The cargo liner caught fire, exploded and sank in the Indian Ocean 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) off , Ceylon with the loss of four lives. Survivors were rescued by (France).[4][5]
6 January[]
List of shipwrecks: 6 January 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Fleurus
Norway
The cargo ship ran aground on West Falkland, Falkland Islands.[6] She was refloated on 18 January.[7]
United Kingdom
The cargo ship came ashore at Lade, Kent and broke her back.[8][9] She was abandoned as a total loss on 12 January.[10] The stern section was towed to Gravesend, Kent, arriving on 4 February.[11] The bow section arrived on 20 February.[12] She was subsequently repaired and returned to service.[13]
7 January[]
List of shipwrecks: 7 January 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Carl
Germany
The cargo ship collided with (Sweden) off Swinemünde, Pomerania and sank.[14]
United Kingdom
The tug collided with (United Kingdom) and sank in the River Tyne at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland with the loss of three crew.[14]
10 January[]
List of shipwrecks: 10 January 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Spain
The cargo ship foundered off Cape Peñas, Asturias.[6]
Germany
The cargo ship came ashore 16 nautical miles (30 km) south of Okha Port, India.[6] She was refloated on 15 January.[15]
12 January[]
List of shipwrecks: 12 January 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Germany
The auxiliary galeas was driven ashore at Arnager, Denmark. The crew were rescued.[16]
The cargo ship ran aground at Point Cloates, Western Australia whilst going to the aid of (Japan).[37] She was declared a total loss on 10 February and her crew were transferred to Chofuku Maru.[38]
Golden Rod
United States
The cargo ship ran aground at the mouth of the Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada. She was refloated the next day and returned to service.
The cargo ship collided with (Portugal) off Cuxhaven, Germany, and was beached.[36]
Julia
United Kingdom
The schooner was wrecked on the , Irish Sea with the loss of all five crew.[47][48]
Greece
The cargo ship collided with (France) off the (United Kingdom).[39] All 29 crew survived.[49]
21 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 21 February 1931
Ship
Country
Description
flag unknown
The dredger sank at Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands.[45]
22 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 22 February 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Germany
The cargo ship sank in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) north west of the (Netherlands). The crew survived.[50]
United States
The coaster came ashore 120 nautical miles (220 km) north of San Francisco, California and was wrecked. The crew were rescued.[51]
Germany
The cargo ship ran aground on the Lephari Rocks, Skiathos.[52] She was abandoned as a total loss on 16 March.[53]
24 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 24 February 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Sweden
The coaster ran aground in the Menai Strait at Caernarfon, United Kingdom.[47] She was refloated on 2 March.[54]
25 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 25 February 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Netherlands
The cargo ship ran aground north of Rønne, Denmark and was abandoned.[47]
United Kingdom
The cargo ship ran aground at Prawle Point, Devon.[55] All 49 crew were taken off by (United Kingdom) via breeches buoy or landed on shore using rocket apparatus.[56]
United Kingdom
The tug came ashore at , Glamorgan. The crew were rescued.[47]
United Kingdom
The cargo ship ran aground in the Black Sea east of the entrance to the Bosporus. She broke in two and sank. All 36 crew were rescued by (Norway).[47][57] She was refloated on 23 May.[58]
United Kingdom
The tanker ran aground in the Black Sea near the entrance to the Bosporus and was wrecked. All crew survived.[57] She was refloated on 6 May.[59]
26 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 26 February 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Germany
The cargo ship ran aground in the Black Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) east of the entrance to the Bosporus. She was refloated on 10 March.[60]
Turkey
The cargo ship was driven ashore at Şile.[61] She broke in two on 28 February and was abandoned as a total loss.[62]
27 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 27 February 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Italy
The coaster caught fire in the Mediterranean Sea 60 nautical miles (110 km) south of Capri, Italy (approximately 40°N14°E / 40°N 14°E / 40; 14) and was abandoned.[63]
28 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 28 February 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Spain
The coaster foundered off Cabo Peñas, Asturias with the loss of six of her seven crew. The survivor was rescued by (Spain).[64][65]
Polish Navy
The minesweeper was driven against the quayside at Gdynia, Pomeranian Voivodeship and sank.[64]
Unknown date[]
List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Germany
The cargo ship foundered in the North Sea following an onboard explosion. Twelve crew were rescued by the trawler Chikara (United Kingdom) and landed at Grimsby, Lincolnshire on 28 February.[66]
March[]
1 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 1 March 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The auxiliary three-masted schooner foundered 100 nautical miles (190 km) south east of the Ambrose Channel.[54]
The passenger ship was undergoing an annual refit at Yarrows in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, when water leaking into her hold caused her to list 45 degrees and sink alongside a pier in 26 feet (7.9 m) of water. She was refloated, repaired, and returned to service.[69]
The cargo ship ran aground on Kiushan Tao, China.[72] She was refloated on 11 June.[73]
8 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 8 March 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The coaster collided with (United Kingdom) in the North Sea off the (United Kingdom) and sank.[68][72] The seventeen crew were rescued by the pilot cutterJ. H. Fisher.[74]
9 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 9 March 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Latvia
The schooner ran aground on Salt Island Point, Holyhead, Anglesey, United Kingdom and was wrecked.[68]
The cargo liner caught fire in the Yangtze 80 nautical miles (150 km) upstream of Woosung. She was beached, but about 300 of the approximately 500 people were killed. (Chinese Navy) and (China) rescued 183 people between them.[75]Ta Chi was a total loss.[76]
13 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 13 March 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Netherlands
The coaster struck a submerged wreck in Kiel Bay and was beached.[76]
14 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 14 March 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United States
The tug collided with (United States) at New York and sank.[77]
The cargo ship ran aground on Hainan Bluff, China.[78] She was still aground on 28 March.[81]
17 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 17 March 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The coaster struck rocks at Bradda Head, Port Erin, Isle of Man and sank with the loss of nine of her eleven crew.[82][83]
19 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 19 March 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Norway
The cargoliner ran aground at , Norway, and sank with the loss of seven crew.[80]
Pet
United Kingdom
The schooner came ashore at Bruns Ness, Caithness. Her crew were rescued by lifeboat.[84]
20 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 20 March 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The schooner became trapped in ice off Horse Islands, Newfoundland. She was set on fire and abandoned by her crew, who were rescued by (United Kingdom).[85]
21 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 21 March 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Montclare
United Kingdom
The ocean liner ran aground on Little Cumbrae, Ayrshire. Approximately 300 passengers were taken off by the ship's lifeboats. She was refloated the next day.[86]
The cargo ship collided with the steamer (United Kingdom) in the English Channel off Dungeness, Kent, United Kingdom. Norma was towed to Dover and beached.[88][89]
23 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 23 March 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Greece
The cargo ship ran aground at Sigri, Lesbos.[90] She was refloated on 3 April.[91]
The cargo ship struck rocks at Hong Kong and was beached.[100]
April[]
2 April[]
List of shipwrecks: 2 April 1931
Ship
Country
Description
France
The ocean liner was rammed by HMS Glorious (Royal Navy) in the Mediterranean Sea off Málaga, Andalusia, Spain.[101] One of Glorious's crew was killed, as were 24 passengers on board Florida.[102] The passengers were transferred to Glorious, which towed Florida stern-first to Gibraltar, where she was beached.[101]
United Kingdom
Malabar
The cargo liner ran aground off Long Bay, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and was a total loss.[103] All on board survived.[101]
Norway
The cargo ship ran aground at Chingmae Point, China.[101] She was refloated on 6 April.[104]
3 April[]
List of shipwrecks: 3 April 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The cargo ship sprang a leak and was beached in Morlaix Bay, Finistère, France.[101] She was refloated the next day.[91]
United Kingdom
The cargo ship was rammed and sunk by USCGC Legare (United States Coast Guard) in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) north of the Nantucket Lightship (United States Coast Guard) and sank. All ten crew were rescued by Legare.[105]
The cargo ship collided with (China) at Woosung and sank with the loss of six crew.[113]
15 April[]
List of shipwrecks: 15 April 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Iskum
United States
The 82-gross register ton, 72.2-foot (22.0 m) motor vessel struck and slid off a submerged rock at 52°02′N174°22′W / 52.033°N 174.367°W / 52.033; -174.367 (MV Iskum) – a position described by her captain as approximately 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) "east by north of Aasatanak, Pacific of south side of Aleutian Islands," apparently a reference to a submerged rock 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) northeast of (52°02′00″N174°25′30″W / 52.03333°N 174.42500°W / 52.03333; -174.42500 (Sadatanak Island)) in the Aleutians – and was abandoned 70 minutes later due to flooding, eventually sinking a few hours after striking the rock. Her 18 passengers and crew abandoned ship in dories and spent the night on the beach, where the motor vessel Umnak Native (United States) arrived from Atka to rescue them the next day.[114]
17 April[]
List of shipwrecks: 17 April 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The cargo ship departed Hamburg, Germany, for Goole, Yorkshire. A lifeboat washed up at Chapel St. Leonards, Lincolnshire on 20 April. Presumed foundered in the North Sea with the loss of all hands.[115]
18 April[]
List of shipwrecks: 18 April 1931
Ship
Country
Description
France
The dredger foundered in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) south east of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire.[110]
20 April[]
List of shipwrecks: 20 April 1931
Ship
Country
Description
City of Washington
United States
The ship was destroyed by fire at Wilmington, Delaware.[110]
United States
The cargo ship was destroyed by fire at Wilmington.[110]
The passenger ship came ashore on Saddle Island, Heinan Group, South China Sea. All on board were rescued by (China) and Rajputana (United Kingdom).[116][117]
The cargo ship ran aground on the south coast of Korea and sank. The crew were rescued.[120][121]
28 April[]
List of shipwrecks: 28 April 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Sweden
The tanker caught fire in the Atlantic Ocean (39°47′N21°44′W / 39.783°N 21.733°W / 39.783; -21.733) and was abandoned. The crew were rescued by (United States).[122] She was taken in tow by (United Kingdom) and arrived at Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal on 2 May.[123]
The tanker caught fire 250 nautical miles (460 km) south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The steamer stood by to assist. The fire was extinguished the next day, and Ruth Kellogg proceeded to New York, arriving on 11 May 1931.[131][132] She was repaired and returned to service.
10 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 10 May 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The tug ran aground on the Mull of Oa, Islay and was wrecked. All seven crew were rescued.[133]
A fire broke out in the engine room of the 22-gross register tonmotor vessel while she was in in the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska during a voyage from Craig to Hydaburg, Territory of Alaska. After it went out of control, her crew of three abandoned ship in a rowboat and survived. Audrey drifted ashore on the north end of Sukkwan Island, where the fire destroyed her.[135]
United States
The schooner came ashore in Long Island Sound and was wrecked.[134][136]
The Java-classcruiser ran aground off Koemba Island, Netherlands East Indies. She was refloated three days later. Subsequently repaired and returned to service.
15 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 15 May 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United States Navy
The decommissionedEagle-classpatrol craft was scuttled in 240 feet (73 m) of water east of Boston, Massachusetts, 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi) east of Graves Light.[137][138]
17 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 17 May 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Spain
The cargo ship foundered off the Spanish coast.[139]
22 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 22 May 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Soviet Navy
The Bars-classsubmarine collided with (Soviet Navy) in the Gulf of Finland 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) south west of the (Finland) and sank with the loss of all 39 crew. The submarine was raised in 1933 and scrapped.[140][141][142][143]
26 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 26 May 1931
Ship
Country
Description
France
The cargo ship ran aground at , Majorca, Spain.[144] She was still agrount on 15 June,[145] but was subsequently declared a total loss.[146]
While no one was aboard, the 22-gross register tonmotor vessel was destroyed by fire while at anchor in the Copper RiverFlats on the south-central coast of the Territory of Alaska.[114]
30 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 30 May 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Harvard
United States
Harvard.
The passenger ship was wrecked 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) north of Point Arguello, California. All on board were rescued by (United States) and (United States Coast Guard).[149]
The cargo ship passed the , Izumo, Shimane bound for Tokyo. No further trace, presumed foundered in a typhoon with the loss of all hands.[156]
12 June[]
List of shipwrecks: 12 June 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The cargo ship collided with a United States Coast Guarddestroyer in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) south of Montauk Point, New York, United States and sank.[157]
United States
The retired 56-foot (17 m) tug was scuttled in deep water in on Lake Champlain, just south of Burlington, Vermont.[158]
Carrying a cargo of 4.5 tons of barreledsalt, ballast, and tools, the 32-gross register tonmotor vessel sank after striking a submerged object 18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi) north of the Barren Islands near the entrance to Cook Inlet on the south-central coast of the Territory of Alaska. Her crew of four survived.[159]
The passenger ship foundered in the Bay of Biscay off Pointe Saint-Gildas, Loire-Inférieure. There were eight survivors of the 500 people on board.
Italy
The cargo ship collided with Rochambeau (France) in the Bay of Biscay off Ouessant, Finistère, France and sank. All crew were rescued by Rochambeau.[155]
Germany
The auxiliary five-masted schooner ran aground in the Paraná River, Argentina.[160] She was refloated on 15 August.[161]
17 June[]
List of shipwrecks: 17 June 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The ocean liner caught fire at Hamilton, Bermuda with the loss of two lives.[162] She was extensively damaged, with her superstructure destroyed.[163] She departed Bermuda on 6 July for repair at Belfast.[164] A further fire occurred on 19 November whilst she was under repair.[165]Bermuda was declared a total loss.[166]
The cargo ship caught fire at Candon, Philippines and was beached.[156] She was refloated on 3 July.[177]
July[]
1 July[]
List of shipwrecks: 1 July 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United States
The tanker was severely damaged by fire at Port Arthur, Texas.[176]
United States
The tanker was severely damaged by fire at Port Arthur.[176]
United States
The tanker was severely damaged by fire at Port Arthur.[176]
3 July[]
List of shipwrecks: 3 July 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Greece
The cargo ship ran aground at , Turkey.[177] She was refloated on 6 July.[178]
4 July[]
List of shipwrecks: 4 July 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Norway
The cargo ship grounded on the North Shoal. She refloated but was found to be holed and was beached in , Orkney Islands, United Kingdom.[177] She was abandoned as a total loss.[179]
The 27-gross register tonmotor vessel burned, suffered an engine room explosion, and sank 8 nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi) south of Point Baker, Territory of Alaska. Her crew of two survived.[135]
The decommissioned destroyer, in use as an accommodationhulk, sank at her berth at Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She was broken up in situ.
27 July[]
List of shipwrecks: 27 July 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Denmark
The cargo ship ran aground on Swona, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom.[195] She was declared a total loss on 30 July.[196]
The shallow-draft sternwheeler was swamped by large waves, capsized, and sank in the Columbia River 5 miles (8 km) west of The Dalles, Oregon. All aboard survived.[197][198][199]
August[]
2 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 2 August 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Lark
United Kingdom
The Thames barge sank at Pelican Wharf, Wapping, London.[200]
3 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 3 August 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Dolphin
United Kingdom
The tug was sunk at Montreal, Quebec, Canada when (United Kingdom) struck lock gates in the Lachine Canal and carried them away.[200]
6 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 6 August 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The coaster was destroyed by fire at Invercargill, New Zealand.[201]
The cargo ship was last reported off , China. She subsequently foundered in a typhoon off . with the loss of 53 of her 56 crew.[203] Survivors were rescued by Sepoy (Royal Navy) after they had been captured by pirates.[204]
Western World
United States
The Design 1029 passenger ship ran aground at , Brazil. The 85 passengers were taken off by (Germany) and landed at Rio de Janeiro. She was refloated on 10 September.
The cargo ship ran aground off .[205] She was refloated on 20 August.[207]
12 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 12 August 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Sweden
The cargo ship ran aground at Gravelines, Nord, France and broke in two.[208]
Democrat
United States
The 34-gross register tonfishing vessel sank in Cook Inlet on the south-central coast of the Territory of Alaska northwest of Yukon Island due to flooding from undetected damage she incurred when she struck a reef the previous day. Her crew of six survived.[159]
The cargo ship sank at Puerto Caballo, Venezuela.[219]
United Kingdom
The coaster collided with the coaster in the River Mersey at Liverpool, Lancashire. Saint Mungo sank with the loss of two of her eighteen crew. Mayflower was beached at New Brighton, Cheshire.[220]Mayflower was refloated on 27 August.[221]Saint Mungo was refloated on 4 September and beached at Tranmere, Cheshire.[222]
26 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 26 August 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The cargo ship ran aground in the Black Sea off Berezan Island, Soviet Union.[221] She was refloated on 3 September.[222]
The cargo ship ran aground on .[223] She was refloated on 2 September.[224]
28 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 28 August 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Mary C. Fisher
United States
During a voyage from Kodiak on Kodiak Island to Dutch Harbor and Unalaska in the Aleutian Islands, the 12-gross register ton, two-masted vessel sank in a storm in the Shelikof Strait 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) east of (57°53′50″N155°03′35″W / 57.89722°N 155.05972°W / 57.89722; -155.05972 (Cape Kubugukli)) on the coast of the Alaska Peninsula. Her three-man crew abandoned ship and reached safety after a seven-day voyage in a skiff.[87]
31 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 31 August 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Lady Allen
United Kingdom
The Thames barge collided with (United Kingdom) in the Thames Estuary and sank. Both crew were rescued by Llanstephan Castle.[214]
September[]
1 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 1 September 1931
Ship
Country
Description
HMS Emperor of India
Royal Navy
The decommissioned Iron Duke-classbattleship was sunk as a gunnery target. Her wreck was refloated and on 6 February 1932 was sold for breaking up.[225]
Greece
The cargo ship ran aground on . She sank on 6 September.[226]
The cargo ship collided with (Italy) at Ancona, Marche and sank.[234] She was refloated on 5 November.[235]
United Kingdom
The coaster foundered in the Atlantic Ocean off Land's End, Cornwall with the loss of two of her eleven crew.[236] Survivors were rescued by (United Kingdom).[237]
Greece
The cargo ship grounded on the Mansell Shoal, Turkey and was holed. She was consequently beached.[234]Zachariosa was refloated on 14 September.[238]
7 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 7 September 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The cargo ship ran aground in Tutoya Bay, Brazil.[229] She was refloated on 11 September.[239]
: The trawler ran aground off Bass Point, New South Wales. She sank the next day.
10 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 10 September 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Tagalak
United States
The 71-gross register ton, 65.3-foot (19.9 m) fishing vessel was destroyed in 2 nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) southeast of Hydaburg in Southeast Alaska by a fire that began in the engine room, presumably due to crossed electrical wires, and engulfed the vessel only three minutes after her six-member crew first noticed smoke. All on board survived.[241]
The ocean liner ran aground at Point Tosco. Lower California, Mexico. All 234 people on board were rescued by and (both United States).[243]
15 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 15 September 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Carmen
United States
During a voyage from Petersburg to Juneau, Territory of Alaska, with a cargo of 10 tons of shingles, the 35-gross register tonmotor vessel was destroyed in Gastineau Channel in the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska by a fire that began when her gasoline enginebackfired. Her crew of three survived unharmed.[244]
United Kingdom
The cargo ship ran aground between Hangkow and Shasi, China. She was refloated on 19 September.[245]
16 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 16 September 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The cargo ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean whilst on a voyage from Burgeo, Newfoundland to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The crew survived.[217]
The coaster ran aground at Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire.[247] She was refloated on 24 September.[248]
19 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 19 September 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The cargo ship ran aground on Ebal Rocks off Gurnard's Head and was a total loss. All nineteen crew and three passengers rowed ashore. The ship's cat was rescued later.[34][249][250]
22 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 22 September 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Gladiator
United States
During a voyage from Nome, Territory of Alaska, to Seattle, Washington, with a crew of three and a 7-ton cargo of oil, Alaskacurios, and other items, the 21-gross register tonmotor vessel drifted ashore and was wrecked on the coast of Unimak Island in the Aleutian Islands, 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) northeast of (58°24′20″N157°31′15″W / 58.40556°N 157.52083°W / 58.40556; -157.52083 (Middle Bluff)) after her steering gear broke during a gale. The cutterUSCGC Chelan (United States Coast Guard) rescued her crew.[251]
The cargo ship foundered in the Pacific Ocean off Sitka, Alaska, United States.[266]
17 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 17 October 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Ketchum
United States
During a voyage from Ketchikan to , Territory of Alaska, with a cargo of one ton of household furniture, the 8-gross register tonmotor vessel's anchor lines broke during a storm in Clarence Strait in the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km; 1.7 mi) north of (55°09′N131°58′W / 55.150°N 131.967°W / 55.150; -131.967 (Wedge Island)), causing her to become stranded on a rock and then run aground on the beach, where she was pounded to pieces by the surf.[270]
19 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 19 October 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Greece
The cargo ship sprang a leak and was beached at Ustica, Palermo, Italy.[271] She was refloated on 24 or 25 October.[272]
United Kingdom
The schooner came ashore at South Point, Anticosti Island, Quebec, Canada and was abandoned by her crew.[273]
21 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 21 October 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Chile
The cargo ship ran aground on and was beached at .[274] She was refloated on 26 October.[275]
Denmark
The cargo ship ran aground on Scharhörn, Hamburg, Germany.[265] She was refloated on 24 October.[272]
The cargo ship collided with (Germany) in the River Thames at Woolwich, London with the loss of one of her crew. She was beached.[269] She was refloated on 24 October.[272]
23 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 23 October 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United States Coast Guard
The cutter was destroyed, circumstances unknown.[71]
The cargo ship was driven ashore at Alexandretta, Turkey.[282] She was refloated on 6 November.[283]
France
The schooner lost her rudder and sails in heavy seas and went ashore at Porthleven, Cornwall, United Kingdom whilst trying to put into the harbour for repairs.[284][285]
4 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 4 November 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Denmark
The auxiliary schooner collided with (Germany) in the Baltic Sea off Swinemünde, Western Pomerania, Germany. She capsized and sank.[282]
Sweden
The cargo ship collided with (Sweden) at Gothenburg and sank.[282] She was raised on 14 November.[286]
6 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 6 November 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United States
The cargo ship ran aground on the Goodwin Sands, Kent, United Kingdom.[287] She was refloated on 9 November.[288]
7 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 7 November 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Theologos
Greece
The sailing ship foundered in the Aegean Sea off Laurium.[279]
8 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 8 November 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Costa Rica
The auxiliary schooner foundered in the Caribbean Sea off Cartagena, Colombia with the loss of five of her sixteen crew. Survivors were rescued by USS Swan (United States Navy).[289]
Estonia
The cargo ship ran aground at Ristna Point, Hiiumaa.[279] She was refloated on 13 November.[289]
The cargo ship caught fire at Hangö and was beached.[292]
15 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 15 November 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Spain
The cargo ship was rammed and sunk in the Sea of Marmara off Khairsis Island, Turkey by (Marine Nationale) with the loss of one crew member. The survivors were rescued by Le Loing.[286][294]
Unione Secundo
Italy
The sailing ship was in collision with (Greece) at Genoa and sank with the loss of a crew member.[286]
The cargo ship ran aground in the Dardanelles at Ak Bashi Liman, Turkey.[299] she was refloated on 24 November.[300] She was refloated on 24 November.[300]
19 November[]
For the loss of the British ocean liner Bermuda on this day, see the entry for 17 June 1931
List of shipwrecks: 19 November 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The cargo ship ran aground at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.[293] She was still aground on 24 November.[300]
The tanker ran aground at Balikpapan, Netherlands East Indies.[293] She was refloated on 26 November.[302]
20 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 20 November 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The auxiliary three-masted schooner was rammed and sunk at Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire by the fishing vessel Neves (United Kingdom). The crew were rescued.[303]
The cargo ship ran aground on Plane Island, Tunisia and was beached in Andaluses Bay. Thirty crew were rescued by (Germany).[304][306] She was refloated on 28 November.[307]
23 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 23 November 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Eleni
Greece
The sailing vessel ran aground whilst on a voyage from Salonica to Kavala and was destroyed by fire with the loss of a crew member.[298]
Netherlands
The cargo ship collided with (Soviet Union) in the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal and sank.[298] She was refloated on 26 November.[308]
The schooner collided with (United Kingdom) in the Atlantic Ocean off the , Nova Scotia, Canada and sank with the loss of six of her nineteen crew.[308]
The passenger ship caught fire in Heysham Harbour, Lancashire. She capsized on 28 November. Duke of Lancaster was raised in January 1932, repaired and returned to service.[311]
28 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 28 November 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United States
The cargo liner caught fire at Seattle, Washington and was a total loss.[302]
29 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 29 November 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Germany
The cargo ship ran aground on Öland, Sweden.[302] She was refloated on 21 December.[312]
River Ribble
United Kingdom
The cargo ship collided with (United Kingdom) at Hamburg, Germany, and was beached at Altona. She was refloated the next day. Selby was severely damaged.[302][313]
30 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 30 November 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United States
The passenger ship caught fire at Seattle, Washington and was severely damaged.[314]
December[]
1 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 1 December 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Victoria
Germany
The cargo ship ran aground in lake Mälaren, Sweden.[315] She was refloated on 7 December.[316]
The fishing trawler ran aground on the Isle of Man.[317]
4 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 4 December 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Betty
Sweden
The auxiliary three-masted schooner ran aground near Oxelosund. She refloated but subsequently foundered.[318]
East Anglia
United Kingdom
The Thames barge was struck by another Thames barge, Edgar Scholey, in the River Thames at Erith, Kent and sank.[318] She was refloated the next day.[310]
The cargo ship ran aground on the north east coast of Formosa.[310] She broke in two on 10 December, with the stern section sinking. Kwanan Maru was declared a total loss.[319]
6 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 6 December 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Italy
The cargo ship ran aground at Alexandria, Egypt and was beached.[310] She was refloated on 10 December and later drydocked for repairs.[319]
The passenger ship caught fire in the Yangtze 40 nautical miles (74 km) from Shanghai and sank with the loss of twenty of the approximately 300 people on board.[324][326]
16 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 16 December 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The schooner was driven ashore on Grand Turk and was wrecked.[328]
Gertrude
United Kingdom
The Thames barge collided with (Germany) in the River Thames at Barking, Essex and sank.[328]
Estonia
The schooner collided with a breakwater at Liepāja, Latvia and sank with the loss of all hands.[328]
19 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 19 December 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Netherlands
The coaster struck a rock at Tønsberg, Norway. An attempt was made to beach her but she foundered.[329] She was refloated on 23 December.[321]
The tug capsized and sank in the River Ribble at Preston, Lancashire whilst assisting to refloat (Norway). The crew were rescued.[332] She was refloated on 23 December.[321]
The almost completed United Fruit Company refrigerated cargo liner was destroyed by fire at Newport News, Virginia. The ship was rebuilt and renamed Peten and later Jamaica operating for United Fruit Company.[333][312]
The cargo ship ran aground off Helsingfors. All twenty crew were rescued.[341]
United Kingdom
The tug collided with (United States) in the River Thames at Woolwich, London and sank with the loss of seven of the eight people on board.[342] She was raised the next day and beached at Charlton.[337]
29 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 29 December 1931
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The cargo ship ran aground in the Yangtze 40 nautical miles (74 km) downstream of .[337] She was refloated on 5 January 1932.[340]
31 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 31 December 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Greece
The cargo ship ran aground in the Paraná River, Argentina.[343] She was refloated on 10 January 1932.[344]
Unknown date[]
List of shipwrecks: Unknown date December 1931
Ship
Country
Description
Estonia
The cargo ship departed Hull, Yorkshire, United Kingdom for Tallinn.[345] She foundered in the Baltic Sea with the loss of all twenty people on board.[346] Wreckage from the ship washed up at Rybachy, Kaliningrad Oblast, Soviet Union on 30 December.[347]
The tugboat was driven ashore and wrecked by a gale while anchored in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia.
Baychimo
United States
The 1,322-ton trading supply steamer was abandoned in ice in the Arctic Ocean in the autumn of 1931. According to one report, she remained adrift in the Arctic ice pack for 52 months before she finally disappeared early in 1934; other reports claim she was sighted adrift as late as 1969, resulting in references to her as the "Ghost Ship of the Arctic."[348]
^ ab"Casualty reports". The Times (45744). London. 11 February 1931. col F, p. 18.
^"Casualty reports". The Times (45746). London. 13 February 1931. col B, p. 24.
^ ab"Casualty reports". The Times (45747). London. 14 February 1931. col F, p. 20.
^"British ship aground". The Times (45750). London. 18 February 1931. col E, p. 14.
^ ab"Casualty reports". The Times (45754). London. 23 February 1931. col D, p. 21.
^"The Captain Rokos uninsurable". The Times (45753). London. 21 February 1931. col G, p. 17.
^ abcde"Casualty reports". The Times (45757). London. 26 February 1931. col D, p. 23.
^"Irish schooner wrecked on sandbank". The Times (45757). London. 26 February 1931. col C, p. 9.
^"Steamer sunk off Land's End". The Times (45752). London. 20 February 1931. col C, p. 11.
^"Casualty reports". The Times (45756). London. 25 February 1931. col C, p. 26.
^"Casualty reports". The Times (45755). London. 24 February 1931. col E, p. 19.
^"Heavy weather damage". The Times (45755). London. 24 February 1931. col E, p. 19.
^"The Volos uninsurable". The Times (45773). London. 17 March 1931. col F, p. 24.
^ ab"Casualty reports". The Times (45763). London. 5 March 1931. col F, p. 4.
^"Steamer ashore at Prawle Point". The Times (45757). London. 26 February 1931. col C, p. 9.
^"Crew of stranded steamer rescued". The Times (45758). London. 27 February 1931. col D, p. 16.
^ ab"Two British steamers wrecked". The Times (45757). London. 26 February 1931. col D, p. 23.
^"Casualty reports". The Times (45831). London. 25 May 1931. col G, p. 16.
^"The Wellfield refloated". The Times (45816). London. 7 May 1931. col C, p. 24.
^"British steamer ashore". The Times (45768). London. 11 March 1931. col F, p. 5.
^"Casualty reports". The Times (45758). London. 27 February 1931. col C, p. 26.
^"Casualty reports". The Times (45760). London. 2 March 1931. col E, p. 21.
^"Casualty reports". The Times (45759). London. 28 February 1931. col D, p. 21.
^ ab"Casualty reports". The Times (45761). London. 3 March 1931. col B, p. 25.
^"Casualty reports". The Times (45762). London. 4 March 1931. col A, p. 24.
^"News in Brief". The Times (45760). London. 2 March 1931. col G, p. 9.
^"Casualty reports". The Times (45764). London. 6 March 1931. col G, p. 4.
^ abcd"Casualty reports". The Times (45767). London. 10 March 1931. col C, p. 25.
^Hacking, Norman (1995). Prince Ships of Northern BC: Ships of the Grand Trunk Pacific and Canadian Northern Railways. Surrey, British Columbia: Heritage House Publishing Company. ISBN1-895811-28-7., p. 29.
^"Casualty reports". The Times (45765). London. 7 March 1931. col G, p. 18.
^ ab"Casualty reports". The Times (45892). London. 4 August 1931. col C, p. 15.
^"Casualty reports". The Times (45895). London. 7 August 1931. col C, p. 19.
^"Casualty reports". The Times (45897). London. 10 August 1931. col C, p. 19.
^"The Kwong Sang wreck". The Times (45908). London. 22 August 1931. col F, p. 10.
^"Kwong Sang survivors rescued". The Times (45909). London. 24 August 1931. col C, p. 10.
^ ab"Casualty reports". The Times (45899). London. 12 August 1931. col D, p. 19.
^"Casualty reports". The Times (45900). London. 13 August 1931. col C, p. 18.
^"The Wai-Shing refloated". The Times (45907). London. 21 August 1931. col C, p. 17.
^ abc"Casualty reports". The Times (45901). London. 14 August 1931. col E, p. 15.
^ ab"Casualty reports". The Times (45906). London. 20 August 1931. col G, p. 15.
^"Casualty reports". The Times (45902). London. 15 August 1931. col D, p. 17.
^"Chilean steamer stranded". The Times (45904). London. 18 August 1931. col D, p. 18.
^"Casualty reports". The Times (45927). London. 14 September 1931. col G, p. 20.
^"Casualty reports". The Times (45904). London. 18 August 1931. col D, p. 18.
^ ab"Casualty reports". The Times (45916). London. 1 September 1931. col E, p. 6.
^"Casualty reports". The Times (45905). London. 17 August 1931. col G, p. 15.
^"Casualty reports". The Times (45908). London. 22 August 1931. col F-G, p. 5.
^ abc"Casualty reports". The Times (45936). London. 23 September 1931. col G, p. 21.
^"Casualty reports". The Times (45910). London. 25 August 1931. col D, p. 20.
^"Casualty reports". The Times (45912). London. 27 August 1931. col C, p. 18.
^"Steamers in collision". The Times (45912). London. 27 August 1931. col B, p. 7.
^ ab"Casualty reports". The Times (45913). London. 28 August 1931. col C, p. 19.
^ abc"Casualty reports". The Times (45920). London. 5 September 1931. col G, p. 3.
^"Japanese steamer stranded". The Times (45913). London. 28 August 1931. col F, p. 19.
^"The Liverpool Maru refloated". The Times (45918). London. 3 September 1931. col F, p. 18.
^Gray, Randal, ed., Conway′s All the World′s Fighting Ships, 1906-1921, Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1985, ISBN9780851772455, pp. 31-32.
^"The Evgenia Chandri uninsurable". The Times (45921). London. 7 September 1931. col E, p. 17.
Canada
Germany).[1]
Greece
Norway
United States
France).[4][5]
United Kingdom
Sweden) off Swinemünde, Pomerania and sank.[14]
Spain
Japan
Belgium
Hungary
Italy
Finland) in the River Thames at Charlton, London and was beached.[21]
Soviet Union
Yugoslavia
Turkey
China
United States
Royal Australian Navy
Portugal) off Cuxhaven, Germany, and was beached.[36]
United Kingdom).[39] All 29 crew survived.[49]
Netherlands). The crew survived.[50]
Spain).[64][65]
Polish Navy
United States Coast Guard
Latvia
Chinese Navy) and (
Australia
United States Coast Guard) in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) north of the Nantucket Lightship (
Poland
Spain
Soviet Navy
Denmark
United States
Danzig) at Nordenham, Germany.[167]
Imperial Japanese Navy
Chile
Spanish Navy
Estonia
Iceland
Costa Rica
Marine Nationale) with the loss of one crew member. The survivors were rescued by Le Loing.[286][294]
Dominion of Newfoundland
Soviet Union) in the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal and sank.[298] She was refloated on 26 November.[308]
Italian Navy
Mexico