The largest ship to sink unintentionally, in terms of sheer size and deadweight tonnage, was likely the supertanker Seawise Giant (later renamed Happy Giant, Jahre Viking, Knock Nevis, Mont), though it sank multiple times and was intentionally scuttled during wartime before becoming a floating storage facility and ultimately breaking up, while among distinct incidents, the massive oil tanker MV Stellar Banner (300,660 DWT) ran aground in 2020 and was scuttled, and the MV Prestige (around 100,000 DWT) sank in 2002 after breaking apart in a storm, causing a major spill.
The largest sunken ship in history. Seawise Giant, which sank… and returned. The longest, the heaviest, the most powerful – the Seawise Giant is a legend of world shipping. This supertanker went through the turmoil of war and decades of service, becoming a symbol of the possibilities of 20th century marine engineering.
The Norman was a steel bulk freighter almost 300ft long that sank in just 3 minutes when it was struck by another ship that almost cut it in half. It now rests in 200ft of water. It sank in 1895!
The Soviet sinking of MV Wilhelm Gustloff in January 1945, one of the greatest maritime disasters in history. The Soviet sinking of MV Wilhelm Gustloff in January 1945, one of the greatest maritime disasters in history. Tour the Elbe Sandstone Mountains in Saxon Switzerland National Park, eastern Germany.
In size, the Titanic was, of course, larger and longer (but much slower) than the Lusitania. When it comes to accommodations, it's apples-and-oranges in comparison.
Cruise ships often omit a 13th deck due to triskaidekaphobia, the widespread superstition that the number 13 is unlucky, mirroring practices in land-based hotels and buildings to avoid upsetting superstitious passengers who might refuse to book rooms on that level. While some ships skip deck 13 entirely, others might have it but reserve it for non-passenger areas like crew spaces or sports facilities (like a sports deck) instead of cabins, ensuring revenue-generating rooms are on numbered decks.
The worst such accident—indeed, the deadliest civilian maritime disaster in history—occurred on December 20, 1987, when the passenger ferry MV Doña Paz collided with the oil tanker MT Vector in the Tablas Strait, roughly 110 miles (180 km) south of Manila.
Its remains are visible scarcely more than two feet below the surface. The America earned its place in “turn of the century” history as the principal transportation and communication link to Isle Royale as well as all of the remote North Shore settlements.
Yes, the Spanish galleon San José, sunk in 1708 off Colombia, is believed to hold a treasure of gold, silver, and emeralds valued as high as $17 billion (in today's money), often called the "holy grail of shipwrecks". While the wreck was located in 2015, recent expeditions in 2025 have recovered initial artifacts, confirming its identity and reigniting intense legal battles between Colombia, Spain, and others over ownership of the vast, pristine treasure.
A Night to Remember is a 1958 British historical disaster film, directed by Roy Ward Baker. It is adapted from the 1955 book by Walter Lord, about the sinking of the RMS Titanic on 15 April 1912, after it struck an iceberg on her maiden voyage.
The Titanic's final wireless messages, sent by operator Jack Phillips as the ship sank around 2:17 AM on April 15, 1912, became increasingly desperate, including "CQD CQD SOS" and fragmented pleas like "Come quick, old man, engine room filling up to boilers," and "We are all going down," before the signals ceased abruptly as the ship's power failed and water flooded the wireless room. The last understandable transmission was to the SS Virginian, with the final signals cutting off as the ship submerged.
In May 2025, the container ship MSC Elsa 3 sank off the Kerala coast, carrying around 600 containers. The accident caused significant environmental damage, including proven oil discharge into the sea, and impacted the livelihoods of local fishermen, prompting the Kerala government to seek compensation.
The Great Eastern, launched in 1858, was almost 700 feet long. The Titanic, launched 53 years later, was almost 900 feet long.
That year a consortium of salvagers based in Glasgow were able to stage a search for the wreck. Using an early echosounder, they located Lusitania, sitting at a depth of 95 metres (312 feet). The 1935 expedition sent one diver, named Jim Jarratt, down for a single dive to the wreck.
The wreck of the Titanic wasn't discovered until 1985, and in the years since, no trace of human remains has been found on or near it, most likely due to the sea's inhospitality to flesh and bones.
Largely due to the efforts of Kip Wagner, a marine treasure hunter, seven of the ships have been located but only a small percentage of the treasure has been recovered. The San Miguel, a Nao class vessel, has yet to be found and is believed to have separated from the fleet the day before the storm struck.
No, Captain Edward Smith's body was never recovered, and his final moments remain a mystery, though he perished in the sinking along with over 1500 others in April 1912; while some bodies were found in the immediate aftermath, none of the senior officers, including the Captain, were among the roughly 337 recovered remains.
Yes, a 7-year-old girl named Eva Hart survived the Titanic disaster, rescued with her mother in a lifeboat while her father perished, and later became one of the most vocal survivors, sharing vivid memories of the sinking and advocating for more lifeboats. Eva was a second-class passenger who recalled her mother's premonition and the terror of the ship going down, becoming a lasting voice from the tragedy until her death in 1996.
The number 13 evokes many superstitions. As you know, the number 13 is supposed to bring bad luck. In fact, some of our customers suffer from a phobia of the number 13, soberly named triskaidekaphobia.
👀 In Italian culture, the number 17 is considered unlucky. So, just like some lines skip Deck 13, Italian-owned MSC skips Deck 17. Next time you're onboard, check the elevators to see if you can spot it missing!
Especially on longer cruises, families in particular might desire more space. And having your own outdoor space for reading or relaxing while the kids nap inside, or for having an additional spot for snacking or playing games, feels especially decadent during your days at sea or even in port.