How Many Cruise Ships Have Sunk? 2024 List

Table Of Content

• Wrecking Near the Shore
• The Costa Concordia Disaster: How Human Error Made It Worse
• More From the Los Angeles Times
• Anatomy Of A Near-Disaster: Examining The Carnival Sunshine Storm Incident Of 2023
• Strengthening Passenger Education and Emergency Preparedness
• Ocean Dream – 2016
• How Many Cruise Ships Have Sunk Throughout History?

Meanwhile, rescue vessels were dispatched to assist in the evacuation of passengers if necessary. The crew’s training and preparedness were put to the test as they worked diligently to keep everyone safe. An investigation focused on the crew’s actions, particularly Captain Schettino’s, as he left the ship while passengers were still on board. All 91 passengers, 53 crew, and 9 guides were able to escape on lifeboats. They stayed there for five hours until the MS Nordnorge rescued them. The night before the disaster, Captain Robert Rennison Willmott, the ship’s captain, suddenly died after complaining about a stomach ache.

Wrecking Near the Shore

For the sake of this list, I’ve looked back just over 100 years, so that we cover everything from possibly the most famous cruise ship sinking ever. So, let’s sate that interest (or quell those fears) with a guide on the cruise ships that have sunk in recent times. The dinner plates that flew off the tables when the rocks first gashed the hull.

The Costa Concordia Disaster: How Human Error Made It Worse

Despite the river’s bottom being just 20 feet below and the shore being about the same distance, a total of 844 passengers and crew members died, including 22 entire families. When discussing how many cruise ships have sunk, this distinction is actually quite important. In 1925, the SS Admiral Nakhimov sailed as a passenger liner called the SS Berlin. In August 1986, the ship was involved in a collision in Tsemes Bay on the northern coast of the Black Sea. Perhaps the most infamous cruise ship sinking took place on April 14, 1912, when the RMS Titanic hit an iceberg; it was completely underwater in roughly two hours. Unfortunately, there weren’t enough lifeboats on the ship, and most passengers did not survive.

More From the Los Angeles Times

While the incident unfolded without serious injuries or loss of life, it underscored the importance of preparedness, vigilance, and a commitment to safety at all levels. These first-hand accounts serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the sea and the importance of preparedness in the cruise industry. Cruise lines must continually evaluate and enhance their safety protocols to ensure the well-being of their passengers in the event of a similar incident in the future.

Anatomy Of A Near-Disaster: Examining The Carnival Sunshine Storm Incident Of 2023

A Taiwanese trawler, Terfu 51, had accidentally rammed the ship, leaving a six-foot gash in the side. As the trawler pulled away, there was a deafening sound of metal scraping against metal. The PA system wasn’t working properly on the boat, but the safety officer ran downstairs to survey the damage.

Officially named ‘Dongfang zhi Xing’, this Chinese river cruise ship would make regular sailings along the Yangtze River around the Three Gorges. In 2015, while sailing from Nanjing to Chongqing, she was caught in a storm and sank in waters just 15 metres deep. She struck an iceberg in 2007, and everyone on the ship took to the lifeboats, including 91 passengers, 54 crew and 9 expert guides. They were rescued by the MS Nordnorge after drifting for five hours. There were 979 passengers and crew on board and of those, two, unfortunately, died during the evacuation of the ship. The Bianca C is a unique entry on this list as it has somehow been sunk not once, but twice.

Strengthening Passenger Education and Emergency Preparedness

It hit a massive iceberg in April 1912, near Newfoundland, Canada, and drowned three hours later, consuming 1500 of the 2208 people onboard. The chilly waters of the North Atlantic killed everyone from hypothermia before help could arrive. An investigation focused on shortcomings in the procedures followed by Costa Concordia's crew and the actions of her captain, Francesco Schettino, who left the ship prematurely. He left about 300 passengers on board the sinking vessel, most of whom were rescued by helicopter or motorboats in the area.

Ocean Dream – 2016

Captain Francesco Schettino closed the computer navigation alarm since he thought he could navigate the waters himself. Unfortunately, he left his glasses in his cabin, and the damage had been done by the time he got them. Determining the cause of a cruise ship sinking can be a complex task. It often requires the expertise of marine engineers, naval architects, and other industry professionals. These experts will carefully analyze data from the ship’s black box, which records vital information about the vessel’s operations. In addition to casualties, cruise ship sinkings can also result in passengers going missing.

The story of the SS Morro Castle is so dreadful it’s surprising no Hollywood producer has turned the tale into a horror movie. Director Fritz Lang collaborated on a script about the tragedy, and named it “Hell Afloat” (which is a pretty apt description), but it was never made. Between 1930 and 1934, the SS Morro Castle regularly shuttled 480-plus passengers between Havana and New York. While onboard, there was no Depression to worry about and no Prohibition, which meant plenty of booze-filled partying.

Royal Caribbean passenger dies after excursion boat sinks on way to private island in Bahamas - NBC 6 South Florida

Royal Caribbean passenger dies after excursion boat sinks on way to private island in Bahamas.

Posted: Wed, 15 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Of these, five sinkings occurred when the cruise ships were carrying no passengers. The sinking of the MS Estonia (also previously named as Viking Sally) was one of history’s worst maritime disasters. The ship was sailing through the Baltic Sea when passengers and crew heard a bang followed by similar noises over the next few minutes. Britannic, the sister ship of the Titanic and another ship called the Olympic.

But after eight years in the U.S. and then Italian court system, they lost their case. It had 14,191 gross tonnages, two steam engines, and propellors, providing a top sailing speed of 20 knots. Later it was salvaged and handed over to the US Navy, which restored and modified it.

Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. The ship sustained severe damage to its hull; it flooded and lost power, and the rudder was positioned so the ship couldn’t be steered.

In 1986, the ship was operating a cruise from Sydney, exploring New Zealand on a two-week itinerary. While sailing past Cape Jackson, around 30 miles northwest of Wellington, the ship hit rocks. Eventually sold to Costa Line, the forerunner company of Costa Cruises, she was given the name Bianca C. She sank for a second time in 1961 after an explosion in the engine room.