The list of shipwrecks in 2024 includes ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during 2024.
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
The cargo ship veered off course due to ice flows and strong winds resulting in her becoming stranded in shallow waters on the edge of Väinameri Bay, Estonia.[1]
The 83-foot (25 m) out of service sardine carrier sank in a storm at Harpswell, Maine. The vessel was raised in early August for pollution mitigation and will probably be scrapped.[4]
The cargo ship suffered cargo shift in heavy seas, rolled on her side and probably sank in the Sulu Sea off the west coast of Mindanao. The crew was rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard.[5]
The 75-metre (246 ft), 2,368-ton cargo ship suffered hull damage when it struck bottom in the East China Sea near Cu Lao Cham Island, Quảng Nam, Vietnam. She was run aground in shallow water off Cu Lao Cham Island to prevent sinking.[6]
The unmanned tank barge capsized with around 35,000 barrels (5,600 m3) of oil and drifted aground off Cove Eco-Industrial Park, on the southern coast of Tobago, causing an oil spill.[14][15]Gulfstream was reported en route from Panama to Guyana in tow of tug Solo Creed (Tanzania). On 28 February oil began to wash ashore on Bonaire, believed to have originated from the barge Gulfstream.[16][17]
The offshore supply vessel sank 9 nautical miles (17 km; 10 mi) northwest of Kuala Kemena off Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia. The crew was rescued by the patrol vessel Bot Kilat 44 and a water taxi.[20]
The 18-metre (59 ft) 146 ton fishing vessel ran aground just outside Fortune Harbour, Newfoundland, Canada in bad weather. Refloated 22 February, but further inspection found the vessel’s hull was in poor shape, she was then scrapped.[21]
RubymarGaza war, Red Sea crisis: During a voyage from the United Arab Emirates to Belarus with a cargo of 21,000 tonnes (21,000 long tons; 23,000 short tons) of fertilizer, the cargo ship sank in stormy weather in the Red Sea off Yemen in 100 metres (330 ft)s of water after slowly taking on water since two missiles fired by Houthis struck her on 18 February, forcing her crew to abandon ship. One of the missiles had struck her stern near her engine room, and she finally sank by the stern due to that damage while under tow to Djibouti.[25][26][27][28]
Russian invasion of Ukraine: The tanker, washed ashore on Kinburn Spit since 2023, and being used as an observation station and drone control by Russian Forces, was destroyed by a Ukrainian air strike.[34]
A fishing boat sank 1.98 kilometres (1.23 mi) southwest of Dongding Island, Kinmen County, Taiwan, near the Chinese Fujian Province. Two crew were killed and two others reported missing.[35]
The fishing trawler exploded, caught fire and sank off Pionersky after being hit by a Russian missile during an exercise in the Baltic Sea. Four of her seven crew were rescued, one was killed and two were reported missing.[39][40]
The tanker capsized in rough seas off Mutsure Island, Japan. Eight of the eleven crew died, two were reported missing, and one survivor was rescued by Japanese Coast Guard helicopters.[41][42]
The 55-metre (180 ft) fishing vessel was sunk in a collision with SITC Danang (Panama) 22 nautical miles (41 km) southwest of Yinggehai town in Ledong, Hainan, China. The crew of eight were reported missing.[48]
The fishing vessel used as a ferry sank off the north coast of Mozambique. More than 90 of the 130 people on board were reported killed.[50][51]
10 April
List of shipwrecks: 10 April 2024
Ship
State
Description
Two unidentified vessels
Flags unknown
Two migrant boats from Tunisia sank in the Mediterranean Sea near Lampedusa. Nine people died, 22 survivors were rescued by Italian Coast Guard, and 15 were reported missing from one boat, all 45 people were reported missing from the other boat.[52]
Twenty-six barges broke loose in the Ohio River near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, going down stream sinking an unknown number of small boats at Peggy's Harbor marina. One barge sank near Dashields Locks and Dam.[53][54]
Unknown vessel
Unknown
A vessel, carrying migrants, capsized and sank off Djibouti. At least 16 children and 27 adults were killed.[55]
The cargo ship sank after a collision with the Jiujiang Bridge on G240 National Highway, Guangdong, China. Seven of the crew were rescued, and four were reported missing.[59]
The 3,425-ton cargo vessel sank about 26 nautical miles (48 km) off Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania, in the Black Sea, probably after a collision with Michel (Comoros). Eight crewmembers were rescued by Michel, with three others reported missing.[62][63]
The 36.2-metre (119 ft) sailing cargo vessel capsized and sank in a storm 22 nautical miles (41 km) north of Great Inagua, The Bahamas. Six crewmembers were rescued, with two others reported missing.[66][67]
A boat carrying twenty-five people capsized and sank in east Kabul, Afghanistan, killing at least twenty people, including five confirmed deaths. Five others were rescued.[76]
The cargo ship sank in the Red Sea north of the Bab al-Mandeb after being damaged by a Houthi drone boat on 12 June. 21 crewmembers were rescued after abandoning ship on 14 June, with one death.[86]
19 June
List of shipwrecks: 19 June 2024
Ship
State
Description
Unknown boat
Unknown
A refugee ship/boat caught fire, capsized and at least partly sank in the Mediterranean Sea about 195 kilometres (121 mi) off the Calabrian coast. Eleven of more than 60 people onboard were rescued by the Italian Coast Guard.[87]
The ro-ro passenger, vehicle and rail ferry ran aground due to a steering failure in Titoki Bay about 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) to the north of Picton, New Zealand on the South Island. The vessel was refloated about 24 hours later on 22 June.[88]
The 86-metre (282 ft) cargo ship ran aground in the River Nene near Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, blocking the river. The vessel was refloated at high tide.[90]
July
1 July
List of shipwrecks: 1 July 2024
Ship
State
Description
Unknown boat
Flag unknown
A fishing boat, carrying refugees/migrants, capsized in heavy seas and strong wind 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) off Ndiago, Mauritania in the Atlantic Ocean. 89 people were killed, 9 survivors were rescued by the Mauritanian coastguard, and 72 people were reported missing.[91]
The fishing vessel sank off the coast of Marinha Grande, Portugal, killing three fishermen. Eleven people were rescued, while three others were reported missing.[94]
The 15-metre (49 ft) fishing boat sank at her mooring in the Sound of Mull, off the Ardnamurchan coast, Scotland in 20 metres (66 ft) of water. A salvage attempt on 21 July failed. The wreck was raised around the end of August.[95][96]
The Moudge-classfrigate rolled onto her port side and sank in shallow water partly above water at Bandar Abbas whilst under repair. Reportedly salvaged on 19 July, but reportedly sank again in somewhat deeper water.[97][98][99]
The 124-metre (407 ft) bulk carrier ran aground near Doring Bay, off Brand se Baai, South Africa 385 kilometres (239 mi) north of Cape Town, after being abandoned the previous day when she listed. Her crew was rescued by the fishing vessel Malachite (South Africa). Ultra Galaxie broke into four pieces in rough weather over 27–28 July.[104][105]
The 117-metre (384 ft) oil products tanker capsized 25 nautical miles (46 km) southwest of Ras Madrakah, Oman. Nine of the 16 crew were recovered.[107][108]
The Brahmaputra-classfrigate caught fire at dock at the Mumbai naval dockyard. After the fire was extinguished, the frigate rolled onto her port side and sank in shallow water partly above water on 22 July. One crewman went missing, his body was recovered on 24 July.[115][116]
The 46-metre (150 ft) superyacht started sinking after a crewman left a side door open and started taking on water. She was run aground partly submerged in Paleokaravo Bay, Kefalonia, Greece.[136]
The 18-metre (59 ft) tugboat sprung a leak and sank 3 miles off North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 30 feet of water. Refloated 21 August, but further inspection found the cost of repairs was more than the value of the towboat. The vessel was declared a total loss. .[144]
The 88-metre (289 ft) tugboat ran aground off the Lindau Oil terminal and sank in the Danube near Passau, Germany, due to a defective valve and partially sank in 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) of water.[146][147]
The 30-metre (98 ft) fishing vessel sank after a collision with an unknown vessel 6.5 miles off Dongding, Taiwan.[149]
18 August
List of shipwrecks: 18 August 2024
Ship
State
Description
Unknown boat
Flag unknown
A boat carrying over 250–300 people sank after striking submerged tree trunks in the Lukenie River, in Mai-Ndombe Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing at least twenty nine people. 152 people were rescued and hundreds were reported missing, though many may have left the scene with out being accounted for. The boat's manager was lynched by angry relatives.[150][151][152][153]
The 49-metre (160 ft) sailing superyacht capsized and sank off Palermo, Sicily, Italy in 50 metres (160 ft) of water when struck by a tornado/waterspout. Fifteen of the 22 people on board were rescued, and seven were killed.[154][155][156]
21 August
List of shipwrecks: 21 August 2024
Ship
State
Description
Unknown barge
Unknown
The tugboat Waterlord and a 40-metre (130 ft) concrete barge she was towing ran aground on a reef off Hoddevika, Stad, Norway. The tugboat was refloated, but the barge reportedly sank.[157]
Russo-Ukrainian War: The 109-metre (358 ft) ro-ro cargo ferry loaded with 30 fuel tanks sank after being on fire in the port of Kavkaz after a Ukrainian attack. 17 crew members were rescued, while two others were reported missing.[158][159]
The 138-metre (453 ft) cargo ship ran aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway near Montreal after losing power, blocking it. She was refloated on 24 August.[160][161]
The 72.4-metre (238 ft) cargo ship sank around 90 nautical miles (170 km) south of Sagar Island, India, due to severe weather. Eleven crew were rescued by the Indian Coast Guard, three were reported missing.[162]
The 56-foot (17 m) sportfishing boat took on water and sank 100 miles (160 km) off of Point Loma, San Diego, United States, after striking something underwater. All 17 people on board were rescued unharmed.[167]
The 20-metre (66 ft) yacht lost power and communications and was being hit by winds of up to 90 kilometres per hour (56 mph) as well as waves up to 6 m (20 ft) high. She was abandoned in sinking condition nearly 320 kilometres (200 mi) off the coast of New South Wales. The two people on board were rescued by the New South Wales police vessel Nemesis.[173]
A boat carrying migrants that was travelling illegally from France, capsized in the English Channel, killing at least 14 people. More than 65 people were rescued.[175][176][177]
A boat carrying 28 Syrian migrants traveling from Libya capsized and sank off the coast of Lampedusa, Pelagie Islands, Italy. Seven people were rescued, while 21 were reported missing.[179]
A pirogue, carrying migrants, capsized a few miles off Mbour, Senegal, in the Atlantic Ocean. 37 people were killed, 3 were rescued and 49 people were reported missing.[188]
A boat carrying 59 people attempting to cross the English Channel ran aground and was torn apart by rocks off the coast of Ambleteuse, France, killing eight people. Six survivors were hospitalized.[192]
The fishing vessel was sunk in a collision with the cargo ship Transformer Ol (Panama) 22 nautical miles (41 km; 25 mi) southeast of Côn Đảo Island off Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province, Vietnam. Twelve crew were rescued by the fishing vessels BV 99359 TS and BV 99278 TS (both Vietnam). One person was killed and one reported missing.[199]
A boat carrying migrants sank about 4 miles (6.4 km) east of El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain, in the Atlantic Ocean. Nine people were killed and 48 people were reported missing.[200]
The cargo ship sprang a leak and was beached to prevent sinking off Linau, west of Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia.[203]
Unknown date
List of shipwrecks: unknown September 2024
Ship
State
Description
Unknown boats
Unknown
Two boats carrying migrants capsized and sank just 150 metres (490 ft) from a beach near Khôr ʽAngar, Djibouti. Rescue operations began on 30 September. 45 people were killed and 115 were rescued.[204]
Typhoon Krathon: The bulk carrier sprang a leak in the engine room and was abandoned. The crew were removed by Taiwan Coast Guard helicopters, around 18 miles (29 km) southwest of Orchid Island, Taiwan. Blue Lagoon drifted ashore on Orchid Island. A contract was issued in February 2025 to salvage her.[205][206]
A boat capsized and sank in the Niger River, near Mokwa, Nigeria, with nearly 300 people on board. 150 people were rescued, with the remainder reported missing.[207]
The ferry capsized and sank at Kituku on Lake Kivu only 100 metres (330 ft) from its destination. Of the 278 people on board, at least 58 were rescued or swam to shore, and, by 4 October, at least 78 were confirmed dead.[208][209]
The dive and survey vessel ran aground on a reef near the southern coast of Upolu, Samoa. The crew abandoned ship in liferafts. She caught fire, capsized and sank on 6 October.[210][211]
The 67-metre (220 ft)-long cargo ship loaded with sand collided with a weir near Borgharen and sank in the Meuse river. No crew were injured. Several days later the flooded barge was towed to Beatrixhaven, where it was pumped out and placed on a barge to be transported for repairs.[213][214][215][216]
The 41-metre (135 ft), 389-ton fishing vessel caught fire in the South Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) south of Gansbaai on the Western Cape, South Africa, sinking the next day.[217]
A cargo ship loaded with cars began taking on water in severe weather and sank in the Persian Gulf about 50 kilometres (31 mi) from the port of Asaluyeh. All crew were rescued.[219]
Tropical Storm Trami: The cargo ship sank off Paluan, Mindoro, Philippines in rough seas caused by the tropical storm. The vessel was lost with all ten crew.[222]
The tugboat sank on the Iloilo River while berthed along Muelle Loney, Iloilo City, Panay, Philippines. Her mooring lines were too tight causing her to list and sink on the rising tide.[228]
The 23-metre (75 ft), 140-ton fishing vessel sank in the North Sea some 230 kilometres (140 mi) east of the Firth of Forth, Scotland. The vessel's crew were rescued from a liferaft by a fishing vessel.[230]
The 129-ton fishing vessel sank 24 kilometres (15 mi) north west of Biyang Island, Jeju City, Jeju Province, South Korea in 80 to 90 metres (260 to 300 ft) of water. She is expected to be raised. 15 crew were rescued, including two who were found unconscious and later pronounced dead, while 12 others were reported missing.[238][239][unreliable source?]
The 54-metre (177 ft), 510-ton minesweeper caught fire in the engine room 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) off Oshima Island, Munakata, Fukuoka Prefecture. She capsized and sank on 11 November. Thirty-nine of her crew were rescued, while one was reported missing.[240][241]
The 38-metre (125 ft), 147-ton catamaran ferry ran aground on rocks in the Adriatic Sea off Premuda, Croatia. The next day she slid off the rocks and sank in 50 metres (160 ft) of water.[242]
The 75-metre (246 ft) self-propelled barge collided with an unnamed self-propelled barge in the Wesel-Datteln Canal near Hünxe, Germany, and was run aground to prevent sinking.[243]
The 17-metre (56 ft) fishing vessel sank in the Bay of Biscay some 1.3 miles (2.1 km) off Punta Candelaria, Spain. The crew were rescued from liferafts by the fishing vessel Brisas de Cedeira (Spain).[247]
The 52-foot (16 m) fishing vessel, sent out a mayday call at 12:10a.m. that their ship was overturning off Point Couverden in a snow storm. Further attempts to contact the crew were met with no response.[249] The vessel's captain and four crew members were reported missing.[250]
The cargo ship, carrying 4,000 metric tons (3,900 long tons; 4,400 short tons) of bran, 70 tons of fuel oil and 50 tons of diesel from Yemen to Port Tawfik, Egypt, began sinking after taking on seawater in the engine room in the Red Sea off Al-Qusayr, Egypt after running aground ten days earlier. All 21 crew were safely rescued.[252][253]
The cargo ship sank in the northern Arabian Sea from flooding due to rough sea conditions. The crew of 12 was rescued from a lifeboat approximately 270 kilometres (170 mi) west of Dwarka, India.[254]
The products tanker drifted in Force 10 weather and ran aground near Taichung, Taiwan. Twelve crew were rescued using a crane after grounding, three abandoned ship before grounding, two were rescued, and one was reported missing.[255]
The 29-ton fishing vessel capsized after colliding with a 456-ton sand barge off Gyeongju, South Korea. Seven crew were killed and one was reported missing.[257][258]
The 1,900-ton 69.39-metre (227 ft 8 in) cargo ship foundered off Thừa Thiên Huế province, Vietnam, after a pipe broke. Seven crewmembers were rescued by Haian Park (Vietnam), two others by a fishing vessel.[263]
2024 Kerch Strait oil spill: The 132-metre (433 ft) oil tanker broke in two and ran aground 80 m (260 ft) from shore near the port of Taman, Russia at the south end of the Kerch Strait in a storm. All 14 crewmembers were rescued the next day.[265][266]
The cargo ship drifted into product tanker Maritim Khatulistiwa (Indonesia) and was holed at Kupang, Indonesia. An attempt to beach the vessel was made but she listed and sank mostly submerged and on her side.[270]
The 75-metre (246 ft), 1,392-ton, ro-ro cargo vessel capsized and partially sank in Port-au-Prince Bay at dock at des Varreux, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Seven crew were killed and 17 injured. The vessel was expected to be salvaged.[272]
The heavy-lift ship sank in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria, two days after an explosion in her engine room. Spanish vessels rescued 14 survivors. Two other crew were reported missing.[275]
The 37-metre (121 ft) sailing vessel took on water and sank in the Arabian Sea in bad weather. Her nine-man crew was rescued from a life raft by ICGS Shoor (India).[276]
The bulk carrier ran aground, being thrown off course by a GPS jammer. She struck an underwater rock near Ust-Luga, Russia, in the Gulf of Finland. The ship was refloated on 7 March 2025.[277][278]
The 34-metre (112 ft), 396-ton ketch burned to the waterline and sank in the Halmahera Sea while anchored off Waigeo Island, Indonesia. All 18 crew and 10 passengers on board abandoned ship into the vessel's lifeboats. The crew and passengers safely landed on Yefinat Island.[285]
Portugal
United Kingdom
United States
Philippines
Vietnam
Marshall Islands
Sweden
Russian Navy
Germany
Tanzania). On 28 February oil began to wash ashore on Bonaire, believed to have originated from the barge Gulfstream.[16][17]
Myanmar
Malaysia
Canada
Turkey
Palau
Belize
Japan
Barbados
Russia
China
Panama
Greenland
South Korea
Singapore
Mozambique
Central African Republic
People's Liberation Army Navy
Belgium
Spain
Comoros). Eight crewmembers were rescued by Michel, with three others reported missing.[62][63]
Vanuatu
United States Army
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Republic of Fiji Navy
Liberia
New Zealand
Indonesia
St. Kitts and Nevis
Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
Mongolia
South Africa). Ultra Galaxie broke into four pieces in rough weather over 27–28 July.[104][105]
Haiti
Indian Navy
Saint Helena
Cameroon
Sierra Leone
India
Antigua and Barbuda
Egypt
Italy
Nigeria
Netherlands
Royal Malaysian Navy
Iran
Australia
Royal Thai Navy
France
Libya
Senegal
Mauritania
Venezuela
Royal New Zealand Navy
Norway
United Arab Emirates
Togo
Malta), then capsized and sank at dock in Dakar, Senegal. All three crew on board escaped.[220]
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Croatia
Poland
Spain
Syrian Navy
French Navy
Cyprus
India).[276]
Bangladesh
