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List of shipwrecks in 1953

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The list of shipwrecks in 1953 includes ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during 1953.

table of contents
← 1952 1953 1954 →
Jan Feb Mar Apr
May Jun Jul Aug
Sep Oct Nov Dec
Unknown date
References

January

[edit]

1 January

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 1 January 1953
Ship State Description
Attu Island United States Carrying a cargo of 5,000 tons of cement and damaged earlier in her voyage when she struck a reef off Pennock Island in Southeast Alaska while under tow by the tug Hercules ( United States), the 328-foot (100.0 m) LST-type barge capsized and sank bottom-up 0.5 nautical miles (0.9 km; 0.6 mi) south of Bar Harbor in Ketchikan, Territory of Alaska. An attempt during the 1970s to refloat her failed.[1]

6 January

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 6 January 1953
Ship State Description
Kelvinbank United Kingdom The Liberty ship was driven ashore on Ocean Island, Gilbert Islands. She was later refloated but struck the wreck of Ooma ( Gilbert Islands) and was abandoned.[2][3][4]

8 January

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 8 January 1953
Ship State Description
Avanti Sweden The cargo ship broke in two north east of Okinawa, Japan. 40 crew rescued by Eastern.[4] At least 8 deaths.
Klipfontein Netherlands
Klipfontein.
The cargo liner struck a submerged object 100 nautical miles (190 km) north of Lourenço Marques, Mozambique and sank. All passengers and crew rescued by Bloemfontein Castle ( United Kingdom).[5]
Maraat V Netherlands The cargo ship ran aground at Sea Palling, Norfolk, United Kingdom.[6] Refloated on 9 January after being aground for 28 hours.[7]

9 January

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 9 January 1953
Ship State Description
Changgyeong-ho [ko] South Korea According to South Korea Coast Guard official confirmed report, the passenger ferry, while sailing from Yeosu Port and headed to Busan Port, capsized 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) southwest from Dadaepo area, Busan, South Korea. 229 people died and only seven people survived.[8]
Jumper Hitch United States The cargo ship collided with another vessel off Japan. Reported to be in danger of sinking and requested assistance.[9]
RFA Wave Commander  Royal Navy The Wave-class oiler ran aground off Cape Henry, Virginia, United States.[9]

11 January

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 11 January 1953
Ship State Description
Campo Grande Spain The cargo ship ran aground off the Cork Lightship, off the coast of Essex, United Kingdom.[10]

15 January

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 15 January 1953
Ship State Description
American Leader United States The cargo ship collided with Chickasaw ( United States) in New York Harbor. American Leader was severely damaged at the bows.[11]
American Veteran United States The cargo ship was in collision with the ferry Gold Star Mother in New York Harbor. Both ships were damaged, with Gold Star Mother taking in water by the bows and having eleven of her 1,900 passengers injured.[11]
Esso Wilmington United States The tanker ran aground in New York Harbor.[11]

17 January

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 17 January 1953
Ship State Description
L F Mathies West Germany The cargo ship ran aground off Portishead, Somerset, United Kingdom. Later refloated and docked at Avonmouth.[12]

18 January

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 18 January 1953
Ship State Description
Santi Spain The cargo ship was in collision with British Dragoon ( United Kingdom) and sank off Cape Espichel, Portugal. Thirty-six survivors rescued by British Dragoon.

21 January

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 21 January 1953
Ship State Description
Arklow flag unknown The coaster ran aground off Avonmouth. Refloated the next day.[13]
Palomares United Kingdom The cargo ship ran aground off Avonmouth. Refloated the next day.[13]

23 January

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 23 January 1953
Ship State Description
Kent County Norway The ore carrier ran aground at Bell Island, Nova Scotia, Canada.[14]

25 January

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 25 January 1953
Ship State Description
Empress of Canada United Kingdom The ocean liner caught fire, capsized and sank at Liverpool, Lancashire. Refloated and scrapped in 1954.

30 January

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 30 January 1953
Ship State Description
Clan Macquarrie United Kingdom The cargo ship ran aground 10 nautical miles (19 km) off the Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides.[15]

31 January

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 31 January 1953
Ship State Description
HMS Berkeley Castle  Royal Navy The Castle-class corvette capsized in Sheerness Dockyard.[16]
Catharina Duyvis Netherlands The herring cutter sank in the North Sea during a severe windstorm. 16 fatalities.
Guava United Kingdom The Lowestoft motor trawler and her crew of eleven sank at roughly 53.50N 3.0E (100 nautical miles (185.2 km; 115.1 mi) east of the River Humber) in heavy gales during the night to 1 February.[17][18]
Michael Griffith United Kingdom The Castle-class trawler from Fleetwood, Lancashire, foundered in a severe storm off Barra Head, West Scotland, with the loss of all hands. 13 fatalities.[19][20]
Princess Victoria United Kingdom The RORO passenger ferry sank in the North Channel during a severe windstorm. 133 fatalities.
Salland Netherlands The coastal trading vessel sank in the North Sea near Egmond during a severe windstorm. Eight fatalities.
Westland Netherlands The coastal trading vessel sank in the North Sea near Cuxhaven during a severe windstorm. Ten fatalities.

February

[edit]

1 February

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 1 February 1953
Ship State Description
HMS Sirdar  Royal Navy The S-class submarine was swamped by floods while in drydock at Sheerness Dockyard and sank. She was later raised, repaired, and returned to service.

3 February

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 3 February 1953
Ship State Description
Westland Netherlands The ship foundered in the North Sea off Terschelling, Friesland with the loss of all seven crew.[21][22]

15 February

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 15 February 1953
Ship State Description
Stanley Force United Kingdom The coaster struck a submerged object and sank off Guernsey, Channel Islands.[23]

26 February

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 26 February 1953
Ship State Description
Huglen United Kingdom The cargo ship ran aground at Huglen, Norway.[24]

March

[edit]

1 March

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 1 March 1953
Ship State Description
Baalbek Norway The cargo ship collided with the Great Nore Sands Fort, in the North Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) off Sheerness, Kent, United Kingdom. One of the seven towers of the fort collapsed and the ship ran aground. Four of the fourteen crew of the fort were reported missing.[25]

2 March

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 2 March 1953
Ship State Description
Siorak Denmark The schooner struck a rock and sank off Avigait. All ten crew rescued.[26]

3 March

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 3 March 1953
Ship State Description
Loomis United States The 15-gross register ton, 45.8-foot (14.0 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire in Jamestown Bay (57°02′40″N 135°17′30″W / 57.04444°N 135.29167°W / 57.04444; -135.29167 (Jamestown Bay)) in Southeast Alaska 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) south of Sitka, Territory of Alaska.[27]

4 March

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 4 March 1953
Ship State Description
Northumbrian Coast United Kingdom The cargo ship collided with Egyptian Prince ( United Kingdom) and was beached on the Mucking Flats in the Thames Estuary.[28]
Rigel Sweden The cargo ship collided with Senegal ( Italy) 25 nautical miles (46 km) north of Margate, Kent, United Kingdom and sank. All 29 crew rescued by Arnhem ( United Kingdom).[28]

8 March

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 8 March 1953
Ship State Description
Sollum Royal Egyptian Navy The Bangor-class minesweeper sank 12 nautical miles (22 km) off Alexandria with the loss of 53 of her 115 crew. The 63 survivors were rescued by Czech ( Poland).[29]

10 March

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 10 March 1953
Ship State Description
Southern Wind United Kingdom The yacht struck rocks and sank in the Mediterranean Sea off Antibes, Alpes-Maritimes, France. All three people aboard were rescued.[30]
Tahsis No. 3 Canada The bulk oil carrier sank after striking a rock in Welcome Pass north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

11 March

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 11 March 1953
Ship State Description
Settsu Maru Japan The whaling support ship sank in the Antarctic after being caught in pack ice, or due to an accident with her sea valve, or sea injection valves.[31][32][33]

17 March

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 17 March 1953
Ship State Description
Lairds Ben United Kingdom The cargo ship ran aground in the Clyde at Old Kilpatrick, Renfrewshire.[34]

20 March

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 20 March 1953
Ship State Description
Milborne United Kingdom The coaster ran aground off Anglesey. Refloated but leaking, towed by Empire Punch ( United Kingdom) to Holyhead. Later repaired and returned to service.

28 March

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 28 March 1953
Ship State Description
HDMS Lougen  Royal Danish Navy The minelayer was damaged by an onboard explosion at Rønne. Three crew were killed, seven were severely injured.[35]

29 March

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 29 March 1953
Ship State Description
Mountcharles United Kingdom The cargo ship sank in the Bristol Channel. Crew rescued by RFA Black Ranger ( Royal Navy).[36]

April

[edit]

1 April

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 1 April 1953
Ship State Description
Ciudad de Palma Spain The passenger ship ran aground at Cala Figuera, Mallorca. All 670 passengers and crew rescued.[37]

2 April

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 2 April 1953
Ship State Description
Rolling Wave United States The 13-gross register ton, 36.2-foot (11.0 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire at the Thomas Basin Float (55°20′20″N 131°38′30″W / 55.33889°N 131.64167°W / 55.33889; -131.64167 (Thomas Basin Float)) near Ketchikan, Territory of Alaska.[38]

4 April

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 4 April 1953
Ship State Description
TCG Dumlupınar  Turkish Navy The Balao-class submarine collided with Naboland ( Sweden) and sank in the Dardanelles with the loss of 81 of her 86 crew.

6 April

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 6 April 1953
Ship State Description
Susan Vittery Republic of Ireland The schooner foundered in Dungarvan Bay. All crew survived.[39]

7 April

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 7 April 1953
Ship State Description
Sollum Royal Egyptian Navy The Matrouth-class minesweeper foundered in heavy weather off Alexandria, Egypt.

10 April

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 10 April 1953
Ship State Description
Angela Finland The coaster ran aground on Coll, Inner Hebrides, United Kingdom. All 12 crew survived.[40]

13 April

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 13 April 1953
Ship State Description
Taboga Panama The cargo ship foundered 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) west south west of Saint Mathieu Point, Ouessant, France.[41]

14 April

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 14 April 1953
Ship State Description
HMS Conway United Kingdom
Conway after grounding

The Mercantile Marine Service Association training ship, formerly a 90-gun Rodney-class ship of the line, ran aground in the Menai Strait and was subsequently declared a total loss. Her wreck was destroyed by a fire in 1956.

18 April

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 18 April 1953
Ship State Description
Kronprins Frederick Denmark The ferry caught fire at Harwich, Essex, United Kingdom and was burnt out and sank. Refloated and towed to Elsinore, Denmark in September 1953 for repair.[42][43]

28 April

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 28 April 1953
Ship State Description
Alert III United States The 65-foot (20 m) tug sank in 50 feet (15 m) of water off the coast of Massachusetts in Buzzards Bay at 41°29′45″N 070°52′30″W / 41.49583°N 70.87500°W / 41.49583; -70.87500 (Alert III), halfway between Pasque Island and the Smith Point radome.[44]

May

[edit]

6 May

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 6 May 1953
Ship State Description
Duke of York United Kingdom The ferry collided with USNS Haiti Victory ( United States Navy) 40 nautical miles (74 km) east of Harwich, Essex and was cut in two. The bow section sank, three lives were lost of the 396 people on board. The stern section was towed to Harwich.[45] A new bow was built and Duke of York returned to service.

9 May

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 9 May 1953
Ship State Description
Supreme United States The 33.5-foot (10.2 m), 7-gross register ton, fishing vessel sank at the Thomas Basin Float at Ketchikan in Southeast Alaska.[46]

11 May

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 11 May 1953
Ship State Description
Henry Steinbrenner United States The 427-foot (130 m), 4,719-gross register ton bulk carrier sank in Lake Superior 15 nautical miles (28 km; 17 mi) south of Isle Royale Light with the loss of 17 of her 31 crew after her cargo hatch covers were lost during a storm.

17 May

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 17 May 1953
Ship State Description
F.P.B. 1023  Royal Navy The fast patrol boat caught fire and sank at Aarhus, Denmark. HMS Gay Archer ( Royal Navy) was damaged by the fire.[47]
Nasr Royal Egyptian Navy The Bangor-class minesweeper collided with the steamship Jaguar ( Sweden) in Suez Bay and sank with the loss of her captain. The rest of her 111 crew were rescued.[48]
Swan United States The 23-gross register ton, 44.6-foot (13.6 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire off Takanis Bay (57°55′N 136°31′W / 57.917°N 136.517°W / 57.917; -136.517 (Takanis Bay)) on the southeast end of Yakobi Island in the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska.[46]

19 May

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 19 May 1953
Ship State Description
Lady Wolmer United Kingdom The cargo ship ran aground on Cheju Island, Korea and broke up. All crew rescued by USS Henrico ( United States Navy) and a Royal Navy ship.[49]

20 May

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 20 May 1953
Ship State Description
Jerry United States The 16-gross register ton, 52-foot (15.8 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire in the harbor at Cordova, Territory of Alaska.[50]
Lady Wolmar  Hong Kong The concrete ship was driven ashore on Cheju Island, South Korea (33°32′N 126°50′E / 33.533°N 126.833°E / 33.533; 126.833). She was on a voyage from Pusan to India. She was a total loss.[51]

24 May

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 24 May 1953
Ship State Description
Andaman Sweden The cargo ship collided with Fortune ( Panama) in the English Channel and sank in the South Goodwins. All crew rescued and landed at Dover, Kent.[52]
Ternefjell Norway The cargo ship collided with Dotterell ( United Kingdom) off Start Point, Devon and sank. All 26 crew rescued by Dotterell.[52]

26 May

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 26 May 1953
Ship State Description
Maggie United States The 12-gross register ton, 30.3-foot (9.2 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire near Anchor Point in Cook Inlet on the south-central coast of the Territory of Alaska.[53]

June

[edit]

4 June

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 4 June 1953
Ship State Description
Serapide Italy The cargo ship sank off Cape Palos, Spain. All 24 crew rescued by Legazpi ( Spanish Navy).[54]

7 June

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 7 June 1953
Ship State Description
Phoenix United States The tanker collided in the Delaware River with Pan Massachusetts ( United States) and sank at Delaware City, Delaware. Both ships caught fire and were total losses.[55][56]

16 June

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 16 June 1953
Ship State Description
Brand V Norway The cruise ship ran aground at Ålesund and was a total loss. All passengers and crew were rescued.[57]

11 May

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 11 May 1953
Ship State Description
Scotiadoc Canada The 424-foot (129 m), 4,432-gross register ton bulk carrier sank with the loss of one life in 850 feet (259 m) of water in Lake Superior off Trowbridge Island, near the Sleeping Giant on the Sibley Peninsula in Ontario, Canada, after colliding in heavy fog with the steamer Burlington ( Canada). There were 30 survivors.

26 June

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 26 June 1953
Ship State Description
Mary Pat United States The 10-gross register ton, 27.7-foot (8.4 m) motor vessel was destroyed by fire in Bristol Bay off the coast of the Territory of Alaska.[53]

July

[edit]

2 July

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 2 July 1953
Ship State Description
Sangola United Kingdom The passenger ship ran aground in the Hooghly River at Budge Budge, India.[58]

7 July

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 7 July 1953
Ship State Description
Cornhusker Mariner United States The cargo ship ran aground at Pusan, Korea and broke in two. The stern section was salvaged by USS Current ( United States Navy).[59][60]

14 July

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 14 July 1953
Ship State Description
Jacob Luckenbach United States The cargo ship collided with Hawaiian Pilot ( United States) and sank 18 nautical miles (33 km) southwest of San Francisco, California.[61]

16 July

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 16 July 1953
Ship State Description
Three unidentified landing ships  Republic of China Navy Chinese Civil War: Second Battle of Dongshan Island: The landing ships were sunk in a harbor on the coast of Dongshan Island in China by mortar fire that detonated their cargoes of ammunition.[62]

20 July

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 20 July 1953
Ship State Description
A R 5 United States The 8-gross register ton, 27.5-foot (8.4 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire near Red Bluff (58°04′N 157°29′W / 58.067°N 157.483°W / 58.067; -157.483 (Red Bluff)) on the Bristol Bay coast of the Territory of Alaska.[1]

23 July

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 23 July 1953
Ship State Description
Pan Georgia United States The tanker exploded and was burnt out at Wilmington, Delaware. Consequently laid up, subsequently converted to dredger.[63]

26 July

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 26 July 1953
Ship State Description
Duero Spain Collided with Culrain ( United Kingdom) and sank in the Strait of Gibraltar (35°37′N 5°25′W / 35.617°N 5.417°W / 35.617; -5.417). All 28 crew saved.[64][65]

August

[edit]

between 31 July and 3 August

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 3 August 1953
Ship State Description
Monique France The 240 ton, Société des Isles, ferry left the Loyalty Islands on 31 July for Noumea. A search started on 3 August, but she was never found. She had 75 passengers and crew.[66] The former US Navy YF class lighter was launched on 4 October 1945 at Port Chalmers as Avon[67] and renamed Monique.[68] It was suggested she may have been overloaded.[69]

9 August

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 9 August 1953
Ship State Description
St Columba United Kingdom The ferry ran aground in Ettrick Bay, Kyles of Bute, Buteshire. Refloated the same day.[70]

11 August

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 11 August 1953
Ship State Description
Sacco No. 3 United States The 28-gross register ton, 55.2-foot (16.8 m) scow was wrecked 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) southeast of Ocean Cape (59°32′30″N 39°51′30″W / 59.54167°N 39.85833°W / 59.54167; -39.85833 (Ocean Cape)), Territory of Alaska.[46]

19 August

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 19 August 1953
Ship State Description
Else Basse Denmark
Else Basse on fire.
The cargo ship caught fire off Cape Anguille, Newfoundland, Canada and was abandoned. Her 24 crew and a passenger were rescued by Corner Brook ( United Kingdom.[71] She was subsequently repaired and returned to service as the Finnish Kaarina.[72]

31 August

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 31 August 1953
Ship State Description
Akademik Karpinsky Soviet Union The cargo ship foundered on a voyage between Kaliningrad and Amsterdam.

September

[edit]

3 September

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 3 September 1953
Ship State Description
Raeburn United Kingdom The cargo ship ran aground at the Monkstone Rock Lighthouse in the Bristol Channel.[73]

7 September

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 7 September 1953
Ship State Description
Eugenia Panama Hurricane Carol: The cargo ship was driven ashore at Provincetown, Massachusetts. Crew taken off by breeches buoy.[74]
Lomela United States The 42-gross register ton, 51.6-foot (15.7 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire in the Gulf of Alaska approximately 19 nautical miles (35 km; 22 mi) southeast of Kodiak, Territory of Alaska.[27]

8 September

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 8 September 1953
Ship State Description
Liberté France The ocean liner ran aground at Le Havre. Refloated that day.[75]

9 September

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 9 September 1953
Ship State Description
Esmereldas  Ecuadorian Navy The naval yacht ran aground in the Gunyas River and was declared a total loss.[76]

21 September

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 21 September 1953
Ship State Description
Greenville Liberia The cargo ship sank in the Atlantic Ocean with the loss of one crewmember. The 25 survivors were rescued by Île de France ( France).[77]
Libby, McNeill & Libby X No. 2 United States The 34-gross register ton, 56-foot (17.1 m) scow sank at Yakutat, Territory of Alaska.[27]

23 September

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 23 September 1953
Ship State Description
RFA Wave Ruler  Royal Navy The Wave-class oiler ran aground off Swansea, Wales. Refloated on 5 October and returned to service.

27 September

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 27 September 1953
Ship State Description
Walrus United States The 21-gross register ton, 41-foot (12 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire at Lincoln Rock in Clarence Strait in the Territory of Alaska.[78]

29 September

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 29 September 1953
Ship State Description
HMS Tyrian  Royal Navy The S and T-class destroyer ran aground in the North Sea 17 nautical miles (31 km) east south east of Cromer, Norfolk, England. Later refloated.[79]

30 September

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 30 September 1953
Ship State Description
USS Rockford  United States Navy The decommissioned Tacoma-class frigate was sunk as a torpedo target.
Sortland United States The 7-gross register ton, 28.5-foot (8.7 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire at Driftwood Bay (59°56′N 149°13′W / 59.933°N 149.217°W / 59.933; -149.217 (Driftwood Bay)) in Day Harbor on the coast of the Kenai Peninsula in the Territory of Alaska.[46]

Unknown date

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: Unknown date September 1953
Ship State Description
Celt United States The 43-gross register ton, 62.5-foot (19.1 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire in Cholmondeley Sound (55°17′N 132°04′W / 55.283°N 132.067°W / 55.283; -132.067 (Cholmondeley Sound)) in Southeast Alaska.[80]

October

[edit]

7 October

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 7 October 1953
Ship State Description
Fearless United States The 63-gross register ton, 64.9-foot (19.8 m) scow sank in Iliamna Bay on the southeast coast of the Territory of Alaska's Alaska Peninsula.[81]

9 October

[edit]

12 October

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 12 October 1953
Ship State Description
Beckenham United Kingdom The cargo ship ran aground and broke in two in the Kara Sea, Soviet Union.[82] All crew rescued by Suvorov ( Soviet Union).[83]

13 October

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 13 October 1953
Ship State Description
Tiderip United States The 15-gross register ton, 39.6-foot (12.1 m) fishing vessel sank in the Gulf of Alaska near Kodiak, Alaska.[84]

14 October

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 14 October 1953
Ship State Description
Reliance No. 3 United States The 10-gross register ton, 31.9-foot (9.7 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire in Lynn Canal off Naked Island (58°15′20″N 134°56′30″W / 58.25556°N 134.94167°W / 58.25556; -134.94167 (Naked Island)) near Funter Bay in the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska.[38]

21 October

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 21 October 1953
Ship State Description
Bharatveer India The cargo ship was driven ashore 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north of Madras in a cyclone. A fire broke out two days later and she was subsequently declared a constructive total loss.[85]

22 October

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 22 October 1953
Ship State Description
Eiho Maru Japan The tanker ran aground in the River Mersey, United Kingdom, three times within 24 hours.[86]

25 October

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 25 October 1953
Ship State Description
Sea Gram United States The 13-gross register ton 41.8-foot (12.7 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire at Saltery Bay (57°47′N 134°57′W / 57.783°N 134.950°W / 57.783; -134.950 (Saltery Bay)) in Tenakee Inlet in Southeast Alaska.[46]

Unknown date

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: Unknown date October 1953
Ship State Description
Hiawatha United States The 74-gross register ton, 66-foot (20.1 m) yacht sank at the entrance to Port Etches on the south-central coast of the Territory of Alaska.[50]

November

[edit]

2 November

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 2 November 1953
Ship State Description
Trygve United States The 15-gross register ton, 38.5-foot (11.7 m) fishing vessel was wrecked on the beach at Homer Spit on the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula in the Territory of Alaska.[84]

4 November

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 4 November 1953
Ship State Description
Andrew Z United States The 12-gross register ton, 36.5-foot (11.1 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire in George Inlet on the south coast of Revillagigedo Island in the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska.[1]
Tonghai Sweden The cargo ship collided with Esso Cardiff ( United Kingdom) off the coast of Spain. Tonghai was taken in tow by the tug Abeille 26 ( France) but sank on 6 November. All crew were rescued by Esso Cardiff.[87]

6 November

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 6 November 1953
Ship State Description
Björkö Sweden The cargo ship collided with USAS Seawind ( United States Army) and sank off Cuxhaven, West Germany.[87] Seven of her eighteen crew were killed.[88]

7 November

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 7 November 1953
Ship State Description
Meteor United States The 8-gross register ton, 28.4-foot (8.7 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire off Rocky Point (60°21′30″N 147°03′00″W / 60.35833°N 147.05000°W / 60.35833; -147.05000 (Rocky Point)) on Montague Island in Prince William Sound on the south-central coast of the Territory of Alaska.[53]

8 November

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 8 November 1953
Ship State Description
Columbus Netherlands The coaster sank 50 nautical miles (93 km) north west of Texel. All eleven crew were rescued.[89]

9 November

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 9 November 1953
Ship State Description
Wanita United States The 32-gross register ton, 44-foot (13 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire at the mouth of Red Bay on the north end of Prince of Wales Island in the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska.[78]

10 November

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 10 November 1953
Ship State Description
Aurora Netherlands The cargo ship sank in the Mediterranean Sea off Cap de Fer, Algeria. She was being towed from Phillippeville, Algeria to an Italian port.[90]

16 November

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 16 November 1953
Ship State Description
Vittoria Claudia Italy The cargo ship collided with Perou ( France) and sank in the English Channel 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) off Dungeness, Kent, with the loss of twenty of her 25 crew.[91]

24 November

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 24 November 1953
Ship State Description
Vespa United Kingdom The tug was in collision with Malmo ( United Kingdom) and sank in the River Thames at Woolwich. All five crew rescued.[92]

25 November

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 25 November 1953
Ship State Description
Marsworth United Kingdom The cable layer collided with Milford ( United Kingdom) and sank off Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.[93]

29 November

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 29 November 1953
Ship State Description
Halesius United Kingdom The cargo ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) north of Lisbon, Portugal. She was on a voyage from Casablanca, Morocco to Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands.[94]

30 November

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 30 November 1953
Ship State Description
Oliver Olson United States The cargo ship ran aground at Coquille, Oregon. She was only partially salvaged, the remaining wreck subsequently was incorporated into a jetty.

December

[edit]

14 December

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 14 December 1953
Ship State Description
Dimitris Greece The cargo ship ran aground off Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, United Kingdom.[95] All sixteen crew rescued. Dimitris was declared a total loss.[96]
Olympia Greece The ocean liner ran aground in Southampton Water, Hampshire, United Kingdom. Later refloated, repaired and returned to service.[97]

15 December

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 15 December 1953
Ship State Description
Brockley Combe United Kingdom The coaster ran aground at the Minquiers, Jersey, Channel Islands and broke in two. All crew rescued by the Jersey lifeboat.[98]

24 December

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: 24 December 1953
Ship State Description
Alf Everard United Kingdom The Thames barge exited the Medway and collided with a coaster, she then hit a second vessel before being rammed amidships by City of Johannesburg ( United Kingdom) and sank in the Thames Estuary. All seven crew were rescued by the collier Alexander Kennedy ( United Kingdom) which was one of the two earlier vessels with which she collided.[99]
Gustaf Reuter Sweden The tanker exploded and sank at Gothenburg, killing one of the eleven crew on board at the time.[100]

Unknown date

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: unknown date in December 1953
Ship State Description
Roda West Germany The cargo ship sank in the North Sea on or after 3 December. She was being towed from Stavanger, Norway to Hamburg for scrapping. She was refloated in 1956 and scrapped at Hamburg.[101]

Unknown date

[edit]
List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1953
Ship State Description
Marti Cuba The schooner was wrecked in a hurricane.[102]
Pelican Canada Canada The barge was scuttled.

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Sources

[edit]
  • Jordan, Roger (1999). The World's Merchant Fleets, 1939. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-023-X.
  • Mitchell, WH; Sawyer, LA (1990). The Empire Ships (Second ed.). London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
  • Ogley, Bob; Currie, Ian; Davison, Mark (1991). The Kent Weather Book. Brasted Chart: Froglets Publications Ltd. ISBN 1-872337-35-X.
  • Sawyer, L. A.; Mitchell, W. H. (1985). The Liberty Ships (2nd ed.). London: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. ISBN 1-85044-049-2.