History Online". web.archive.org. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  3. ↑ Adams, W.H.D. (1877). Great shipwrecks: a record of perils and disasters at sea, 1544-1877 [by W.H.D. Adams]. p. 340. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "Victoria (Steamboat), capsized, 24 May 1881". Retrieved 6 February 2012.

External links

Media related to Shipwrecks in Canada at Wikimedia Commons