The 26-foot (7.9 m) Trailerable Aids to Navigation Boatcapsized when a heavy wake struck her as she approached Pier 39 in Astoria, Oregon. The Columbia RiverBarPilot vessel Connor Foss (United States) rescued her entire crew of four.[1]
7 January[]
List of shipwrecks: 7 January 2020
Ship
Country
Description
United States
The shrimp boat capsized and sank in a storm in Pamlico Sound. Three killed, one survivor.[2][3]
10 January[]
List of shipwrecks: 10 January 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Turkey
The fishing vessel was sunk in a collision with the tanker (Russia) in the Black Sea north of Kilyos, Turkey. Three crew were rescued, three remain missing.[4]
Indonesia
The tanker dragged anchor in a storm and was beached on the north coast of Bawean Island in the Java Sea. Her 11 crew were rescued.[5]
11 January[]
List of shipwrecks: 11 January 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Indonesia
The cargo ship sank in rough seas due to cargo shift in the Java Sea off Belitung Island in shallow water with part of her superstructure above water. Her 14 crew were rescued.[6]
14 January[]
List of shipwrecks: 14 January 2020
Ship
Country
Description
United States
The fishing vessel capsized in a collision in fog with the tanker (Norway) in the Gulf of Mexico off Galveston, Texas. Two rescued by another vessel and the United States Coast Guard, but one of them died, two remain missing.[7][8]
17 January[]
List of shipwrecks: 17 January 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Tanzania
The tanker dragged its anchor in stormy weather and went aground near Famagusta, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Crew safe.[9]
21 January[]
List of shipwrecks: 21 January 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Hong Kong
The customs boat capsized in a collision with a smuggling vessel near Chek Lap Kok Island, north of Lantau Island, Hong Kong. Three crewmen were trapped in the cabin. They were rescued alive by divers, but died at the hospital. Two crewmen on deck survived.[10]
United States
The dredger barge sprung a leak and was grounded to prevent sinking by her tug (United States) in the Matagorda Ship Channel near Port Lavaca, Texas. The crew were rescued by Dana Robyn.[11]
24 January[]
List of shipwrecks: 24 January 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Panama
The tanker sprung a leak and was abandoned in the Arabian Sea 185 nautical miles (343 km; 213 mi) south west of Karachi, Pakistan, and later sank. All 13 crew were picked up by a cargo ship in the area.[12]
26 January[]
List of shipwrecks: 26 January 2020
Ship
Country
Description
United States
While pushing two barges carrying sulfuric acid, the towing vessel sank after colliding with the towing vessel (United States) on the Mississippi River in the vicinity of Mile Marker 123 near Luling, Louisiana. One of the barges suffered damage and leaked toxic vapor into the air. One member of RC Kreppel′s crew was rescued from the water; the other three were missing.[13][14]
27 January[]
List of shipwrecks: 27 January 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Unidentified boats
United States
Thirty-five small boats, houseboats, and pontoon boats were destroyed in a pre-dawn fire that swept across a dock at a marina on the Tennessee River in Scottsboro, Alabama. Some of the boats sank at their moorings, while others drifted into the river before sinking. Eight people were confirmed dead.[15]
February[]
3 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 3 February 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Indonesia
The cargo ship flooded and sank in challenging weather off North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Her 12 crew were rescued.[16]
10 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 10 February 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Unidentified sailboat
Sweden
With two people aboard, the sailboatcapsized on Fegen, a lake in southern Sweden, during a storm. One man on board washed ashore and subsequently died, and the other occupant was missing.[17]
11 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 11 February 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Unidentified boat
Unknown
The small wooden boat with perhaps as many as 130 Rohingya refugees fleeing the Rohingya conflict and genocide in Myanmar and attempting to reach refugee camps in Bangladesh sank in the predawn hours in the Bay of Bengal southeast of Bangladesh near St. Martin's Island. The bodies of 15 people—11 women and 4 children—were recovered and 69 people were rescued.[18]
15 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 15 February 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Netherlands Antilles
The tunapurse seiner flooded and sank south of Abidjan, Ivory Coast. All 29 crew were rescued by the motor vessel (Netherlands Antilles).[19]
16 February[]
For the stranding of the Tanzanian cargo ship Alta during Storm Dennis, see List of shipwrecks in 2018 § 30 September.
17 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 17 February 2020
Ship
Country
Description
China
The cargo ship sank north of Zhoushan, China. Three crew members were rescued but died of hypothermia. Three were missing.[20]
The ore carrier suffered bow damage while leaving the terminal at Sao Luis, Brazil, developed a heavy list, and was run aground off Maranhao, Brazil, to prevent her from sinking.[21] Declared a constructive total loss, she was scuttled 90 nautical miles (170 km) off the coast of Brazil on 12 June.[22]
27 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 27 February 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Antigua and Barbuda
The cargo ship dragged her anchor in bad weather, became entangled with the cargo ship (Togo), and went aground in the Sea of Marmara at Tuzla, Istanbul, Turkey.[23]
Togo
The cargo ship was seriously damaged when she became entangled with the cargo ship (Antigua and Barbuda) when Clavigo dragged her anchor in bad weather, then went aground in the Sea of Marmara at Tuzla, Istanbul, Turkey, with a list and became partially submerged.[23]
The pilot boat was sunk in a collision with (Hong Kong) at Taipei, Taiwan. One crewman died, the other, her captain, remains missing.[28]
12 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 12 March 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Togo
The cargo ship sprung a leak and sank 13 nautical miles (24 km; 15 mi) off the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico in the Pacific Ocean. All 12 crew rescued.[29]
Bangladesh
The coastal lighter was damaged in a collision with an unknown Kolkata Port Trust ship at Kolkata, India. An attempt to beach her to prevent sinking failed when current swept her off the bank and she sank in the Hooghly River.[30]
14 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 9 March 2020
Ship
Country
Description
India
The ferry sank and capsized after it hit a rock whilst en route from Mumbai to Maharashtra India. All 88 passengers were rescued by civilian boats.[31]
Honduras
The ro-ro ferry sank 40 miles (64 km) off , , in the Caribbean Sea. Six crew were rescued, 2 remain missing.[32]
China
The cargo ship sank in the southern Taiwan Straits south of Xiamen, China. Ten crew were rescued, three remain missing.[33]
The British-flagged tanker split into two off the southeast coast of Malta after taking on water in bad weather. Three crew were rescued by the AFM search and rescue launch Melita I.[36][37][38]
The cargo ship sank in a collision with fishing vessel (China) in the East China Sea in Zhoushan waters south of Shanghai, China. All crew were rescued.[40]
The cargo ship sank 50 nautical miles (93 km; 58 mi) southeast of Pingtan with five crew members aboard. All five crew members were rescued by the search and rescue ship (China).[42]
April[]
2 April[]
List of shipwrecks: 2 April 2020
Ship
Country
Description
QNg 90617 TS
Vietnam
The fishing vessel sank in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands after colliding with an unidentified China Coast Guardpatrol vessel. The patrol vessel rescued the fishing vessel's entire crew of eight. Vietnam claimed the Chinese vessel rammed the fishing vessel, while the People's Republic of China claimed that the fishing vessel made unsafe maneuvers that caused it to collide with the Chinese vessel.[43]
3 April[]
List of shipwrecks: 3 April 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Solomon Islands
Cyclone Harold: The ferry sank in during a tropical cyclone, possibly after being struck by a huge wave, in the Solomon Islands between Honiara and Malaita. Twenty-eight people missing.[44][45][46]
Thailand
The fishing vessel was split in two and sunk in a collision with the tanker (Panama) in the Gulf of Siam south of Sattahip. All eight crew rescued by other fishing vessels.[47]
10 April[]
List of shipwrecks: 10 April 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Bangladesh
The lighter struck a high-voltage power line tower and sank in the Hooghly River near the village of Namkhana, West Bengal, India. The crew was rescued.[48]
The cargo ship filled and sank in the harbor at , Vietnam.[50]
May[]
1 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 1 May 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Vietnam
The fishing vessel sank in the South China Sea 13 nautical miles (24 km; 15 mi) off La Gi, Vietnam after colliding with (The Philippines). Crew of six rescued by other fishing boats.[51]
2 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 2 May 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Unidentified fishing boat
United States
The 22-foot (6.7 m) or 27-foot (8.2 m) — sources disagree — fishing boatcapsized and threw her four occupants into the water in Reynolds Channel off Long Island, New York, near Point Lookout when several large waves struck her. Her captain died, and another man was missing. The other two men on board were rescued by a passing 68-foot (20.7 m) boat and survived.[52][53]
4 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 4 May 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Unflagged
The incomplete tanker sprang a leak and sank overnight in the Maua shipyard, Rio de Janeiro.[54]
The container ship was damaged in a collision with (Indonesia) in the Singapore Strait south of Saint John's Island and was beached with hull damage. Hull appears to be cracked on both sides, possibly split in two.[56][57]Shahraz remained aground near Batam, Indonesia, for at least six months, when it was struck by a passing ship on 23 November 2020.[58]
30 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 30 May 2020
Ship
Country
Description
China
The cargo ship sank in shallow water the East China Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi) east of Ningbo, China after a hull breach. Sank with bridge above water. 13 of 14 crew rescued by rescue ship (China), 1 missing.[59]
June[]
4 June[]
List of shipwrecks: 4 June 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Iran
The cargo ship sank after hitting an obstruction in the northern Persian Gulf South East of Umm Qasr, Iraq at a bridge construction site. Four crew rescued, five missing.[60]
Norway
The car carrier was severely damaged by fire at Jacksonville, Florida, United States.[61] Her 21 crew survived. She was consequently scrapped.[62]
9 June[]
List of shipwrecks: 9 June 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Vietnam
The fishing vessel was sunk in a collision with the LPG tanker (Vietnam) in the Gulf of Tonkin south south east of Haiphong, Vietnam. Three crew were rescued, four missing.[63]
Deemed unseaworthy and uneconomical to repair after running aground on 24 February, the very large ore carrier was scuttled in deep water in the Atlantic Ocean 150 kilometres (81 nmi; 93 mi) off Maranhao, Brazil. At the time she sank, she was the largest ship ever scuttled .[64][65][66]
15 June[]
List of shipwrecks: 9 June 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Seven fishing vessels
Seven fishing vessels burned at Yanpu port, Donggang, Taiwan.[67]
25 June[]
List of shipwrecks: 9 June 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Arrow
Isle of Man
The ro-roferry ran aground at Aberdeen, United Kingdom. She was on a voyage from Lerwick, Shetland Islands to Aberdeen. She was refloated with assistance from a tug.[68]
Indonesia
The tug sank in the Singapore Strait in heavy seas. Four crew rescued, her captain is missing, search called off.[69]
27 June[]
List of shipwrecks: 27 June 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Unidentified fishing boat
Philippines
The fishing vessel sank in a collision with (Hong Kong) in the Mindoro Strait 15 nautical miles (28 km; 17 mi) southwest of Paluan, Mindoro, Philippines. All hands missing, possibly 12–15.[70]
29 June[]
List of shipwrecks: 29 June 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Bangladesh
With 50 passengers aboard, the ferry — a motorlaunch — capsized and sank in 20 seconds in 60 to 70 feet (18 to 21 m) of water in the Buriganga River at Dhaka, Bangladesh, after the much larger motor ferry (Bangladesh) accidentally rammed her from behind while Moyur-2 was reversing at high speed. At least 33 passengers and crew died. Rivshan Morning Bird was refloated on 30 June 2020.[71][72][73]
Unidentified fishing boat
Malaysia
A fishing boat capsized near Pulau Perhentian, off the in Malaysia. Of the eight on board, all were regarded as missing, but all eight crew have now been found dead. There were no survivors. The crew consisted of all Malays.[74][75]
30 June[]
List of shipwrecks: 30 June 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Malaysia
The cargo ship sank in rough weather in the Malacca Strait near in shallow water, upper works above water. Nine crew rescued by fishing boats.[76]
The Frosch-I/Type 108 LSM sank in the Java Sea northeast of Kangean Island, off Java in rough weather. All 55 on board rescued.[77]
16 July[]
List of shipwrecks: 16 July 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Vietnam
The fishing vessel was sunk in a collision with the bulk carrier (Vietnam) in the South China Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) south east of Đà Nẵng, Vietnam. Her six crew were rescued by other fishing vessels.[78]
17 July[]
List of shipwrecks: 17 July 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Mexico
The mooring boat was sunk when propwash from two tugs assisting a tanker unmoor that she was also assisting slammed the boat into a pier at the Pajaritos Oil Terminal, Vera Cruz, Mexico, on the Gulf of Mexico coast. Seven crew were rescued, two missing.[79]
19 July[]
List of shipwrecks: 19 July 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Norway
The tanker ran aground at the entrance to the harbor at Barranquilla, Colombia. The vessel was refloated on 30 July.[80]
The aggregate carrier drifted on to rocks and sank with upper works above water in shallow water off Masalembu Island the Java Sea in rough weather. Nine rescued, seven remained on board.[82]
The Japanese-owned bulk carrier ran aground on , Mauritius and split in two by mid August. Her crew were evacuated safely. Due to rough seas, efforts to pump the 3,800 tonnes of bunker fuel and 200 tonnes of diesel failed, and by 7 August an oil-slick formed around the ship. There are fears that the oil will pollute the and the (both Ramsar sites).[83][84]
26 July[]
List of shipwrecks: 26 July 2020
Ship
Country
Description
China
The sand carrier capsized and sank in the Taiwan Strait 60 nautical miles (110 km; 69 mi) south west of Penghu Island. Four crew killed, four missing, one rescued by Taiwanese search-and-rescue vessel.[85]
27 July[]
List of shipwrecks: 27 July 2020
Ship
Country
Description
China
The cargo ship capsized and sank in the East China Sea 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi) north of in a collision with (China). All 11 crew rescued by search-and-rescue vessel (China).[86]
31 July[]
List of shipwrecks: 27 July 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Non-flagged ASV (AAV-7A1)
United States
During a military exercise near Camp Pendleton, a U.S marine ARV carrying 15 troops, sank. 4 marines were rescued uninjured, 2 marines were rescued, 1 in critical, and 1 in stable. 8 other marines are missing, and 1 marine has been confirmed dead.[87]
August[]
1 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 1 August 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Thailand
The ferry capsized and sank in the Gulf of Siam off Ko Samui, Thailand. Nine crew were rescued, three remain missing. Her captain and probably three others drowned.[88][89]
2 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 2 August 2020
Ship
Country
Description
or
Thailand
The dinner/dance vessel capsized and sank at dock in Bangkok, Thailand after taking on water during a cruise on the Chao Phraya River causing a list to starboard.[90][89]
4 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 4 August 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Lebanon
2020 Beirut explosions: The livestock carrier was severely damaged in the explosion.[91]
Lebanon
2020 Beirut explosions: The livestock carrier was severely damaged in the explosion.[91]
Lebanon
2020 Beirut explosions: The tanker was driven onto the quayside and destroyed in the explosion.[92]
, , and
Lebanon
2020 Beirut explosions: The tugs were close to the site of the explosion. Baltagi 17 was repaired and returned to service but Baltagi 19 and Baltagi 20 were damaged beyond repair and scrapped.[91]
2020 Beirut explosions: The Castle-classpatrol vessel was damaged in the explosion. Twenty-one sailors were injured.[93]
Isle of Man
2020 Beirut explosions: The vehicle carrier was close to the site of the explosion. The ship was repaired and returned to service.[91][94]
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
2020 Beirut explosions: The tug was close to the site of the explosion. The ship was repaired and returned to service.[91]
Lebanon
2020 Beirut explosions: The livestock carrier was close to the site of the explosion. Her AIS stopped broadcasting at the time of the explosion. The ship was later repaired and returned to service.[95]
Sierra Leone
2020 Beirut explosions: The cargo ship was severely damaged in the explosion and was later scrapped.[96][93]
2020 Beirut explosions: The cruise ship was severely damaged in the explosion. She capsized and sank the next day. Two crew were reported to have been killed.[95]
Comoros
2020 Beirut explosions: The cargo ship was closest to the point of the explosion and was severely damaged. The ship was later scrapped.[93][97][98]
11 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 11 August 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Arctic Fox II
Canada
A distress call was received by the United States Coast Guard at 2pm PST from the 20-metre (66 ft) commercial fishing vessel. The vessel was operating 135 kilometres (84 mi) off Cape Flattery, Washington. A helicopter was dispatched, which found one crewman aboard a lifeboat. The other two crew members were killed. The survivor was taken to Neah Bay, Washington.[99]
The fishing vessel sank in a collision with an unknown ship in Taiwan Strait some 45 nautical miles (83 km; 52 mi) east of , Fujian Province, China. Two crew rescued, with 12 crew missing.[106]
31 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 31 August 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Mauritius
The tug sprung a leak and sank in stormy weather off in the Indian Ocean. Four crew rescued, two dead and two crew missing.[107]
Typhoon Maysak: The livestock carrier reportedly lost power and capsized after being hit by a wave in the Sea of Japan. Two crewmembers were rescued, one body was recovered, and the other 41 crewmembers are missing, presumed lost. Six thousand cattle were lost in the sinking.[108]
The very large crude carrier caught fire near the eastern coast of Sri Lanka carrying 270,000 tons of crude oil resulting in the death of a Filipino crew member.
5 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 5 September 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Unidentified small boats
United States
A boat parade took place in support of Donald Trump's re-election campaign on Lake Travis in central Texas. The weather was calm, but the boats generated significant wake as they began to move together, which subsequently sank at least five boats.[109]
7 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 7 September 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Unidentified boat
United States
The 19-foot aluminum boat sank in Puget Sound about 400 yards offshore Edmonds, Washington. Five people and two dogs were rescued.[110]
10 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 10 September 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Unknown
The 51-foot (16 m) sailboat, seized as a drug smuggling vessel in the U.S. while being transported from Martinique to Australia, was sunk as an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico in 250 feet (76 m) of water 16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi) south east of Destin, Florida.[111]
11 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 11 September 2020
Ship
Country
Description
South Korea
The cable layer caught fire west of the southern tip of Tsushima Island in the South China Sea, sinking the next day. Crew evacuated to another cable layer she was working with.[112]
12 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 12 September 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Panama
The reefer suffered engine failure and drifted ashore on , north of Tsushima Island, in the Sea of Japan, and appears to be partially sunk. The crew is safe.[113]
United States
The 52-foot (16 m) cabin cruiser sprung a leak and sank 28 miles (45 km) south of Eureka, California. The crew was rescued by the US Coast Guard.[114]
16 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 10 September 2020
Ship
Country
Description
KS 1451
United States
Hurricane Sally: The construction barge broke loose from her moorings, or dragged anchor, and was driven ashore partially sunk on Bayfront Parkway, Pensacola, Florida.[115]
Hurricane Sally: The construction barge broke loose from her moorings, or dragged anchor, and was driven ashore in Escambia Bay, Pensacola, Florida.[117]
KS 6010
United States
Hurricane Sally: The construction barge broke loose from her moorings, or dragged anchor, and was driven ashore in Escambia Bay near Windrose Circle, Pensacola, Florida .[118]
Hurricane Sally: The replica of Columbus's ship went adrift after her dock broke up. Her anchor line later snapped causing her to go ashore in Pensacola Bay near the Maritime Park.[120]
Skanska 470027
United States
Hurricane Sally: The construction barge broke loose from her moorings, or dragged anchor, and was driven ashore near Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Pensacola, Florida.[115]
Unknown barges
United States
Hurricane Sally: 22 construction barges, including those listed, broke loose from their moorings, or dragged anchor, and were driven ashore in parts of Pensacola Bay and Escambia Bay.[115]
20 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 20 September 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Finland
The Ro-Paxferry scraped bottom and sprung a leak off the Aland Islands, west of Turku, Finland. She was beached on an island to prevent sinking.[121]
21 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 21 September 2020
Ship
Country
Description
China
The cargo ship was sunk in a collision with the fishing vessel (China) south of Shanghai in the East China Sea. Her crew of six were rescued.[122]
22 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 22 September 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Australia
Wreckage was found near Murray Mouth after a distress call was sent from near Granite Island in South Australia. Tony Higgins was the only person on board and was declared missing.[123]
26 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 26 September 2020
Ship
Country
Description
India
The cargo ship sank in rough weather in the Gulf of Kutch in the Arabian Sea, some 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi) off Okha, Gujarat State, India. Her crew of 12 were rescued by the (Indian Coast Guard).[124]
October[]
8 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 8 October 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Vietnam
The cargo ship sank in a storm off in the South China Sea. Her crew was rescued.[125]
Vietnam
The dredger was driven aground in a storm off in the South China Sea. Two of the crew reached shore, two were swept away, but rescued, eight remained on board.[126]
10 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 10 October 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Indonesia
The decommissioned cargo ship was pushed ashore in a storm off Thừa Thiên–Huế Province, Vietnam in the South China Sea north of Đà Nẵng after losing her tow while on the way to be scrapped. She broke in two, probably a total loss.[127]
The fishing vessel sank in a storm while attempting to rescue crew from the beached dredger (Vietnam) off Cửa Việt, Vietnam in the South China Sea.[129]
11 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 11 October 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Vietnam
Tropical Storm Linfa: The cargo ship was pushed ashore in a storm at Đà Nẵng, Vietnam, in the South China Sea. Her crew remained safe on board.[130]
The sand carrier capsized and sank in the Hainan Strait. Six crew were rescued, two died, four remain missing.[132]
14 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 14 October 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Indonesia
The cargo ship ran aground on in the Sunda Strait. Refloated by a tug on 18 October and taken to Bakauheni, Sumatra.[133]
15 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 15 October 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Belize
The research vessel sprung a leak after striking a reef off Gough Island in the South Atlantic Ocean and sank. The crew and researchers made it to Gough Island.[134]
The passenger ro-ro cargo ship sank in the Taiwan Strait off Kaohsiung in rough weather. Five crew were rescued by Taiwan, five remain missing.[136]
24 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 24 October 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Thailand
The cargo ship ran aground in the Gulf of Thailand off Surat Thani Province, Thailand, east of Koh Samui and developed a list. Her ten crew abandoned ship and were picked up by fishing boats.[137]
24 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 27 October 2020
Ship
Country
Description
General Hazi Aslanov
Turkey
A boiler explosion was suffered by the oil tanker, owned by Palmali Shipping, a Turkish shipping company. The ship was en route from the port of Kavkaz to . The ship may have had temporary ownership by the Russian Federation. The boiler explosion injured 4 sailors, but 10 of the 13 on board, including the injured were evacuated. However, 3 of the 13 on board remain missing.[138][139]
25 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 25 October 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Vietnam
The cargo ship suffered a blackout and drifted onto a reef causing a breach off Vietnam. She was beached to prevent sinking. crew safe.[140]
26 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 27 October 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Unidentified migrant boat
Iran
A small boat carrying 19 migrants from Iran capsized because of poor weather conditions. Four people, a man, a woman, and two children, died. It was travelling near Dunkirk, France. It had been going from France to the UK, but was carrying migrants who had recently arrived in the UK from Iran.[141][142]
The Evropi-class mine countermeasures vessel collided with the container ship (Portugal) off Piraeus and was severely damaged.[143]Kallisto was cut in two. Her stern section apparently sank and her bow section developed a severe list and was taken in tow for Piraeus.[144][145][146]
29 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 27 October 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Unidentified migrant boat
Senegal
An unidentified boat carrying refugees from Senegal caught fire, capsized, and then sank off of Senegal and the Canary Islands. It was carrying at least 140 migrants. A rescue operation is underway by the navies and coast guards of Senegal and Spain. It is the deadliest shipwreck of 2020. So far, 140 people are presumed drowned.[147][148][149]
30 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 30 October 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Unidentified refugee boat
Mozambique
An unidentified boat carrying refugees sank near . The boat was carrying 74 people. Out of the 74 people on the boat, 54 drowned.[150]
November[]
2 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 2 November 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Enchanted Capri
Mexico
The decommissioned former cruise ship/accommodations vessel dragged anchor in a storm and went aground at Alvarado, Veracruz State, Mexico, in the Gulf of Mexico. Vessel abandoned and still aground as of December 2021.[151]
3 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 3 November 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Turkey
The tour boat, which was carrying 33 Russian tourists sank, after capsizing off the coast of Alanya. The Turkish Coast Guard intervened and took part in diving operations after the ship sunk. 32 of the 33 people on board, as well as the 5 Turkish Coast Guard members who got onto the boat as it was sinking to aid tourists were saved. However, there was one fatality.[152]
6 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 6 November 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Vietnam
Tropical Storm Goni: The cargo ship sank off Quảng Nam Province, Vietnam in the South China Sea. Seven of her crew was rescued. Her master and four others remain missing.[153]
8 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 8 November 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Unknown fishing vessel
United Kingdom
The fishing vessel was sunk in a collision with an unknown ship one mile (1.6 km) off Tyne Piers, Tynemouth, United Kingdom. Two crew were rescued.[154]
9 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 9 November 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Vietnam
Tropical Storm Etau: The cargo ship dragged anchor in a typhoon and was driven ashore at Dung Quat, Quảng Ngãi Province, Vietnam.[155]
10 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 10 November 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Vietnam
Tropical Storm Etau: The cargo ship dragged anchor in a typhoon around 10 November and was driven ashore at Cửa Việt, Quảng Trị Province, Vietnam at the mouth of the Thạch Hãn River. The vessel is to be refloated.[156]
Vietnam
Tropical Storm Etau: The cargo ship dragged anchor in a typhoon around 10 November and was driven ashore at Cửa Việt, Quảng Trị Province, Vietnam at the mouth of the Thạch Hãn River. The vessel is to be refloated.[156]
11 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 11 November 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Unknown fishing vessel
Turkey
The fishing vessel was capsized and sunk in a collision with (Greece) south of Karataş, Adana Province, Turkey in the Mediterranean Sea. All five crew lost.[157]
12 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 12 November 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Gibraltar
The out of service freighter dragged anchor in a typhoon and was driven ashore at Pasay, Manila, Philippines.[158]
The fishing vessel was capsized and sunk in a collision, or close contact with cargo ship (Cyprus) in the Indian Ocean 55 nautical miles (102 km; 63 mi) south east of Bali. Seven crew were rescued by Cape Kallia, four remain missing.[160]
Unidentified police boat
United States
The 24-foot (7.3 m) Tulalip fisheries vessel capsized around 8:30 PM PST off the coast of Jetty Island in Puget Sound. Two Tulalip Tribes police officers were thrown from the boat. The captain, Shawn Edge, was rescued by tribal fishermen near Hat Island, Washington, while the other officer, Charlie Cortez, is presumed dead. Cortez was the first Tulalip tribal police officer to die in the line of duty.[161]
18 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 18 November 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Unidentified fishing boat
Malaysia
A fishing boat sank in stormy weather. While one person was saved, three Malaysians, and the Thai captain remain missing and feared dead.[162]
20 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 20 November 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Brazil
The offshore supplytug capsized and sank near Petrobras P-48 Platform, Campos Basin, Brazil, in 250 metres (820 ft) of water, some 55 nautical miles (102 km; 63 mi) east of Cabo de Sao Tome, northeast of Rio de Janeiro. All 18 crew rescued.[163]
23 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 23 November 2020
Ship
Country
Description
United States
The fishing vessel sank off Provincetown, Massachusetts. The crew remain missing.[164]
Iran
The container ship, aground near Batam, Indonesia, since 10 May 2020, was struck by (Cyprus). The stern of Shahraz suffered significant damage.[58]
Cyprus
The container ship was driven ashore near Batam, Indonesia, after striking the stern of the container ship (Iran) which was already aground.[58]
25 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 25 November 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Philippines
The civilian landing craft capsized and sank off the , Palawan, Philippines in the Sulu Sea in stormy weather. 15 crew rescued, 2 remain missing.[165]
28 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 28 November 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Unnamed container ship
None
A section of a container ship under construction at Kaohsiung Ship Yard, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, sank while being moved in the yard. Refloating is expected.[166]
Unknown fishing vessel
Japan
The fishing vessel was sunk in a collision with cargo ship (Japan) off , north of Tokyo, Japan. All 12 on board rescued, but 1 later died.[167]
December[]
3 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 3 December
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The fishing trawler burned, capsized and sank at dock in shallow water, vessel partially above water, at Vigo, Spain.[168]
5 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 5 December 2020
Ship
Country
Description
China
The cargo ship sprung a leak and sank at anchor off Cu Lao Cham, (Cham Islands), Quảng Nam Province, Vietnam in the South China Sea, vessel partially above water. The crew and passengers were evacuated.[169]
Ivana D
Unknown
The unmanned gas drilling platform collapsed and sank in a storm in the northern Adriatic Sea 27 nautical miles (50 km; 31 mi) north west of Pula, Croatia. The wreck was located on 11 December.[170]
10 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 10 December 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Vietnam
The cargo ship struck a reef off a small islet, or the islet itself, filled, and sank 4 nautical miles (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) off Phù Mỹ District, Bình Định Province, Vietnam in the South China Sea. All nine crew and two passengers were rescued.[171]
Sierra Leone
The cargo ship ran aground on Nangan Island, Matsu Islands, Lienchiang County, Taiwan, in the South China Sea. Refloated and towed to where she filled, capsized and sank in the harbor, partially above water. The crew were safe.[172]
13 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 13 December 2020
Ship
Country
Description
China
The container ship was sunk in a collision with the container ship Oceana (Antigua and Barbuda) in the Yangtze River Estuary. Eight crew were rescued, three killed, and five remain missing.[173]
15 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 15 December
Ship
Country
Description
Indonesia
The coastal cargo boat was sunk in a collision with the container ship (South Korea) off Surabaya. All eight crew rescued.[174]
Chief William Saulis
Canada
Debris from the 15-metre (50 ft) fishing vessel that operated out of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia began washing ashore. The vessel had departed on 12 December from Yarmouth, fishing off the coast of Nova Scotia. Attempts to contact the vessel failed and the six-person crew were presumed dead.[175]
Gwalad-y-Mor
United Kingdom
The fishing vessel was severely damaged by the explosion of a Second World War bomb whilst fishing off the north Norfolk coast. Her seven crew were rescued by (Denmark). Gwalad-y-Mor was towed in to Grimsby, Lincolnshire in a waterlogged condition by the tug (United Kingdom).[176][177]
Indonesia
The out of service hopper dredge filled and sank at in the Singapore Strait. The four maintenance crew on board were evacuated before she sank.[178]
17 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 17 December
Ship
Country
Description
Unknown boat
unknown
A 5.4-metre (17 ft 9 in), fibreglass-hulled ghost ship washed ashore at Ailuk Atoll in the Marshall Islands. No crew was found, but the vessel was found to contain 649 kilograms (1,431 lb) of cocaine. The wreck occurred approximately one week prior to 17 December, but the discovery of the cargo was not made until 17 December. The boat was not flagged under any country, and may be from Central or South America, and may have been at sea up to two years before appearing at Ailuk.[179]
Panama
The cargo ship capsized and sank in rough weather 1.4 nautical miles (2.6 km; 1.6 mi) off Phú Quý Island, Bình Thuận Province, Vietnam in the South China Sea north east of Vũng Tàu. All 15 crew are missing.[180]
18 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 18 December 2020
Ship
Country
Description
China
The cargo ship ran aground at in the Yellow Sea. Hull breached and engine room flooded, ship may be on the bottom. All 18 crew were air evacuated.[181]
19 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 19 December 2020
Ship
Country
Description
KS 6010
United States
The construction barge broke loose from her moorings, or mooring line cut on purpose, and drifted ashore in Pensacola Bay, at Gulf Breeze, Florida. The vessel was pulled off by tugs on 20 December.[182]
21 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 21 December 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Sierra Leone
The cargo ship developed a list and sank in stormy weather in the South China Sea off Vietnam. The crew were rescued by the LNG tanker (Marshall Islands) and the container ship (Liberia).[183]
24 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 24 December 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Unknown boat
Tunisia
A migrant boat sank off the coat of Tunisia. The vessel was carrying 45 people of which 20 drowned.[184]
26 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 26 December 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Unknown boat
Uganda
A boat capsized in Lake Albert along the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The vessel was carrying dozens of people and was pushed over by a "strong wind." At least 26 people drowned and 21 were rescued.[185]
28 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 28 December 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Russia
The fishing trawler iced up and capsized during a snowstorm in the Barents Sea west of in the Novaya Zemlya archipelago. Out of the 19 people on board 17 fishermen remain missing and two were rescued by a passing ship.[186][187]
29 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 29 December 2020
Ship
Country
Description
Thun Liffey
Ireland
The tanker ran aground off the Lough Foyle river mouth in Northern Ireland. No crew were injured or killed, and none are missing. The ship was refloated in less than a day after the initial incident.[188]
31 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 31 December 2020
Ship
Country
Description
China
The cargo ship sprung a leak on 30 December, sinking the next day in Hangzhou Bay, south of Shanghai, China. Out of the 13 people on board 7 fishermen are still missing and 4 were rescued, 2 dead.[189]
Unknown date[]
List of shipwrecks: Unknown date in 2020
Ship
Country
Description
HMS Northumberland
Royal Navy
The Type 23 frigate collided with a Russian Navy submarine in the Arctic Ocean in late 2020. The incident was filmed by Channel 5 as part of their Warship: Life at Sea series, broadcast in 2021–22.[190]