The cargo ship sank in the English Channel near Devon,[2] while carrying a cargo of more than 5,000 tonnes of timber to Alexandria, Egypt. All the crew members were rescued.[3] The timber came ashore on dozens of beaches along the southern coast of the United Kingdom in counties such as West Sussex, Dover, and Kent.[4]
15 January[]
List of shipwrecks: 15 January 2008
Ship
Country
Description
Unidentified cargo ship
Unknown
An unidentified cargo ship bound from Hong Kong for Panama with a cargo of gravel sank approximately 20 nautical miles (37 km) off the coast of Taiwan after being overwhelmed by a wave. Her entire crew of eight – all Chinese – died.[5]
29 January[]
List of shipwrecks: 29 January 2008
Ship
Country
Description
Lebanon
The cargo ship, bound for Beirut, sank off the coast of Lebanon in heavy seas. The frigateBayern (German Navy), operating in the area as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, rescued all on board.[6][7][8]
The ferry, en route from Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland, to Heysham, England, developed a severe list in the Irish Sea. Ship was beached at Blackpool, England, and all of the crew and passengers were airlifted to safety.[10][11]
February[]
1 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 1 February 2008
Ship
Country
Description
Spinningdale
Spain
The trawler crashed into a group of rocks near St Kilda due to gale-force winds. All fourteen of the crew were airlifted to safety by the Stornoway Coastguard.[12]
The -owned freighter caught fire in the northern Adriatic Sea. The ship was carrying 200 trucks and nine tonnes of oil derivatives, and all crewmembers and passengers were saved.[13]
The 184-foot (56.1 m) catcher-processor flooded and sank with the loss of five lives in the Bering Sea approximately 120 nautical miles (220 km; 140 mi) west of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, after losing her rudder. There were 42 survivors; Alaska Ranger′s sister shipAlaska Warrior rescued 22 of them, and a United States Coast Guard helicopter and the high endurance cutterUSCGC Douglas Munro ( United States Coast Guard) rescued the other 20.[20][21]
Naftogaz-67
Ukraine
According to Hong Kong's RTHK, a Ukrainian tugboat, Naftogaz-67, sank and is lying upside-down in 37 metres (121 ft) of water with 18 crewmembers missing after colliding with a Chinese cargo ship Yao-Hai off Tuen Mun.[22][23][24][25]
According to Coast Guard of South Korea and South Korean television networks (KBS and SBS) report, a Chinese fishingboat Lujiao Yu sank by overturning after she collided with South Korean freighter Panbless off Mara Island, six Chinese are missing.[30]
12 April[]
List of shipwrecks: 12 April 2008
Ship
Country
Description
Lurong Yu 2177
China
According to a Coast Guard of Japan report, Chinese fishing boat Lurong Yu 2177 sank after colliding with Hong Kong freighter between Kyūshū and Amami Island, in the East China Sea, Japan, killing 16.[31][32]
30 April[]
List of shipwrecks: 30 April 2008
Ship
Country
Description
Panama
The wreck of Assalama in May 2009.
The passenger ferry sprang a leak in the Atlantic Ocean and was beached at Tarfaya, Morocco. All 113 passengers were rescued, as were her crew.[33]
the Brazilian river boat Comandante Sales, carrying 80 people, capsized at Solimoes River, on the outskirts of Manacapuru, Amazonas, Brazil, killing 49 people.[35]
Sri Lankan Civil War: The Auxiliary ship was sunk by an under water explosion, probably by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam using either Limpet mines or a semi-submersible.[36]
The Bangladeshi double decker ferry Nazimuddin carrying 150 passengers on board sank on the , Ghoradigha, Kishoregani, 80 kilometres (43 nmi) from Dhaka, killing at least 41.[37]
29 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 29 May 2008
Ship
Country
Description
The Girl Patricia
United Kingdom
The Newlyn fishing vessel sunk 28 nautical miles (52 km) northwest of Land's End. All four crew winched to safety by RNAS Culdrose helicopter.[38]
The motorferry capsized off Sibyan Island, Philippines, during Typhoon Fengshen. At least 671 people died. The Philippine Coast Guard rescued 76 survivors.[44]
Scallop dredger and stern trawler capsized leading to sinking. Sailed from Brixham to fishing grounds south of Little Sark in the Channel Islands. The crew was recovered by the Guernsey lifeboat.[45]
29 June[]
List of shipwrecks: 29 June 2008
Ship
Country
Description
USS Horne
United States Navy
The decommissioned Belknap-classguided-missile cruiser was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean during RIMPAC 08.
According to New Light of Myanmar newspaper report, Burmese passenger boat Myo Pa Pa Tun, carrying 82 passengers, capsized at Yway River, Myaungmya, Burma, at least 38 killed.[citation needed]
11 July[]
List of shipwrecks: 11 July 2008
Ship
Country
Description
USS David R. Ray
United States Navy
The decommissioned Spruance-classdestroyer was sunk in the Pacific Ocean as a gunnery and Harpoon missile target by eight United States Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships and three aircraft during RIMPAC 08.
The 32-foot (9.8 m) fishing vessel was stranded near Akun Island in the Fox Islands in the eastern Aleutian Islands. All three crew members survived; the fishing vessel Kema Sue (United States) rescued one of them and a United States Coast Guard helicopter rescued the other two.[48]
September[]
2 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 2 September 2008
Ship
Country
Description
Courier
unknown
Hurricane Gustav:The ship broke loose from her moorings during the Hurricane and went aground in the Industrial Canal near Interstate 10, New Orleans.[49]
The 93-foot (28.3 m) cod-fishing vessel lost steering and sank in the Bering Sea approximately 100 nautical miles (190 km; 120 mi) west of Adak in the Aleutian Islands after her lazarette flooded during a severe storm. Only four of her 11 crew members were rescued.[52][53]
23 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 23 October 2008
Ship
Country
Description
Croatia
The fish factory ship foundered off Sestrunj, Croatia.[54]
The fishing trawler was sunk by the frigateINS Tabar (India) after being identified as a pirate "mother ship". Allegedly, Ekawat Nava 5's crew fired upon Tabar when challenged to stop to be searched.
Sri Lankan Civil War: The auxiliary ship was sunk by an underwater explosion. It was not clear whether the explosion was due to the detonation of a mine or an attack by a .[61]