Thelist of shipwrecks in 1991 includesships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during1991.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr |
| May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
| Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Unknown date | |||
| References | |||
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| St. Martin |  United Kingdom | The 113.58-foot (34.62 m), 254-ton Oil Field Standby (safety) Vessel, a former trawler, collided with a leg of theJackup rig she was attending and sank.[1] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Protektor |  Singapore | The bulk carrier sank in heavy weather in the North Atlantic with the loss of all 33 crew. |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Continental Lotus |  India | The bulk carrier/cargo ship sank 160 nautical miles (300 km) east ofMalta en route fromMormugao toGenova after developing crack in engine room bulkhead with the loss of 38 out of 42 crew[2] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Colonel Templer |  United Kingdom | The 56.55-metre (185.5 ft), 952-ton acoustic research/survey vessel, a former trawler, caught fire during conversion work for her new owner, theDefence Evaluation and Research Agency atHull, England. She flooded and capsized at dock. She was righted, salvaged, repaired and returned to service.[3] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Amuriyah |  Iraq | First Gulf War,Operation Desert Storm: Thetanker was attacked and severely damaged offBubiyan island byGrumman A-6 Intruder aircraft fromUSSMidway ( United States Navy). She subsequently sank. The wreck was scheduled to be removed in or after 2014.[4][5] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Unidentified minelayer | Iraqi Navy | First Gulf War,Operation Desert Storm:Battle of Qurah: Theminelayer was sunk by two United StatesGrumman A-6 Intruder aircraft.[6] |
| Unidentified minesweeper | Iraqi Navy | First Gulf War,Operation Desert Storm:Battle of Qurah: Theminesweeper was sunk by two United StatesGrumman A-6 Intruder aircraft.[6] |
| Unidentified minesweeper | Iraqi Navy | First Gulf War,Operation Desert Storm:Battle of Qurah: Theminesweeper was sunk in an Iraqiminefield while trying to evade United StatesGrumman A-6 Intruder aircraft. Helicopters from theguided-missile frigateUSS Curts ( United States Navy) rescued 22 crewmen, who were madeprisoners of war.[6] |
| Unidentified patrol boat | Iraqi Navy | First Gulf War,Operation Desert Storm:Battle of Qurah: Thepatrol boat was sunk by two United StatesGrumman A-6 Intruder aircraft.[6] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Unidentified minesweeper | Iraqi Navy | First Gulf War,Operation Desert Storm:Battle of Umm al Maradim: The Project 1258minesweeper was sunk by coalition aircraft or surface ships.[6] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Skagit Eagle |  United States | The 91-foot (28 m)fishing vessel was wrecked inReese Bay (54°00′15″N164°43′00″W / 54.00417°N 164.71667°W /54.00417; -164.71667 (Reese Bay)) onUnalaska Island in theAleutian Islands. All five members of her crew survived and aUnited States Coast Guard helicopter picked them up from the shore.[7] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ashley Kay | United States | The 32-foot (9.8 m)crab-fishing vessel struck a rock and sank inFrederick Sound in theAlexander Archipelago inSoutheast Alaska.[8] |
| Barbarossa |  United States | The 195-gross ton, 81.6-foot (24.9 m) or 98-foot (29.9 m)crab-fishing vessel disappeared in theBering Sea nearSt. George Island with the loss of all five men on board. TheUnited States Coast Guard determined that a radio message from an unnamed vessel reporting herself in distress about 40 nautical miles (74 km; 46 mi) west of St. George Island came fromBarbarossa.[9] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Brimstone | United States | The molten sulphur carrier ran aground atCoatzacoalcos, Mexico. She was refloated but consequently withdrawn from service. Scrapped in 1993.[10] |
| Sanko Harvest |  Panama | Thebulk carrier ran aground betweenHastings Island andHood Island, Australia. Her twenty crew were evacuated on 15 February. She broke in three and sank on 17 February.Sanko Harvest was on a voyage fromTampa, Florida, United States toEsperance, Western Australia.[11][12] |
| Thunderbird | United States | The 35-foot (11 m)longlinefishing vessel sank inChatham Strait in theAlexander Archipelago inSoutheast Alaska. Only one of the two people on board survived.[13] |
| Vikingo |  Spain | The 116.4-foot (35.5 m), 249-ton fishing vessel sank in theBay of Biscay.[14] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Unidentified patrol boat | Spanish Navy | A P-205 Typepatrol boat was destroyed by a bomb planted byETA atHondarribia.[15] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Breydon Merchant | United Kingdom | The 425-ton coaster ship caught fire in theEnglish Channel while carrying 120 tons of explosives for an Irish company. Towed toGravesend on 25 February, she was later declared a total loss and scrapped; her crew of four was rescued by aRoyal Air ForceWestland Sea King helicopter.[16] Broken up atRainham in June 1991.[17] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Starling | United States | Thefishing vessel sprang a leak due to the deterioration of her woodenhull and sank while moored to abarge in theGastineau Channel inSoutheast Alaska.[7] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Choctaw | United States | The retired 90-foot (27.4 m)tug wasscuttled as anartificial reef in theNorth Atlantic Ocean 6.5 nautical miles (12.0 km; 7.5 mi) offHarvey Cedars,New Jersey, in 75 feet (23 m) of water at39°37.894′N074°01.284′W / 39.631567°N 74.021400°W /39.631567; -74.021400 (Choctaw).[18] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Starfish | Panama | The bulk carrier sprang a leak in theIndian Ocean offPort Louis, Mauritius on 1 April and diverted to that port. She arrived off Port Louis on 3 April and was subsequently ordered out of Mauritian waters on 7 April due to the threat of pollution.Starfish foundered 40 nautical miles (74 km) west of Mauritius and 60 nautical miles (110 km) north ofRéunion on 8 April. All crew were rescued by aNational Coast Guard of Mauritius patrol boat.[19] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Agip Abruzzo Moby Prince |  Italy | Moby Prince disaster: The ferryMoby Prince collided with the tankerAgip Abruzzo offLivorno,Tuscany. Both ships caught fire, leading to the deaths of 140. Both ships were declared total losses. |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Haven |  Cyprus | Thevery large crude carrier suffered an explosion and fire atGenoa,Liguria, Italy with the loss of six crew. She sank on 14 April. |
| Talia | United States | Carrying a heavy load ofherring, the 58-foot (18 m) herring-fishing vessel sank in rough seas offPoint Gardner (57°01′N134°37′W / 57.017°N 134.617°W /57.017; -134.617 (Point Gardner)) inSoutheast Alaska.[13] |
| Venus |  United States | The 44-foot (13.4 m)longlinefishing vessel sank in a storm with 100-knot (190 km/h; 120 mph) winds offKatlian Bay (57°09′N135°23′W / 57.150°N 135.383°W /57.150; -135.383 (Katlian Bay)) north ofSitka,Alaska.[20] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral Diamond |  Hong Kong | The bulk carrier foundered in theIndian Ocean 1,500 nautical miles (2,800 km) west ofPerth, Western Australia with the loss of all 26 crew.[21] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Berta J | United States | The 38-foot (11.6 m)longlinefishing vessel sank in south ofYakutat,Alaska, with the loss of two crewmen, leaving behind little evidence of her loss.[9] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SAS President Steyn |  South African Navy | ThedecommissionedPresident-classType 12frigate was sunk as a target by a combination of missile hits and gunfire from fiveMinister-classfast attack craft (all South African Navy) offSouth Africa.[22] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dora H | United States | The 53-foot (16.2 m)halibutlongliner sank in theGulf of Alaska offChirikof Island. Her crew of four abandoned ship in alife raft and survived.[23] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Max | United States | The 91-foot (27.7 m)longlinefishing vesselcapsized and sank nearHinchinbrook Entrance (60°20′N146°50′W / 60.333°N 146.833°W /60.333; -146.833 (Hinchinbrook Entrance)) inPrince William Sound on thesouth-central coast ofAlaska. Her crew of four survived.[24] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A-502 |  Ethiopian Navy | Eritrean War of Independence: Thetanker wasscuttled in theDahlak Archipelago.[25] |
| Denden | Ethiopian Navy | Eritrean War of Independence: Thecargo ship wasscuttled in theDahlak Archipelago.[25] |
| FMB-160 | Ethiopian Navy | Eritrean War of Independence: The Project 205EPmissile boat wasscuttled in theDahlak Archipelago.[25] |
| FMB-162 | Ethiopian Navy | Eritrean War of Independence: The Project 205EPmissile boat wasscuttled in theDahlak Archipelago.[25] |
| FTB-110 | Ethiopian Navy | Eritrean War of Independence: The Project 205ETpatrol ship wasscuttled in theDahlak Archipelago.[25] |
| LTC-1036 | Ethiopian Navy | Eritrean War of Independence: Thelanding ship wasscuttled in theDahlak Archipelago.[25] |
| Two unidentified landing ships | Ethiopian Navy | Eritrean War of Independence: The Project 1785landing ships werescuttled in theDahlak Archipelago.[25] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ABT Summer |  Liberia | Thetanker exploded and caught fire 900 nautical miles (1,700 km) off the coast of Angola with the loss of five of her 32 crew. She was on a voyage fromKharg Island, Iran toRotterdam,South Holland, Netherlands.ABT Summer sank on 1 June.[26] |
| Almighty | United States | The 144-ton, 85-foot (25.9 m)fishing trawler struck a submerged object and sank off the coast ofAlaska inBristol Bay about 2 nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) offRight Hand Point (58°46′10″N159°54′00″W / 58.76944°N 159.90000°W /58.76944; -159.90000 (Right Hand Point)) and 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) north ofRound Island in theWalrus Islands. Anotherfishing vessel rescued her entire crew of five. She eventually wassalvaged.[8] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Wanderer | United States | The 34-foot (10 m)longlinefishing vessel sank while at anchor inStephens Passage in theAlexander Archipelago nearJuneau,Alaska.[27] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Windsong | United States | The 33-foot (10.1 m)fishing vessel went adrift and sank offCape Spencer,Alaska. Her three-man crew escaped in alife raft and was rescued.[27] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Braut Team |  Norway | The cargo ship, a 15-year-oldvessel, sank in theIndian Ocean, east ofSri Lanka. Water began flooding the cargo holds on 6 June. The ship had been scheduled to make multiple stops along Southern Asia and Europe, before docking at the United States. The cargo includedferrosilicon anda new Chinese steam locomotive bound for theNew York, Susquehanna and Western Railway in the United States. All 17 crewmen were rescued.[30][31][32] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Crusader | United States | The 27-foot (8.2 m)longlinefishing vessel sank after she lost steering and ran aground on theInian Rocks (58°15′N136°20′W / 58.250°N 136.333°W /58.250; -136.333 (Indian Rocks)) – inCross Sound in theAlexander Archipelago inSoutheast Alaska.[33] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Marcelina de Ciriza |  Argentina | A heavy winter storm dislodged the derelictfactory ship from its anchorage atMar del Plata port's north wharf, wrecking it on a beach about 4 nautical miles to the north.[34][35] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Betty B | United States | The 37-foot (11.3 m)fishing vesselcapsized and sank with the loss of two lives inAtka Pass (52°00′N175°22′W / 52.000°N 175.367°W /52.000; -175.367 (Atka Pass)) nearAtka Island in theAleutian Islands after striking a rock. There was one survivor.[9] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sea Toad | United States | The 30-foot (9.1 m) fishtender sank in theYukon River in centralAlaska. Only one of the two people on board survived.[7] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Manila Transporter |  Philippines | The bulk carrier sprang a leak in thePacific Ocean and was abandoned by her 24 crew at29°42′S64°16′E / 29.700°S 64.267°E /-29.700; 64.267. They were rescued byBerica (Norway). The derelictManila Transporter was discovered on 27 July at23°55′S65°55′E / 23.917°S 65.917°E /-23.917; 65.917 byAlgenib (Singapore). She was subsequently taken in tow by the tugsSmit Langkawi andSmit Sulawesi (both flag unknown) but she sank some 700 nautical miles (1,300 km) east ofMauritius on 7 August.[36] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Silver Eagle | United States | The 29-foot (8.8 m)fishing vessel sank inBristol Bay off the coast ofAlaska.[7] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Charmer | United States | The 34-foot (10.4 m)shrimptrawler sank offLevel Island (56°28′N133°05′W / 56.467°N 133.083°W /56.467; -133.083 (Level Island)) inSoutheast Alaska after hershrimptrawl caught on the bottom and its cable broke, causing her load to shift, which in turn made hercapsize. Her crew of two survived.[33] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mary Lou | United States | The 66-foot (20.1 m)fishing vessel ran aground, was refloated, was tied to abuoy, and then sank nearDillingham,Alaska.[24] |
| Tyee | United States | A large wave struck thestern of the 35-foot (11 m)fishing vessel as she crossed ashoal during agale, causing her to capsize and sink inBristol Bay offPort Heiden,Alaska. Both crew members survived; one was rescued by the fishing vesselIsle Royale (United States) and the other by the fishing vesselShadowfax (United States).[13] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sable | United States | The 82-foot (25 m) fishtender burned to thewaterline and sank inBristol Bay offAlaska. All four members of her crew were rescued.[7] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| MVKirki |  Greece | The tanker broke in two in theIndian Ocean 22 nautical miles (41 km) offCervantes, Western Australia during a storm. The bow section sank. The stern section caught fire five times but each time the rough seas put the fire out.Kirki was towed toDampier, Western Australia, where her remaining cargo was transferred to another ship. She was subsequently towed toSingapore.[37] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Becky Lee | United States | The retired 85-foot (25.9 m)fishing trawler wasscuttled as anartificial reef in theNorth Atlantic Ocean offCape May,New Jersey, in 60 feet (18 m) of water at38°53.110′N074°01.030′W / 38.885167°N 74.017167°W /38.885167; -74.017167 (Becky Lee).[38] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Oceanos | Greece | The cruise ship sank in theIndian Ocean off the coast of South Africa (32°02′00″S29°06′36″E / 32.03333°S 29.11000°E /-32.03333; 29.11000) after a leakage in the engine room's sea chest. The crew abandoned ship, leaving the passengers to their fate. All 571 people on board survived. The passengers were rescued bySouth African Air Force helicopters. |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Ball | United States | The 26-foot (7.9 m)fishing vessel lost heranchor and was thrown onto the rocks on the coast ofWingham Island (60°01′N144°23′W / 60.017°N 144.383°W /60.017; -144.383 (Wingham Island)) on thesouth-central coast ofAlaska. An attempt to refloat her on 8 August failed, and she sank in 480 feet (150 m) of water.[39] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Brandy | United States | The 34-foot (10.4 m)fishing vessel burned and sank atAnchor Point,Alaska.[9] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| DB-29 | Panama | Typhoon Fred: The oil pipeline barge capsized and sank in theSouth China Sea in 75 mph (121 km/h) winds and waves as high as 60 feet (18 m) about 65 miles (105 km) off Hong Kong. Of appoximately 195–200 crew on board, 168 workers were rescued by British and Chinese military helicopters and by ships from Taiwan, China, and theSoviet Union. Sixteen were killed and others were reported missing.[40][41] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sea Fox | United States | The 48-foot (15 m)fishing vessel rolled onto her side in heavy seas and sank inKnight Island Passage north ofPoint Nowell (60°26′15″N147°56′05″W / 60.43750°N 147.93472°W /60.43750; -147.93472 (Point Nowell)) on the south-central coast ofAlaska. Her crew of five survived.[7] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Melete | Greece | The bulk carrier foundered in theIndian Ocean (27°41′S54°13′E / 27.683°S 54.217°E /-27.683; 54.217) with the loss of 25 of the 27 people on board.[42] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Regina Maris | Norway | Theschooner wasscuttled by hercaptain at her berth atGreenport,New York, to protect her from damage byHurricane Bob and to provide protection to historic waterfront buildings. She was refloated after the storm passed. |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sundancer | United States | The 58-foot (18 m)longlinefishing vessel capsized and sank in theGulf of Alaska 185 nautical miles (343 km; 213 mi) east ofKodiak,Alaska, after arogue wave struck her. Her entire crew of five survived.[7] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Soon Ly |  Honduras | The cargo ship sank off the coast of Vietnam.[43] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Klimno |  Croatia | Croatian War of Independence: Thebarge was destroyed by missiles atNovigrad,Croatia. She was raised and scrapped in 1997.[44][45] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sea Maid | United States | The 36-foot (11 m)troller sank in theGulf of Alaska offCape Edgecumbe (56°59′45″N135°51′00″W / 56.99583°N 135.85000°W /56.99583; -135.85000 (Barren Islands)) inSoutheast Alaska.[7] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Let’s Go | United States | The 71-foot (21.6 m)fishing trawler sank offCape Ommaney (56°10′00″N134°40′20″W / 56.16667°N 134.67222°W /56.16667; -134.67222 (Cape Ommaney)) inSoutheast Alaska. Her crew of five was rescued from alife raft.[46] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Vukov Klanac | Croatia | Croatian War of Independence: Theminesweeper was damaged beyond repair byYugoslavianartillery.[47] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cruiser | United States | The 32-foot (9.8 m)longlinefishing vessel burned and sank offMarmot Island in theKodiak Archipelago nearKodiak,Alaska. The only person aboard survived.[33] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Nagan | United States | The 40-foot (12.2 m)longlinehalibut-fishing vesselcapsized and sank off theEgg Islands nearCordova,Alaska, with the loss of her two crewmen.[48] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| BRM-86 |  Yugoslav Navy | Croatian War of Independence: The armed motorboat hit a mine laid down on 24 September by the ferryGradac ( Croatian Navy) and sunk offLora while on a resupply mission to the Yugoslav army barracks at Divulje. Three sailors and two soldiers were killed. There were two survivors.[49][50] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sea Hawk | United States | The 38-foot (11.6 m)salmonseiner went aground and broke up in the surf nearValdez,Alaska, after she lost power due to a cloggedfuel filter. Her crew of two survived.[7] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Blanco Encalada |  Chilean Navy | The decommissionedFletcher-classdestroyer was sunk as a target. |
| Oman Sea One |  Oman | The Omani crab trawler capsized onto her port side at 05:30z and lay semi-submerged for more than a day 183 nautical miles (339 km; 211 mi) off St. Helena Island while returning to the island from fishing trials. Some crew perished including the British skipper and the South African cook.[citation needed] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Krila Dalmacije |  Croatia | Croatian War of Independence: The 130-tonhydrofoil was shelled and sunk at Split byYugoslav Navy warships. Later scrapped.[44][51] |
| Krila Istre | Croatia | Croatian War of Independence: The 130-tonhydrofoil was shelled and sunk at Split byYugoslav Navy warships. Later scrapped.[44][51] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Perast | Croatia | Croatian War of Independence: The 335 ton coaster[52] was abandoned after being heavily damaged by naval, artillery and tank fire atSlano,[53] where the vessel had been forced to re-enter when fired at by the patrol boat PČ-178Kosmaj (Yugoslav Navy) while steaming away on 1 October.[54]Kosmaj shelled Slano on 5 October, killing three ofPerast complement as they landed.[55] Adrift, the ship was towed to Korčula and eventually declared a total constructive loss.[53]Perast was scrapped in 2005.[52] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery | United States | The 97-foot (29.6 m)crab-fishing vesselcapsized and sank southwest of theQueen Charlotte Islands inBritish Columbia,Canada. Wearingsurvival suits, her five crew members survived for 11 days in alife raft before the fishing vesselOcean Viking (United States) rescued them on 19 October.[23] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ada Adelia | United States | The retired 67-foot (20.4 m)fishing trawler wasscuttled as anartificial reef in 85 feet (26 m) of water in theNorth Atlantic Ocean east ofOcean City,New Jersey, at39°15.500′N074°13.880′W / 39.258333°N 74.231333°W /39.258333; -74.231333 (Ada Adelia).[56] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tonquin | United States | The 86-foot (26.2 m)longlinefishing vessel capsized and sank in theGulf of Alaska offTwoheaded Island (56°54′N153°35′W / 56.900°N 153.583°W /56.900; -153.583 (Twoheaded Island)) nearKodiak,Alaska. Hercaptain died, but the other four crewmen were rescued.[13] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Emerald Cove | United States | The 31-foot (9.4 m)salmonseiner burned and sank atCordova,Alaska.[57] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Unidentified fishing motorboat | Croatia | Croatian War of Independence: A fishing motorboat carrying six Croatian naval commandos on a sabotage mission was intercepted offŠipan island and sunk after a brief exchange of fire by the patrol boat PČ-178Kosmaj (Yugoslav Navy) . Three Argentine volunteers and two Croatian fighters were killed, one survived.[58] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Andrea Gail | United States | 1991 "Perfect Storm": Thefishing vessel sank in theAtlantic Ocean with the loss of all six crew. |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rose Ann Hess | United States | The 50-foot (15.2 m)longlinefishing vessel was wrecked in bad weather atPort Bailey (57°56′N153°02′W / 57.933°N 153.033°W /57.933; -153.033 (Totem Bay)) onKodiak Island,Alaska. Her crew of six survived.[59] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SK Link One |  Sweden | The cargo ship suffered a fire in her engine room and was abandoned by her crew in theNorth Sea off the coast ofCleveland, United Kingdom. She exploded and sank on 10 November.[60] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Louise | United States | The 86-foot (26.2 m)fishing vessel sank in bad weather nearDutch Harbor,Alaska, with the loss of one life. There were four survivors.[46] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| RML-308 | Yugoslav Navy | Croatian War of Independence: TheRML-301-class river minesweeper was hit by small-arms rounds and anti-tank rockets fired by Croatian forces and beached in the area ofKopački Rit, on the confluence of theDanube and theDrava while intercepting the pusher tugŠariš ( Czechoslovakia), which was on a gunrunning mission for Croatia. Later refloated, repaired and returned to service. Two crewmen were killed and the commanding officer wounded.[61][62][63] |
| Šariš | Czechoslovakia | Croatian War of Independence: Thepusher tug was hit by gunfire fromRML-308 (Yugoslav Navy) on the confluence of theDanube and theDrava while on a gunrunning mission for Croatia and set on fire.[63] Adrift,[64] she was eventually towed toBratislava for repairs.[63] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Euro River |  Malta | Croatian War of Independence: The cargo ship, manned by aCroatian crew and bounded forDubrovnik, was sunk by gunfire from a Yugoslav navy patrol boat offŠolta island. All members of her complement were rescued safely.[65] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Adriatic | Croatia | Croatian War of Independence,Siege of Dubrovnik: The ferry was shelled by Yugoslav navy vessels and ground artillery atDubrovnik, caught fire and sank at Gruz, Dubrovnik. raised and scrapped in 1994.[66][67] |
| Argolys | Croatia | Croatian War of Independence,Siege of Dubrovnik: The ferry was shelled by Yugoslav navy vessels and ground artillery atDubrovnik, caught fire and sank at Gruz, Dubrovnik. Raised and scrapped.[68][69] |
| Pelagic | United States | Croatian War of Independence,Siege of Dubrovnik: The sailing vessel was shelled and sunk by Yugoslav navy vessels and ground artillery atDubrovnik.[68][67] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mukos | Yugoslav Navy | Croatian War of Independence,Battle of the Dalmatian channels: The vessel was hit by a midgettorpedo launched by Croatian naval commandos, crippled and abandoned by her crew. Survivors were rescued byPionir II (Yugoslav Navy). Three crewmen were killed.[70] Towed by local fishing boats to Šolta island and beached, later recovered, repaired and put into service in theCroatian Navy asŠolta.[71][72] |
| Rabunion XVIII |  Lebanon | The cargo ship collided withMadonna Lily (Philippines) under theFatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge,Istanbul, Turkey, and sank.[73] |
| Voroshilovgrad |  Soviet Union | Croatian War of Independence,Battle of Vukovar: Thepusher tug was hit by artillery rounds on the bridge and was heavily damaged while sailing on theDanube nearVukovar. The tow of barges ran aground when the tug lost steering. Two sailors were killed and three other wounded.[64] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Iž | Yugoslav Navy | Croatian War of Independence,Battle of the Dalmatian channels: The patrol boat was hit and crippled by coastal batteries manned by Croatian navy personnel and stranded at Torac Bay,Hvar Island. the vessel was captured by the Croatians.[72] |
| Olib | Yugoslav Navy | Croatian War of Independence,Battle of the Dalmatian channels: The patrol boat was hit and sunk offŠćedro island by coastal batteries manned by Croatian navy personnel.[72] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Ami |  United States | TheEmpire F type coaster was beached atSeal Island,Nova Scotia, Canada. She was declared a constructive total loss. |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| USS Algol | United States Navy | The decommissionedAndromeda-classattack cargo ship was sunk in theAtlantic Ocean off the coast ofNew Jersey to form part of theShark Riverartificial reef. |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ross Revenge |  Netherlands | Thepirate radio ship ran aground on theGoodwin Sands,Kent, United Kingdom. All on board were rescued by aRoyal Navy Helicopter. She was refloated the next day and subsequently returned to service. |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Easy Rider | United States | The 31-foot (9.4 m)shrimp-fishing vessel burned to thewaterline and sank inStrawberry Channel (60°24′38″N146°04′31″W / 60.4106°N 146.0753°W /60.4106; -146.0753 (Strawberry Channel)) offRugged Island (60°24′N146°03′W / 60.400°N 146.050°W /60.400; -146.050 (Rugged Island)) on thesouth-central coast ofAlaska.[57] |
| Kilkenny |  Ireland | Thecontainer ship collided with themotor vesselHasselwerder ( Germany) inDublin Bay and sank with the loss of three of her 14 crew.[74] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Harvey G | United States | The 94-foot (28.7 m)crab-fishing vessel sank in bad weather in theBering Sea approximately 100 nautical miles (190 km; 120 mi) north ofCold Bay,Alaska, with the loss of her entire crew of four.[75] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Chatham | United States | While hauled out on the beach inSoutheast Alaska for winter maintenance, the 82-foot (25.0 m)fishing vessel was destroyed by fire.[33] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Port King | United Kingdom | The 171-foot (52 m), 741-ton trawler sank 30 nautical miles (56 km) offCies Island,Vigo Bay, Spain.[76] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Roditelj | Croatia | Croatian War of Independence,Siege of Dubrovnik: The sailing vessel was shelled by Yugoslav navy vessels and ground artillery atDubrovnik and sank at Dubrovnik between 9–12 November. Raised and scrapped.[77] |
| Sveti Vlaho | Croatia | Croatian War of Independence,Siege of Dubrovnik: Therunabout/blockade runner ran aground 2 miles (3.2 km) north ofDubrovnik while being pursued by a Yugoslav patrol boat sometime in November (or possibly early December). Refloated and returned to service.[72] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Al Awda |  Palestine | The ferry sank in Yugoslavian waters.[78] |
| Sveti Vlaho | Croatia | Croatian War of Independence,Siege of Dubrovnik: Therunabout/blockade runner was sunk by a Yugoslav9K11 Malyutka missile atGruž, north ofDubrovnik. She was raised in 2001 and is currently preserved as a monument.[79] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | United States | The retired 100-foot (30.5 m)fishing trawler andclamdredger wasscuttled as anartificial reef in theNorth Atlantic Ocean offCape May,New Jersey, at38°52.976′N074°40.620′W / 38.882933°N 74.677000°W /38.882933; -74.677000 (Wyoming).[80] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Peter H | United States | During a voyage fromHomer toSeldovia,Alaska, the 36.6-foot (11.2 m)harbor tug broke up and sank inKachemak Bay on the coast ofSouthcentral Alaska nearHesketh Island (59°30′26″N151°30′51″W / 59.50722°N 151.51417°W /59.50722; -151.51417 (Hesketh Island)) andBarbara Point. The man and woman on board both died.[81] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Independencia | Unknown | The vessel sprung a leak and sank in the Pacific Ocean. The crew was rescued by a freighter the next day.[82] |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Churruca | Spanish Navy | The decommissionedGearing-classdestroyer was sunk as a target. |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Salem Express |  Egypt |  |
| Ship | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Antoxo | Spain | The 94.25-foot (28.73 m), 153-ton trawler was wrecked sometime in 1991.[83] |
| HMS Arethusa |  Royal Navy | The decommissionedLeander-classfrigate was sunk as a target. |
| Attica | Iraqi Navy | First Gulf War,Operation Desert Storm:Battle of Bubiyan: The Project 773K-classlanding ship was sunk by British aircraft between 29 January and 4 February.[84] |
| Idene | United States | The 120-foot (37 m)fishingdragger wasscuttled in 85 feet (26 m) of water in theAtlantic Ocean off the coast ofRhode Island 4 nautical miles (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) south ofBlock Island to form anartificial reef.[85] |
| Mr. J | United States | Thecrabprocessor – a formerPCE-842-classpatrol craft and auxiliaryminelayer – was towed out into thePacific Ocean andscuttled sometime in the 1990s.[86] |
| Nouh | Iraqi Navy | First Gulf War,Operation Desert Storm:Battle of Bubiyan: The Project 773K-classlanding ship was sunk by British aircraft between 29 January and 4 February.[84] |
| No. 223 | Iraqi Navy | First Gulf War,Operation Desert Storm:Battle of Bubiyan: The Project 368-classpatrol boat was sunk by Coalition aircraft between 29 January and 4 February.[84] |
| No. 224 | Iraqi Navy | First Gulf War,Operation Desert Storm:Battle of Bubiyan: The Project 368-classpatrol boat was sunk by Coalition aircraft between 29 January and 4 February.[87] |
| No. 225 | Iraqi Navy | First Gulf War,Operation Desert Storm:Battle of Bubiyan: The Project 376-class patrol boat was sunk by Coalition aircraft between 29 January and 4 February.[84] |
| No. 226 | Iraqi Navy | First Gulf War,Operation Desert Storm:Battle of Bubiyan: The Project 376-classpatrol boat was sunk by Coalition aircraft between 29 January and 4 February.[84] |
| No. 227 | Iraqi Navy | First Gulf War,Operation Desert Storm:Battle of Bubiyan: The Project 376-classpatrol boat was sunk by Coalition aircraft between 29 January and 4 February.[84] |
| No. 301 | Iraqi Navy | First Gulf War,Operation Desert Storm:Battle of Bubiyan: The Project 201M-classsubmarine chasers was sunk by coalition aircraft between 29 January and 4 February.[84] |
| No. 311 | Iraqi Navy | First Gulf War,Operation Desert Storm:Battle of Bubiyan: The Project 201M-classsubmarine chasers was sunk by coalition aircraft between 29 January and 4 February.[84] |
| No. 312 | Iraqi Navy | First Gulf War,Operation Desert Storm:Battle of Bubiyan: The Project 201M-classsubmarine chasers was sunk by coalition aircraft between 29 January and 4 February.[84] |
| Three unidentified missile boats | Iraqi Navy | First Gulf War,Operation Desert Storm:Battle of Bubiyan: Three Lurrsen Type 45missile boats were sunk by British aircraft between 29 January and 4 February.[84] |
| Two unidentified patrol boats | Iraqi Navy | First Gulf War,Operation Desert Storm:Battle of Bubiyan: Two 1400Epatrol boats were sunk by British aircraft between 29 January and 4 February.[84] |
| Unidentified minesweeper/minelayer | Iraqi Navy | First Gulf War,Operation Desert Storm:Battle of Bubiyan: A Project 254minesweeper/minelayer was sunk by British aircraft between 29 January and 4 February.[84] |
| Two unidentified salvage ships | Iraqi Navy | First Gulf War,Operation Desert Storm:Battle of Bubiyan: Two Project 368salvage ships were sunk by British aircraft between 29 January and 4 February.[84] |
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1991 | |
|---|---|
| Shipwrecks |
|
| Other incidents |
|
