The sinking of the SS El Faro in 2015 was a devastating maritime disaster that occurred during Hurricane Joaquin. The American cargo ship, owned by TOTE Maritime, was en route from Jacksonville, Florida, to San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it encountered the powerful hurricane, leading to a distress call reporting a hull breach and severe listing. All 33 crew members tragically lost their lives, prompting investigations that revealed a combination of factors, including decisions made by the captain and maintenance issues, contributing to the disaster.
Category: Found Shipwrecks
The Lost Franklin Expedition
The Franklin Expedition of 1845 was a British voyage led by Sir John Franklin in an attempt to navigate the Northwest Passage. The fate of the expedition remained a mystery for over 150 years until the wrecks of the Erebus and Terror were discovered in 2014 and 2016 respectively.
The RMS Republic
The luxury ocean liner RMS Republic of the White Star Line sank in 1909 after being struck by the SS Florida.
Blackbeard and Queen Anne’s Revenge
Blackbeard, whose real name was thought to be Edward Teach or Thatch, was a notorious English pirate who terrorized the American colonies and the West Indies during the early 18th century, known for his fearsome appearance and ruthless tactics.
The Ancient Uluburun Shipwreck
The Uluburun shipwreck dates from the Late Bronze Age, circa 1300 BCE. It went down off the southern coast of Anatolia, or modern day Türkiye, and was found in 1982 by a sponge diver. Dr. Eric Cline, author of 1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed, joins me for an in-depth interview about Bronze Age civilizations in the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Near East Asia, and the ship that was taking part in a vast trade network between them.
The Wrecks of the U-53
The German U-Boat U-53 and Captain Hans Rose wreaked havoc on Allied shipping in October of 1916, after having a friendly visit to Newport Harbor, Rhode Island.
The Ship of Gold
The English merchant vessel, Merchant Royal, is called the “Ship of Gold” and the “El Dorado of the Sea.” She went down in 1641 with a vast fortune of gold and silver.
The Pourquoi Pas
On September 16, 1936, the three masted French barque Pourquoi Pas was sunk off the southwest coast of Iceland near Álftanes. The ship was built in 1908 at Saint-Malo for an Antarctic expedition led by Jean-Baptiste Charcot. The impressive ship was sturdy…
The S.S. Carnatic
On September 14th, 1869, the British passenger and cargo ship S.S. Carnatic sank in the Red Sea off the east coast of Egypt. She was traveling from Alexandria to Bombay carrying 34 passengers and 176 crew, along with cargo of copper, cotton, …
The Ship of Gold
On September 12th, 1857, the SS Central America sank in the waters off Charleston, SC after being caught in a vicious hurricane. The ship had been battered, its sails torn, and its boilers flooded before finally sinking to the bottom, 8000 ft below. It has been called the “The Ship of Gold” because it was…