The Norfolk wherry sank in the River Yare at Cantley. Another wherry sank two miles downstream. Albion was refloated and returned to service.[1]
6 January[]
List of shipwrecks: 6 January 1960
Ship
Country
Description
Dogu
Turkey
Stranded at Karaburnu Point, Thessaloniki, Greece.[2]
Uman
Turkey
Ran aground at Kefken Point, Turkey, declared a total loss.
9 January[]
List of shipwrecks: 9 January 1960
Ship
Country
Description
Yugoslavia
The cargo ship capsized and sank at Suda Bay, Crete. Refloated on 26 March and towed to Piran, Yugoslavia for repairs. Re-entered service in August 1960.[3]
While attempting to assist a tug in distress, the United States Coast Guard cutter — 125-foot (38 m) Active-classpatrol boat — was swept ashore on Spring Hill Beach at East Sandwich, Massachusetts, by hurricane-force winds and 40-foot (12 m) waves. All hands were rescued and the ship was refloated on 8 March.[19][20]
France
The cargo ship exploded in Havana harbor while unloading munitions. 101 people killed and 200 wounded[21]
United Kingdom
The tug collided with Tower Bridge in London and sank with the loss of one of her six crew.[22]
The coaster ran aground at Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.[32]
13 April[]
List of shipwrecks: 13 April 1960
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The passenger ship was launched in gale force winds, almost colliding with the entrance to a dock. Two tugs ran aground whilst trying to assist.[33]
17 April[]
List of shipwrecks: 17 April 1960
Ship
Country
Description
Lebanon
The cargo ship sprang a leak after her cargo of scrap iron shifted. An explosion then occurred at the stern of the ship and she sank off Virginia, United States. All 23 crew rescued by United States Coast Guard vessels.[34]
The cargo ship was rammed by (Sweden) while moored at Montreal. She broke free from her moorings and rammed into (Norway) and sank within 30 minutes.[38] Later partly raised and scrapped.
The 100-foot (30.5 m) oil explorationsurvey vessel burned and sank in 150 feet (46 m) of water in the Pacific Ocean off Point Conception, California, after an engine room fire went out of control. Small vessels in the vicinity rescued her entire crew of eight.[39][40][41]
11 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 11 May 1960
Ship
Country
Description
Netherlands
The coaster sank off the coast of Norfolk, United Kingdom. All crew rescued.[42]
Typhoon Mary: The Liberty ship sank at Hong Kong. Subsequently refloated and scrapped.[8]
Hong Kong
Typhoon Mary: The cargo ship was driven aground against Pratas Island in the South China Sea and was wrecked. Her 55 crew took to the liferafts.[46][47]
Panama
Typhoon Mary: The cargo ship and coaster Wan Fu (Hong Kong) ended up stranded on the runway at Kai Tak International Airport, Hong Kong.[46]
Wan Fu
Hong Kong
Typhoon Mary: The cargo ship (Panama) and coaster ended up stranded on the runway at Kai Tak International Airport, Hong Kong.[46]
The cargo ship ran aground on a sandbank at the mouth of the Saguenay River in Quebec, Canada. She broke in half during refloating attempts on 16 June. Later refloated and scuttled.
14 June[]
List of shipwrecks: 14 June 1960
Ship
Country
Description
Iva Ann
United States
The 10-gross register ton, 34.5-foot (10.5 m) fishing vessel sank in Southeast Alaska approximately 40 nautical miles (74 km; 46 mi) south of Ketchikan, Alaska.[48]
The dredger capsized in the Bristol Channel off Flat Holm. Her seven crew survived. She was subsequently towed to Cardiff, Glamorgan, where she was righted, repaired and returned to service.[50]
The tug foundered at Port Kembla, New South Wales whilst attempting to go to the aid of (United Kingdom), which was being driven against the jetty in a storm.[56]
The passenger ship was destroyed by fire at Long Beach, California.
United Kingdom
The coaster collided with (Republic of Ireland) and sank 8 nautical miles (15 km) off New Brighton, Cheshire. All ten crew rescued by the dredger Hilbre Island and the Liverpool Pilot Boat (both United Kingdom).[57]
The battleship ran aground at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour on the coast of England while under tow to the breakers.
5 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 5 August 1960
Ship
Country
Description
Lanterna
Italy
The coaster sank 60 nautical miles (110 km) south of Aden with the loss of five of the nine people on board.[60]
6 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 6 August 1960
Ship
Country
Description
Pelorus
United Kingdom
The Trinity Housepilot cutter ran aground off Dungeness, Kent. Refloated five hours later.[61]
8 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 8 August 1960
Ship
Country
Description
Liberia
The cargo ship ran aground 8 nautical miles (15 km) south of Tamandaré, Brazil following an engine room fire. Refloated on 5 September but subsequently scrapped.[12]
The cargo ship collided with the tanker (Panama) and sank near the Isla de Alborán in the Strait of Gibraltar with the loss of three of her 26 crew. Twenty three survivors were rescued by Esso Switzerland and transferred to USNS General LeRoy Eltinge (United States Naval Service) and landed at Gibraltar.[63]
The Liberty ship was driven ashore near Cape Arago, Oregon, United States. She was later refloated and towed to Coos Bay. Declared a constructive total loss.[64]
The cargo ship ran aground off Plumb Point, Jamaica.[67]
October[]
2 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 2 October 1960
Ship
Country
Description
Greece
The cargo ship was driven ashore in a typhoon at Kitadaitō, Japan and broke in two.[12]
4 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 4 October 1960
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The cargo ship was driven ashore at Palamós, Catalonia, Spain in a storm.[68]
7 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 7 October 1960
Ship
Country
Description
Denmark
and (Netherlands): The ferry and tanker collided in the Rhine at Emmerich, West Germany. Diamant's cargo of petrol caught fire, engulfing both ships. The coaster (Netherlands) and tanker Brigitte (West Germany) were also engulfed by flames and sank. Two people were killed.[69] A number of other vessels were damaged; including Cabato, Emilia, Liberté, Spido, Vinkeveen and Virgo Fidelis II (all Netherlands); Bellinzona Basel (Switzerland)[70]
8 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 8 October 1960
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The mailboat ran aground in Escart Bay, West Loch Tarbert and was holed. Her cargo of mail and all 150 passengers were transferred to Lochfyne (United Kingdom). Several sheep were thrown overboard and swam ashore without loss.[71]
The naval auxiliary ship was dumping ammunition at sea when there was an explosion and fire. She capsized and sank 23 nautical miles (43 km) off Sydney with the loss of two of her crew.[73]
22 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 22 October 1960
Ship
Country
Description
Greece
The cargo ship ran aground on , Northern Ireland and was wrecked. All 33 crew rescued by helicopter and transferred to HMS Leopard (Royal Navy).[74]
United Kingdom
The coaster ran aground 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north of Spurn Point, Yorkshire. Refloated on 24 October.[75]
24 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 24 October 1960
Ship
Country
Description
Netherlands
The coaster capsized and sank off Jutland, Denmark.[76]
The cargo ship sank 45 nautical miles (83 km) south of Kamaran, Aden. Twenty three crew killed, one survivor was rescued by Strathnaver (United Kingdom).[79]
25 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 25 October 1960
Ship
Country
Description
Arkendale H and Wastdale H
United Kingdom
Arkendale H and Wastdale H, July 2011
The barges collided with the Severn Railway Bridge, bringing down two spans. Both vessels caught fire and were grounded near the main channel.[80] The wreckage of both vessels is in situ as of July 2011.
26 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 26 October 1960
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The tanker ran aground off Plumb Point Lighthouse, Jamaica.[67]
The T2 tanker broke in two in the Atlantic Ocean 100 nautical miles (190 km) east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The bow section capsized and sank. She was on a voyage from New York to Corpus Christi, Texas. Subsequently rebuilt with bow section from (United States).[87]
6 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 6 December 1960
Ship
Country
Description
Japan
The cargo ship was driven ashore at Famagusta, Cyprus in a gale. She was refloated on 9 December and towed to Piraeus, Greece for repairs.[3]
Yugoslavia
The cargo ship was driven ashore at Famagusta in a gale. She was refloated on 29 April 1961 and anchored whilst minor repairs carried out. Declared a constructive total loss, she departed under tow on 31 August for Genoa, Italy. Sold and repaired, renamed Maha.[3]
7 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 7 December 1960
Ship
Country
Description
Norway
The cargo ship ran aground near Helsingor, Denmark in a snowstorm.[88]
8 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 8 December 1960
Ship
Country
Description
Grief
West Germany
The coaster collided with (Denmark) and sank off Bremerhaven. All 13 crew rescued by a customs boat.[89]
Norway
The tanker caught fire 150 nautical miles (280 km) off Malta. The Admiralty tug Mediator (United Kingdom) was despatched to her aid.[89]
12 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 12 December 1960
Ship
Country
Description
Heinrich Brand
West Germany
The coaster ran aground in the Gulf of Bothnia. All five crew rescued by helicopter.[90]
Skeldervik
Sweden
The coaster sank in the Baltic Sea off Denmark. All four crew rescued by a Norwegian ship.[90]
14 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 14 December 1960
Ship
Country
Description
Yugoslavia
The tanker collided with (Greece) in the Bosporus off Beykoz, Turkey and both ships caught fire. They drifted onto Tarsus (Turkey) setting that ship on fire. All three ships were wrecked. A total of 47 crew from the three ships were killed and about 40 were injured.[91]
16 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 16 December 1960
Ship
Country
Description
Liberia
The Liberty ship caught fire off Cuba and was abandoned. She was subsequently towed to Mobile, Alabama, United States where she was declared a constructive total loss.[92]
21 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 21 December 1960
Ship
Country
Description
United States
The tanker broke in two 90 nautical miles (170 km) east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. USS Valley Forge (United States Navy) and Artemis (Norway) went to her assistance.[93]
Spain
The cargo ship foundered on a voyage from Santander to Valencia with the loss of over 20 crew.[93]
United Kingdom
The tanker collided with (Panama) in the Meuse (Dutch: Maas) at Rotterdam, Netherlands.[93]
United States
The cargo ship collided with (Sweden) in the Elbe.[93]
28 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 28 December 1960
Ship
Country
Description
Pacific No. 1
United States
The 3,238-gross register ton, 272.1-foot (82.9 m) tankerbarge was wrecked at Icy Bay on the coast of Alaska.[35]
30 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 6 December 1960
Ship
Country
Description
United States
The Liberty ship ran aground at Grays Harbor, Washington and broke in two.[94]
31 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 31 December 1960
Ship
Country
Description
India
The Victory ship caught fire 60 nautical miles (110 km) off the Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom and was abandoned.[95]
^ Jump up to: abc"British Ships Aground". The Times (54686). London. 4 February 1960. col C, p. 9.
^ Jump up to: abcdMitchell, W H, and Sawyer, L A (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. not cited. ISBN1-85044-275-4.
^"Boats From Missing Ship Found". The Times (54696). London. 16 February 1960. col C, p. 13.
^"Telegrams in Brief". The Times (54699). London. 19 February 1960. col G, p. 9.
^"British Ship Refloated After Grounding". The Times (54701). London. 22 February 1960. col E, p. 8.
^"Tankers in Collision". The Times (54701). London. 22 February 1960. col E, p. 8.
^Schwemmer, R., Brant in Shipwreck Database Summary, U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries: West Coast Region, 2000 (not paginated)
^Wheeler, E. D., and R. E. Kallman, Shipwrecks, Smugglers, and Maritime Mysteries of the Santa Barbara Channel, Pathfinder Publishing, Ventura, California, 1984, p. 122.
^"News in Brief". The Times (54769). London. 12 May 1960. col G, p. 8.