List of shipwrecks of Africa

This is a list of shipwrecks located in or around the continent of Africa.

The shipwreck of HMS Birkenhead, near Cape Town, South Africa, 1852.

East Africa

Eritrea

ShipFlagSunk dateNotesCoordinates
Black Assarca shipwreckUnknownEarly 7th century (Presumed)A wreck discovered at Black Assarca Island in 1995. It was excavated in 1997, and found to hold a cargo of amphoras.

Kenya

ShipFlagSunk dateNotesCoordinates
Globe Star  Singapore27 April 1973A cargo ship that ran aground off Mombasa.[1]4°04′54″S 39°43′12″E / 4.0818°S 39.72°E / -4.0818; 39.72 (Globe Star (ship))
Gulland  Aden13 April 1951A 545-ton Isles-class trawler built for World War II. It ran aground three miles (4.8 km) north of Mombasa.04°02′50″S 39°43′57″E / 4.04722°S 39.73250°E / -4.04722; 39.73250 (HMS Gulland (T239))
Mtongwe  Tanzania27 April 1994A Likoni and Mombasa route ferry that capsized due to overcrowding off Kilindini Harbour. 270 people lost their lives.[2]

Mozambique

ShipFlagSunk dateNotesCoordinates
Katina P  Greece26 April 1992An oil tanker that was damaged in a storm, spilling several thousand tonnes of oil.25°35′S 32°59′E / 25.583°S 32.983°E / -25.583; 32.983 (Katina P)
Sunny South  Royal Navy20 February 1861An American-built extreme clipper sold to Havana and put to work in the slave trade. It was captured by the Royal Navy and used as a store ship, before striking a reef and sinking at Mayotte.13°02′53″S 45°11′42″E / 13.048°S 45.195°E / -13.048; 45.195 (Sunny South (clipper))

Somalia

ShipFlagSunk dateNotesCoordinates
Achille Lauro  Italy2 December 1994A cruise ship that was hijacked in 1985 by the Palestine Liberation Front. It ultimately sank nine years later, after an explosion in the engine room started a fire that engulfed the ship.2°N 47°E / 2°N 47°E / 2; 47 (MS Achille Lauro)
U-852  Kriegsmarine3 May 1944A Type IXD2 U-boat that was attacked by British aircraft and run aground near Bayla.9°32′N 50°59′E / 9.533°N 50.983°E / 9.533; 50.983 (German submarine U-852)

Tanzania

ShipFlagSunk dateNotesCoordinates
SMS Königsberg  Imperial German Navy11 July 1915A Königsberg-class light cruiser that was sunk in the Rufiji River.[1][3]7°52′6″S 39°14′24″E / 7.86833°S 39.24000°E / -7.86833; 39.24000 (SMS Königsberg (1905))
HMS Pegasus  Royal Navy20 September 1914A Pelorus-class protected cruiser that was sunk at Zanzibar by SMS Königsberg.[1][3]6°8′54″S 39°11′36″E / 6.14833°S 39.19333°E / -6.14833; 39.19333 (HMS Pegasus (1897))
Spice Islander I  Tanzania10 September 2011A RORO ferry that sank between Unguja and Pemba Island, with the loss of at least 200 lives.5°39′23″S 39°28′27″E / 5.65639°S 39.47417°E / -5.65639; 39.47417 (MV Spice Islander I)

Lake Victoria

ShipFlagSunk dateNotesCoordinates
Bukoba  Tanzania21 May 1996A Lake Victoria ferry that sank off Mwanza with over 200 confirmed dead.1°59′2″S 32°19′7″E / 1.98389°S 32.31861°E / -1.98389; 32.31861 (MV Bukoba)
Kabalega  Uganda8 May 2005A train ferry that collided with Kaawa near the Ssese Islands.0°39′23″S 32°8′41″E / 0.65639°S 32.14472°E / -0.65639; 32.14472 (MV Kabalega)

Lake Albert

ShipFlagSunk dateNotesCoordinates
Robert Coryndon The Protectorate of Uganda1962A British ferry named after Robert Coryndon, Governor of Uganda (1918–1922).

Madagascar

ShipFlagSunk dateNotesCoordinates
Adventure Galley EnglandApril 1698A galley that was captained by William Kidd, who ordered it burnt at Île Sainte-Marie.
HMS Serapis  Royal NavyJuly 1781A Roebuck-class fifth rate that caught fire and sank off Île Sainte-Marie.17°00′09″S 49°50′31″E / 17.00250°S 49.84194°E / -17.00250; 49.84194 (HMS Serapis (1779))

North Africa

Algeria

ShipFlagSunk dateNotesCoordinates
HMS Algerine  Royal Navy15 November 1942An Algerine-class minesweeper that was torpedoed by the Italian submarine Ascianghi off Béjaïa.36°45′N 05°11′E / 36.750°N 5.183°E / 36.750; 5.183 (HMS Algerine (J213))
City of Venice  Royal Navy4 July 1943A troopship that was torpedoed by the German submarine U-375.36°44′N 1°31′E / 36.733°N 1.517°E / 36.733; 1.517 (SS City of Venice)
HMS Ibis  Royal Navy10 November 1942A Black Swan-class sloop that was sunk by an Italian aircraft north of Algiers.37°0′N 3°0′E / 37.000°N 3.000°E / 37.000; 3.000 (HMS Ibis (U99))
HMS Karanja  Royal Navy12 November 1942Troop carrier (infantry), former BI cargo liner. Sunk by German aircraft off Bougie (Béjaïa).
USS Leedstown  United States Navy9 November 1942A troopship that was sunk by the German submarine U-331 off Algiers.36°49′13″N 3°9′55″E / 36.82028°N 3.16528°E / 36.82028; 3.16528 (USS Leedstown (AP-73))
HMCS Louisburg  Royal Canadian Navy6 February 1943A Flower-class corvette that was sunk by German aircraft near Mostaganem.36°15′N 00°15′E / 36.250°N 0.250°E / 36.250; 0.250 (HMCS Louisburg (K143))
HMT Narkunda  Royal Navy14 November 1942British P&O requisitioned troopship bombed and sunk by German aircraft. Sister ship Naldera. Located off Bougie (Béjaïa), Algeria, passing Cape Carbon.36°52′N 05°01′E / 36.867°N 5.017°E / 36.867; 5.017 (HMT Narkunda)
HMT Rohna  Royal Navy26 November 1943A British troop carrier sunk north of Béjaïa in an air attack during World War II.[4][5]37°1′12″N 5°12′6″E / 37.02000°N 5.20167°E / 37.02000; 5.20167 (HMT Rohna)
HMS Samphire  Royal Navy30 January 1943A Flower-class corvette that was torpedoed by an Italian submarine off Béjaïa.36°56′0″N 5°40′0″E / 36.93333°N 5.66667°E / 36.93333; 5.66667 (HMS Samphire (K128))
Strathallen  Royal Navy22 December 1942A Strath-class liner that was being used as a troop transport was sunk by a German submarine off the coast of Algeria.

Egypt

ShipFlagSunk dateNotesCoordinates
HMS Attack  Royal Navy30 December 1917An Acheron-class destroyer that was sunk northwest of Alexandria.31°18′N 29°49′E / 31.300°N 29.817°E / 31.300; 29.817 (HMS Attack (1911))
HMS Defender  Royal Navy11 July 1941A D-class destroyer that was attacked by a German bomber and sank under tow off Sidi Barrani.31°45′N 25°31′E / 31.750°N 25.517°E / 31.750; 25.517 (HMS Defender (H07))
L'Orient  French Navy1 August 1798An Océan-class ship of the line and Napoleon's flagship, destroyed by fire and explosion in Aboukir Bay during the Battle of the Nile.
HMS Myngs  Royal Navy16 May 1970A Z-class destroyer that was sunk by Israeli aircraft in Foul Bay.
Salem Express  France14–15 December 1991A roll-on/roll-off passenger ferry that ran aground at midnight on a reef near Safaga, sinking rapidly with the loss of at least 464 civilians.26°38′22″N 34°3′39″E / 26.63944°N 34.06083°E / 26.63944; 34.06083 (MV Salem Express(1991))
HMS Salvia  Royal Navy24 December 1941A Flower-class corvette that was torpedoed by U-568 about 100 nautical miles (190 km; 120 mi) west of Alexandria.31°28′N 28°00′E / 31.46°N 28.00°E / 31.46; 28.00 (HMS Salvia (K97))
Yolanda (Jolanda)  CyprusApril 1980A cargo ship that ran aground on a reef at Ras Muhammad.

Libya

ShipFlagSunk dateNotesCoordinates
HMS Dainty  Royal Navy24 February 1941A D-class destroyer that was sunk by German bombers east of Tobruk.32°4′24″N 24°4′42″E / 32.07333°N 24.07833°E / 32.07333; 24.07833 (HMS Dainty (H53))
HMS Ladybird  Royal Navy12 May 1941An Insect-class gunboat that was sunk by German dive bombers at Tobruk.32°4′33″N 23°58′21″E / 32.07583°N 23.97250°E / 32.07583; 23.97250 (HMS Ladybird (1916))
Shuntien  Royal Navy23 December 1941A passenger and cargo liner that was torpedoed by the German submarine U-559 east of Tobruk.32°04′N 24°28′E / 32.06°N 24.46°E / 32.06; 24.46 (SS Shuntien (1934))
HMS Sikh  Royal Navy14 September 1942A Tribal-class destroyer that was sunk by shore batteries off Tobruk.32°5′52″N 24°0′0″E / 32.09778°N 24.00000°E / 32.09778; 24.00000 (HMS Sikh (F82))
HMS Terror  Royal Navy23 February 1941An Erebus-class monitor that was attacked by German aircraft and sank under tow off Derna.32°59′N 22°32′E / 32.983°N 22.533°E / 32.983; 22.533 (HMS Terror (I03))
U-652  Kriegsmarine2 June 1942A Type VIIC U-boat that was attacked by a British aircraft and scuttled north of Bardia.31°55′N 25°11′E / 31.917°N 25.183°E / 31.917; 25.183 (German submarine U-652)
Yoma  Royal Navy17 June 1941A troopship that was torpedoed by the German submarine U-81 northwest of Derna.33°02′N 22°02′E / 33.03°N 22.04°E / 33.03; 22.04 (SS Yoma)

Morocco/Western Sahara

ShipFlagSunk dateNotesCoordinates
Commerce  United States1815An American merchant ship that ran aground off Cape Bojador in what is now the Western Sahara. The surviving crew, led by Captain James Riley, were subsequently captured and taken as slaves by local tribes.[6]
Delhi  United Kingdom12 December 1911A steamship that ran aground in heavy fog. The Duke of Fife was rescued from the sinking ship, but contracted pleurisy and died soon afterward.
Empire Barracuda  United Kingdom15 December 1942A cargo ship that was torpedoed by the U-77 off Morocco.35°30′N 06°17′W / 35.500°N 6.283°W / 35.500; -6.283 (SS Empire Barracuda)
USS Hugh L. Scott  United States Navy12 November 1942A Hugh L. Scott-class troopship that was torpedoed by U-130 off Casablanca.33°40′N 7°35′W / 33.667°N 7.583°W / 33.667; -7.583 (USS Hugh L. Scott (AP-43))
HMS Lady Shirley  Royal Navy11 December 1941A warship that was torpedoed by U-374 in the Straits of Gibraltar.35°59′N 5°17′W / 35.983°N 5.283°W / 35.983; -5.283 (HMS Lady Shirley)
USS Tasker H. Bliss  United States Navy13 November 1942A Tasker H. Bliss-class troopship that was sunk by U-130 off Casablanca.33°40′N 7°35′W / 33.667°N 7.583°W / 33.667; -7.583 (USS Tasker H. Bliss (AP-42))
Taube  Germany20 January 2009The sailing yacht Taube, sailing for the (since abandoned) cultural exploration project Migrobirdo, capsized in heavy swell on the approach to the port of Mehdya on the Sebou River. Six youths of different nationalities drowned, while one German female survived. An investigation concluded that several factors contributed to the accident, including an untrained skipper, an inexperienced crew, overloading, and the absence of a clear line of command.[7]34°16′N 06°41′W / 34.267°N 6.683°W / 34.267; -6.683 (SY Taube)
U-173  Kriegsmarine16 November 1942A Type IXC U-boat that was sunk by American destroyers off Casablanca.33°40′N 07°35′W / 33.667°N 7.583°W / 33.667; -7.583 (German submarine U-173)
U-204  Kriegsmarine19 October 1941A Type VIIC U-boat that was sunk by HMS Mallow and HMS Rochester near Tangier.35°46′N 06°02′W / 35.767°N 6.033°W / 35.767; -6.033 (German submarine U-204)
U-731  Kriegsmarine15 May 1944A Type VIIC U-boat that was sunk by British ships north of Tangier.35°54′N 5°45′W / 35.900°N 5.750°W / 35.900; -5.750 (German submarine U-731)
U-732  Kriegsmarine31 October 1943A Type VIIC U-boat that came under attack from British forces and was scuttled north of Tangier.35°54′N 05°52′W / 35.900°N 5.867°W / 35.900; -5.867 (German submarine U-732)

Tunisia

ShipFlagSunk dateNotesCoordinates
HMS Havock  Royal Navy6 April 1942A H-class destroyer that ran aground off Kelibia.36°52′18″N 11°8′24″E / 36.87167°N 11.14000°E / 36.87167; 11.14000 (HMS Havock (H43))
HMS Hostile  Royal Navy23 August 1940A H-class destroyer that struck a mine and was scuttled off Cap Bon.36°53′00″N 11°19′00″E / 36.8833°N 11.3167°E / 36.8833; 11.3167 (HMS Hostile (H55))
MahdiaUnknownUnknownAn ancient shipwreck discovered near Mahdia in 1907. It is thought to date from around 80 BC.[8]35°31′55″N 8°47′15″E / 35.53194°N 8.78750°E / 35.53194; 8.78750 (Mahdia shipwreck)
HMS Manchester  Royal Navy13 August 1942A Town-class light cruiser that was sunk during Operation Pedestal.36°50′0″N 11°10′0″E / 36.83333°N 11.16667°E / 36.83333; 11.16667 (HMS Manchester (15))
USS PC-496  United States Navy4 June 1943A PC-461-class submarine chaser that sank off Bizerte.37°23′0″N 9°52′0″E / 37.38333°N 9.86667°E / 37.38333; 9.86667 (USS PC-496)
USS Redwing  United States Navy29 June 1943A Lapwing-class minesweeper that capsized off Bizerte.37°19′N 9°56′E / 37.317°N 9.933°E / 37.317; 9.933 (USS Redwing (AM-48))

Southern Africa

Malawi

ShipFlagSunk dateNotesCoordinates
Vipya  Nyasaland30 July 1946A Malawian ship owned by the Nyasaland Railway Company that set sail from Monkey Bay to Chilumba in Karonga, Malawi in 1946. It capsized en route with the loss of the entire crew.

Namibia

ShipFlagSunk dateNotesCoordinates
Bom Jesus  PortugalA Portuguese nau that set sail from Lisbon in 1533. It was discovered in 2008 on the coast near Oranjemund.[9]
Dunedin Star  United Kingdom29 November 1942A refrigerator ship that ran aground on the Skeleton Coast, 80 kilometres (50 mi) south of the Cunene River.[10]18°08′S 11°33′E / 18.13°S 11.55°E / -18.13; 11.55 (MV Dunedin Star)
Eduard Bohlen  Germany5 September 1909
A freighter that ran aground south of Conception Bay.[11][12]
23°59′43″S 14°27′26″E / 23.99528°S 14.45722°E / -23.99528; 14.45722 (Eduard Bohlen)
FrotamericaUnknown15 February 2013
The cargo ship ran aground at Lüderitz, Namibia.[13]
26°22′12″S 15°02′25″E / 26.37000°S 15.04028°E / -26.37000; 15.04028 (Frotamerica)
Natal Coast  South Africa1955A Durban steamer that ran aground on a sandbank in dense fog, about 18 kilometres (11 mi) north of Swakopmund. The crew were unharmed and were able to get off the ship once the area's coast guard arrived and allowed everyone off.
OtaviUnknown1945
A steamer that ran aground in Spencer Bay.
25°43′56.4″S 014°50′00.2″E / 25.732333°S 14.833389°E / -25.732333; 14.833389
ZeilaUnknown25 August 2008
The ship ran aground 14 km south of Henties Bay, Namibia.[14]
22°14′28″S 14°21′13″E / 22.24111°S 14.35361°E / -22.24111; 14.35361 (Zeila)

South Africa

Eastern Cape

ShipFlagSunk dateNotesCoordinates
Bredenhof  Dutch East India Company6 June 1753A Dutch East Indiaman carrying copper duits, silver bars, and gold ducats, which hit a reef twenty-one kilometres (13 mi) from the eastern coast of Africa and 190 kilometres (120 mi) south of the Portuguese settlement of Mozambique. The wreck was discovered in 1986.[15]
CordiglieraUnknown16 November 1996After placing a distress call to Durban Radio at 10:30 pm requesting immediate assistance due to a leak in a hold, the freighter sank off Port St Johns, South Africa, with the loss of all 23 lives.[16]
Doddington  East India Company17 July 1755An East Indiaman that was wrecked at Bird Island in Algoa Bay.[17]33°50.06′S 26°17.40′E / 33.83433°S 26.29000°E / -33.83433; 26.29000 (Doddington (ship))
Grosvenor  East India Company4 August 1782An East Indiaman that was wrecked off the Pondoland coast.[18]31°22′26″S 29°54′53″E / 31.37389°S 29.91472°E / -31.37389; 29.91472 (Wreck of the Grosvenor)
Kapodistrias  Greece1985A Greek bulk carrier wrecked at Cape Recife near Port Elizabeth34°02′32″S 25°41′36″E / 34.042167°S 25.693317°E / -34.042167; 25.693317 (Kapodistrias)
KiperousaUnknown2005A bulk carrier that was stranded northeast of Port Alfred.[19]33°20′S 27°25′E / 33.333°S 27.417°E / -33.333; 27.417 (Kiperousa)
Meng YawUnknownA fishing trawler that sank near St Francis Bay.34°10′S 24°30′E / 34.167°S 24.500°E / -34.167; 24.500 (Meng Yaw)
Oceanos  Greece4 August 1991A cruise liner that sank off the Transkei coast, after leaving East London en route to Durban.[20]32°07′15″S 29°07′13″E / 32.12093°S 29.12029°E / -32.12093; 29.12029 (MTS Oceanos)
Santissimo Sacramento  Portugal1647A Portuguese vessel wrecked at Sardinia Bay near Port Elizabeth34°02′35″S 25°31′13″E / 34.04300°S 25.52033°E / -34.04300; 25.52033 (Santissimo Sacramento)
Shalom  Bahamas26 July 2001A combined ocean liner/cruise ship that sank off Cape St. Francis while under tow to be scrapped.
TMP SagittariusUnknownJuly 2002Stranded southwest of East London.[21]33°4′S 27°51′E / 33.067°S 27.850°E / -33.067; 27.850 (TMP Saggittarius)

Natal

ShipFlagSunk dateNotesCoordinates
HMS Otus  Royal NavySeptember 1946An Odin-class submarine that was scuttled off Durban.29°52′21″S 31°05′39″E / 29.87250°S 31.09417°E / -29.87250; 31.09417 (HMS Otus (N92))
Phoenix  Equatorial GuineaSeptember 2011A tanker that ran aground near Ballito on 26 July 2011, and was then refloated and scuttled offshore.
Volo  Norway6 March 1886A barque that was stranded in the Bushman River.

Western Cape

ShipFlagSunk dateNotesCoordinates
A.H. StevensUnknown7 February 1962Stranded in Shell Bay on Robben Island.
Arniston  East India Company30 May 1815A British East Indiaman, requisitioned for troop transport, wrecked near Waenhuiskrans.[22]34°39′36″S 20°15′7″E / 34.66000°S 20.25194°E / -34.66000; 20.25194 (Arniston (ship))
HMS Birkenhead  Royal Navy26 February 1852A British iron-hulled troopship that struck a submerged rock near Gansbaai. The chivalry of the soldiers in abandoning ship gave rise to the "women and children first" protocol.[23]34°38′42″S 19°17′9″E / 34.64500°S 19.28583°E / -34.64500; 19.28583 (HMS Birkenhead (1852))
BOS 400  France26 June 1994A derrick/lay barge that ran aground on Duiker point after breaking loose while being towed around the Cape Peninsula by the tug Tigr in a storm.[24]34°2′13.28″S 18°18′31.18″E / 34.0370222°S 18.3086611°E / -34.0370222; 18.3086611 (BOS 400 (ship))
British Peer  United Kingdom8 December 1896A three-masted iron sailing ship that ran aground near the Cape of Good Hope.[25]33°30.4′S 18°18.70′E / 33.5067°S 18.31167°E / -33.5067; 18.31167 (British Peer (ship))
Cospatrick  United Kingdom17 November 1874A wooden 3-masted full-rigged sailing ship that caught fire and sank south of the Cape of Good Hope, with a loss of 369 lives.[26]37°S 12°E / 37°S 12°E / -37; 12 (Cospatrick (ship))
HMS Guardian  Royal Navy24 December 1789A 44-gun Roebuck-class ship laid down in 1780. Severely damaged by an iceberg, the ship was sailed 400 leagues (1,900 km) to the Cape of Good Hope, where it was intentionally grounded.[27]
Ikan Tanda  Singapore2001A cargo ship that ran aground near Cape Town, and was re-floated and scuttled 320 kilometres (200 mi) from shore.[28]
Joanna  East India Company8 June 1682An East Indiaman (the first to be wrecked off the South African coast) that sank near Cape Agulhas. A considerable amount of gold was on the ship.[29]34°46′58″S 19°40′46″E / 34.78278°S 19.67944°E / -34.78278; 19.67944 (Joanna (ship))
Johanna Wagner  Prussia15 July 1862A Prussian barque that ran ashore due to navigational error near Muizenberg.[30]
Kakapo  United Kingdom25 May 1900
A British 665-ton schooner-rigged steamship built in 1898 by the Grangemouth Dockyard Company
34°07′26″S 18°20′56″E / 34.12389°S 18.34889°E / -34.12389; 18.34889 (SS Kakapo)
Maori  United Kingdom5 August 1909A Shaw Savill Line steamship that was wrecked near Llandudno, Cape Town.[31]
Meisho Maru No. 38  Japan1982
A fishing trawler that sank near Cape Aghulas.
34°49′S 19°59′E / 34.817°S 19.983°E / -34.817; 19.983 (Meisho Maru No. 38)
NollothUnknownUnknownA coastal trading vessel that sunk near Olifantsbos Bay.34°16′S 18°23′E / 34.267°S 18.383°E / -34.267; 18.383 (Nolloth)
Pantalis A LemosUnknown1978A bulk carrier that sank near Saldanha Bay.33°9′S 18°1′E / 33.150°S 18.017°E / -33.150; 18.017 (Pantalis A Lemos)
HMS Pelorus  Royal Navy12 November 1994A British Algerine-class minesweeper built in 1943. It was renamed SAS Pietermarizburg in 1947, and at the end of its career was scuttled to make an artificial reef at Miller's Point near Simon's Town.[32]
Phoenix  East India Company19 July 1829A merchant vessel that was wrecked near Simon's Town.34°11.388′S 18°26.898′E / 34.189800°S 18.448300°E / -34.189800; 18.448300 (Phoenix (1810 ship))
SAS President Kruger South African Navy18 February 1982A South African frigate that sank in deep water after a collision with its refueling ship, SAS Tafelberg.[33]35°15′S 17°21′E / 35.250°S 17.350°E / -35.250; 17.350 (SAS President Kruger (F150))
São José Paquete Africa  Portugal27 December 1794A Portuguese slave ship that was wrecked on the rocks off Cape Town, resulting in the deaths of over 200 slaves. The wreck was rediscovered in the 1980s, but was not identified until 2015.
HMS Sceptre  Royal Navy5 November 1799A 64-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy that was blown ashore in Table Bay by a gale, with heavy losses.[34]33°55′12″S 18°27′0″E / 33.92000°S 18.45000°E / -33.92000; 18.45000 (HMS Sceptre (1781))
Seli 1  Turkey18 September 2009A Turkish bulk carrier carrying coal that ran aground on Bloubergstrand near Table Bay.33°49′15.75″S 18°28′24.58″E / 33.8210417°S 18.4734944°E / -33.8210417; 18.4734944 (Seli 1)
Staaten Generaal  Batavian Republic1806A Dutch ship of the line that was scuttled near Simon's Town to prevent her falling into enemy hands following the Battle of Blaauwberg.
HMS Thames  Royal Navy13 May 1947A former Mersey-class protected cruiser that became famous as SATS General Botha, a merchant naval training ship. After retiring as a training ship, it reverted to its original name and was sunk in False Bay near Simon's Town as a target.[35]34°13′48″S 18°37′48″E / 34.23000°S 18.63000°E / -34.23000; 18.63000 (HMS Thames (1885))
Thomas T. Tucker  United States27 November 1942A Houston-built munitions carrier that ran ashore on Oliphantsbos Point, near Cape Point.[36]34°16′23.66″S 18°22′48.33″E / 34.2732389°S 18.3800917°E / -34.2732389; 18.3800917 (SS Thomas T. Tucker)
Treasure  Panama23 June 2000A bulk ore carrier that developed a hole in its hull and sank under tow northwest of Cape Town, causing an oil spill that killed around 2,000 endangered African penguins.33°40.30′S 18°19.90′E / 33.67167°S 18.33167°E / -33.67167; 18.33167 (MV Treasure oil spill)
Wafra  Liberia28 February 1971An oil tanker that grounded near Cape Agulhas, causing an oil spill. The ship was later refloated, towed out to sea, and re-sunk to avoid further contamination of the coastline.36°57′S 20°42′E / 36.950°S 20.700°E / -36.950; 20.700 (SS Wafra)
Waterloo  United Kingdom28 August 1842A British convict ship that was driven ashore in Table Bay by a storm, together with the troop transport Abercrombie Robinson.

West Africa

ShipFlagSunk dateNotesCoordinates
Diemermeer  Dutch East India Company1747An East Indiaman that was wrecked off the Banana Islands, Sierra Leone. The wreck was rediscovered in 2014.
George  Nigeria1 April 1999A Nigerian and Port Harcourt to Nembe route ferry that capsized in rough sea off Port Harcourt. At least 100 people were killed.[37]
Hartwell  East India Company22 May 1787An East Indiaman that ran aground off Cape Verde following a mutiny.
Joola  Senegal26 September 2002A Senegalese passenger ship that capsized off the coast of the Gambia.[38]
Medusa  Kingdom of France2 July 1816A French passenger ship that sank near Bank of Arguin. The traumatic experience of the stranded passengers and crew was immortalized in Géricault's painting, The Raft of the Medusa.20°02′51″N 16°48′32″W / 20.0475°N 16.8090°W / 20.0475; -16.8090 (Medusa)
Primauguet  French Navy8 November 1942A French Duguay-Trouin-class light cruiser, laid down in 1923, that was sunk by gunfire from USS Massachusetts.
Tor Hugo  Norway27 November 1972A Norwegian patrol boat that served in World War II before being sold off to civilian ownership as a fishing vessel.
William D. Lawrence  CanadaA full-rigged ship that sank off Dakar.[39]

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