Famous Ships and Boats in History

Sort by

All Countries Passenger Ships and Boats

(Another )

Achille Lauro — Dutch cruise ship
Hijacked in 1985 by 4 men representing the PLF; one passenger killed and thrown overboard. The affair was portray in a movie. On January 6, 1953, she collided in the Red Sea with MS Oranje, heading in the opposite direction. LAUNCHED: 1947, July 18 → FATE: Sank in the Indian Ocean on December 2, 1994 due to fire.

Aeolus — British cruise ship; movie set creation
A mysterious ship in the British movie Triangle. The movie scenes include the exterior of the cruise liner which the director insisted on constructing to avoid shooting everything with green screens LAUNCHED: 2009, movie release → FATE: Inconclusive.

(Another )

Albert M. Boe — American liberty ship
Last Liberty ship built. Though currently landlocked, she is still in use as the home of Trident Seafoods. The ship was withdrawn from the reserve fleet on 19 August 1964 and converted for use as the fish cannery ship Star of Kodiak. LAUNCHED: 1945, September 18 → FATE: Converted to a fish cannery ship in 1964.

American Queen — American river paddle steamboat; stern-wheeler
Largest steamboat ever built, as of 2012. In 2012 she participated for the first time in the Great Steamboat Race and came in second. LAUNCHED: 1995 → FATE: Still in operation on the Mississippi River.

Ancon, SS — American steamship
First ship to officially transit the Panama Canal on August, 15 1914. (Sister ship Cristobal made the first unofficial transit on August 3, 1914). She was acquired by the US Navy from the US Army for troop transport just after the end of World War I. LAUNCHED: 1902 → FATE: As the USS Ancon (ID-1467), she was decommissioned on July 25, 1919.

(Another )

Andrea Doria, SS — Italian ocean liner
Collided with the MS Stockholm in the Atlantic and sank; 52 people died. Of all Italy's ships at the time, she was the largest, fastest and supposedly safest. She was the last major transatlantic passenger ship to sink. LAUNCHED: 1953, January 18 → FATE: Sank July 26, 1956.

Antonia Graza — Italian ocean liner
A fictional ship in the movie Ghost Ship. The plot follows a salvage crew that discovers a long-lost passenger ship floating lifeless in a remote region of the Bering Sea... and horrors abound. LAUNCHED: 1962, first scene takes place in May → FATE: Last scene takes place in 1966.

Page 2

Archimedes, SS — British steamship
First ship propelled by a screw drive. The advantages over side paddlewheel propulsion persuaded the Royal Navy to build the steam sloop-of-war HMS Rattler, the first British warship to adopt a screw propeller. LAUNCHED: 1839, October 18 → FATE: Sank in the Meuse River during a storm on March 1, 1864.

Ariel — English clipper ship
Famous for almost winning The Great Tea Race of 1866, an unofficial race between Fuzhou, China and London. On September 6, 1866, the Taeping docked twenty minutes ahead of Ariel. LAUNCHED: 1865 → FATE: Went missing in early 1872.

Atlantic, RMS — English ocean liner with sails and steam
One of the deadliest civilian maritime disaster in history killing 535 people. The greatest disaster for the White Star Line prior to the loss of Titanic 39 years later. LAUNCHED: 1871, June 18 → FATE: Ran onto rocks and sank off the coast of Nova Scotia April 1, 1873.

Belle of Louisville — American steamboat, paddle, stern-wheeler
Oldest continually operating river steamboat in the United States. She competes every year in the Kentucky Derby Festival event The Great Steamboat Race. LAUNCHED: 1914 → FATE: Restored in 1964, still in use at Louisville, Kentucky.

(Another )

Birkenhead, HMS — British frigate, steamer
The protocol "women and children first" originated on this sinking ship. Only 193 of the 643 people on board survived. Over the years, numerous attempts have been made to salvage the gold thought on board. LAUNCHED: 1845, December 18 → FATE: Struck a hidden reef and sank February 26, 1852.

(Another )

Britannic, HMHS — British ocean liner
Largest ship lost during the World War I with the loss of 30 lives. Launched just before the start of the World War I, she was put to use as a hospital ship in 1915. With her loss, SS Bismarck was given to the White Star Line as part of post-war reparations. LAUNCHED: 1914, February 18 → FATE: Struck a mine and sank off the Greek island of Kea November 21, 1916.

Buford, USAT — American cargo/passenger ship
Used to deport 249 non-citizens of the U.S. to Russia because of their alleged anarchist political beliefs; nicknamed the Soviet Ark.. In 1906, rescued over 600 passengers and crew from the SS Mongolia. In 1921, rescued 65 passengers and crew from the inferno of the Japanese steam freighter Tokuyo Maru. Used by Buster Keaton for his film The Navigator. LAUNCHED: 1890, August 29 → FATE: Scrapped in late 1929.

(Another )

Cap Arcona, SS — German ocean liner
Her sinking was one of the biggest maritime losses of life during World War II. Only 350 of the 4,500 former concentration camp inmates aboard the ship survived. LAUNCHED: 1927, May 18 → FATE: Sank on May 3, 1945 after being attacked by an RAF squadron.

Page 3

Carpathia — British ocean liner; (Cunard Line passenger steamship)
Became famous for rescuing survivors of RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. After sailing through dangerous ice fields, she arrived at the sinking Titanic at 4:00 am and took on 705 survivors from lifeboats. LAUNCHED: 1902, August 18 → FATE: Sunk in the Atlantic on July 17, 1918 during World War I by a German submarine, the fifth Cunard ship sunk in as many weeks.

(Another )

Central America, SS — American paddle steamboat, stern-wheeler; three-masted
Sank in a hurricane in 1857, along with 400 passengers and crew and 30,000 pounds of gold. She operated between Central America and the eastern coast of the United States during the 1850s. LAUNCHED: 1852, October 18 → FATE: Sank on September 12, 1857 about 160 miles east of Cape Hattera.

Champion of the Seas — English clipper ship
On her maiden voyage, she set a record for the fastest run in 24 hours of 465 nautical miles or 861 km. She was the passenger ship built for the run from Liverpool, England to Melbourne, Australia. LAUNCHED: 1854, April 18 → FATE: Abandoned off Cape Horn in leaking condition in 1877.

City of Adelaide — English clipper ship
The world's oldest surviving clipper ship. From 1864 to 1887, she played an important part in the immigration of Australia. She is now part of the National Historic Ships of the United Kingdom. LAUNCHED: 1864, May 18 → FATE: Out of service since 1948, current being restored.

City of Benares, SS — British steam passenger ship
The ship taking English evacuated children to Canada torpedoed during World War II by a German submarine. 260 of the 407 people on board were lost including 77 children. The sinking reportedly inspired actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr to develop and patent a system of spread spectrum radio as a means to guide anti-ship torpedoes. LAUNCHED: 1935, August 5 → FATE: Sunk September 18, 1940.

Clermont — American river steamboat
First enduring and financially successful steamboat, running on the Hudson River. She was never known as Clermont at the time, but North River Steamboat. After it was lengthened and refitted in 1808 at Clermont, NY, it was named the North River. LAUNCHED: 1807, August 18 → FATE: Retired in 1814, then scrapped.

Color Magic — Norwegian cruise ferry
The largest cruise ferry in the world. The ship operates between Oslo, Norway and Kiel, Germany. LAUNCHED: 2006, December 18 → FATE: Still in service.

Comet, PS — British paddle steamer
First commercially successful steamboat service in Europe on the River Clyde between Glasgow and Greenock in Scotland. The success of this passenger service quickly inspired competition and the Comet was soon outclassed by newer steamers. LAUNCHED: 1812, August 18 → FATE: Wrecked in strong currents at Craignish Point near Oban on December 13, 1820.

Page 4

Constitution, SS — American ocean liner
Because of her post-war modernity, the ship was featured in the 1957 movie An Affair to Remember and in several TV series, such as the situation comedy I Love Lucy. She and her sister-ship, SS Independence, were innovative ocean liners with an informal, yet luxurious, atmosphere uncommon in passenger ships prior to World War II. LAUNCHED: 1950, September 18 → FATE: Sank November 17, 1997 while under tow to be scrapped north of the Hawaiian Islands. Sister-ship, SS Indepedence, suffered a worst demise.

(Another )

Costa Concordia — Italian cruise ship
Largest cruise ship disaster; ran aground on a reef off Isola del Giglio and capsized; 32 people dead. In 2008, she suffered damage to her bow when high winds pushed the ship alongside its dock. LAUNCHED: 2005, September 18 → FATE: Capsized January 13, 2012.

(Another )

Cutty Sark — English clipper ship
Lost China-to-London race to ship called Thermopylae. She is one of three remaining original composite construction (wooden hull on an iron frame) clipper ships from the nineteenth century. LAUNCHED: 1869, November 18 → FATE: Now preserved in dry dock in Greenwich, England.

(Another )

Doña Paz, MV — Japanese built, Philippine owned ferry
A collision with MT Vector in 1987 resulted in the deadliest ferry disaster in history in peace time; possibly 4375 lives lost. As Don Sulpicio, on June 5, 1979, she was gutted by fire (with no casualties), beached and declared a total loss. The wreck was sold, refurbished and returned to service in 1981. LAUNCHED: 1963, April 18 → FATE: Collided with the oil tanker, caught fire and sank on December 20, 1987.

Driver, HMS — British side-wheeler paddle sloop
First steamship to circumnavigation the globe. She was the first steamship to visit New Zealand, arriving January 1846, and was involved in the New Zealand Wars. LAUNCHED: 1840, December 18 → FATE: Wrecked on Mayaguana Island on August 3,1861.

Earnslaw, TSS — New Zealand ferry, coal-fired steamship
One of the oldest tourist attractions in New Zealand carrying passengers across Lake Wakatipu. She made a cameo appearance in the 2008 movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull as an Amazon River boat. LAUNCHED: 1912, February 18 → FATE: Still in use.

(Another )

Eastland, SS — American steamship, passenger
Largest loss of life from a single shipwreck on the Great Lakes. On the morning of July 24, 1915, the ship, being top-heavy, rolled over while docked in the Chicago River, killing 844 passengers and crew. LAUNCHED: 1903, May 18 → FATE: Sunk on July 24, 1915; raised, converted to a gunboat, renamed USS Wilmette February, 1918; sold for scrap in October of 1946.

(Another )

Empress of Ireland — Canadian ocean liner
Collided with a Norwegian collier in 1914 claiming 1012 lives, the worst Canadian maritime accident in peacetime. The wreck lies in 40 meters (130 ft) of water, making it accessible to divers. Many artifacts from the wreckage are on display at the Site historique maritime de la Pointe-au-Père in Rimouski, Quebec. LAUNCHED: 1906, January 18 → FATE: Sank in the Saint Lawrence River following a collision May 29, 1914.

Page 5

(Another )

Estonia, MS — German cruise ferry with bow opening car ramp
Worst maritime ship disaster in the European waters in peacetime after the Titanic, costing 852 lives. As the largest Estonian-owned ship of the time, she symbolized the independence Estonia regained after the collapse of the Soviet Union. LAUNCHED: 1980, April 18 → FATE: Capsized and sunk in the Baltic Sea on September 28, 1994.

Eureka — American paddle steamboat, stern-wheeler, ferry
The largest wooden passenger ferry ever built, certified to carry 3,500 people. She was the last example of the fleet of ferry boats carrying passengers and vehicles across the San Francisco Bay. LAUNCHED: 1890 → FATE: Preserved at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.

(Another )

Exodus 1947 — American packet steamer
The ship carried 4,500 Jewish immigrants from France to British Mandatory Palestine on July 11, 1947. The incident was the topic of the 1960 movie Exodus.. Until 1942, she carried passengers and freight between Norfolk, Virginia and Baltimore, Maryland. LAUNCHED: 1928 → FATE: After efforts to restore her, a fire destroyed her in 1952 while tied up in Haifa. The wreck was towed out past the ship lanes and scuttled. Two later attempts to raise her for salvage failed.

Flying Cloud — American clipper ship
The most famous clipper ship, she set a world record (until 1989) for the fastest passage from New York to San Francisco in 89 days, more than 16,000 miles. The ship's navigator was a woman, Eleanor Creesy wife of Josiah Perkins Creesy who skippered Flying Cloud. LAUNCHED: 1851 → FATE: Went aground at Saint John, New Brunswick June 19, 1874.

Francisco, HSC — Argentine high-speed catamaran
The world's faster ferry sailing at a speed of 58 knots (67 mph). Named after Pope Francis, she is powered by liquefied natural gas. (More info) LAUNCHED: 2012, November 17 → FATE: Still operating.

(Another )

General Slocum — American river paddle steamboat, side-wheeler
Caught fire and burned to the water line in New York's East River on June 15, 1904 killing 1,021 people. She was named after Major General Henry Warner Slocum, 1827-94. LAUNCHED: 1891, April 18 → FATE: The remains were recovered and converted into a barge, which sank in a storm in 1911.

Goliath, RMS — British ocean liner
Fiction ocean liner in the movie Goliath Awaits. The interiors of Goliath were filmed aboard the RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. LAUNCHED: 1981, movie release → FATE: Inconclusive.

(Another )

Great Britain, SS — British steamship, passenger ship
First steamer to cross the Atlantic. Also first built of iron and with a screw propeller. She ran aground in 1846 and was sold for salvage, repaired and revised. In 1881 she was converted to sail. In 1937 she was retired and scuttled. In 1970 she was recovered and eventually restored as a museum ship. LAUNCHED: 1845, July 18 → FATE: Now a museum ship in Bristol Harbour.

Page 6

(Another )

Great Eastern, SS — British iron paddle steamboat, side-wheeler with sails
The world's largest steamship; successfully laid cable across the Atlantic Ocean. She completed 45 crossings in eight years; then she was used for carrying mail, then troops. LAUNCHED: 1858, January 18 → FATE: Broken up for scrap at Rock Ferry on the River Mersey in 1889.

Great Republic — American clipper, four-masted
The largest wooden clipper ship ever constructed, requiring 1,500,000 feet of pine, 336½ tons of iron, and 56 tons of copper. In 1853, fire sank her; but she was salvaged and rebuilt as a three deck vessel and went on to set transatlantic speed records. LAUNCHED: 1853, October 18 → FATE: Abandoned during a hurricane off Bermuda March 5, 1872.

Great Western, SS — British paddle steamboat, side-wheeler
First paddle ship built for crossing the Atlantic; completed the crossing in April of 1838. In later years, she was used as a showboat, a floating palace/concert hall and gymnasium. LAUNCHED: 1837, July 18 → FATE: Taken out of service December of 1846, she was broken up in 1856.

Henrietta — French steamboat
Fiction steam boat in the movie Around the World in 80 Days. In the movie, the boat is stripped clean in order to fuel her across the ocean. LAUNCHED: 1956, movie release → FATE: Inconclusive.

Icon of the Seas — American cruise ship
Largest passenger ship ever constructed, accommodating 7600 guests and a gross tonnage of 250,800, surpassing Wonder of the Seas at 235,600.. At 1,198 feet (365 meters) in length, she is longer than the largest military ship ever built, the U.S. Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier at 1,106 feet (337 meters). LAUNCHED: 2022, December 9 → FATE: Still in service.

Ile de France, SS — French ocean liner
Used as a floating prop for 1960 movie The Last Voyage with the name SS Claridon. She was the first major transatlantic ocean liner to be decorated entirely in the Art Deco style. LAUNCHED: 1926, March 18 → FATE: Scrapped at Osaka, Japan in 1959.

(Another )

Kalakala — American ferry
The first streamlined ferry with Art Deco styling and luxurious amenities served in Puget Sound from 1935 to 1967. From 1926 to 1933, she sailed as the ferry Peralta; after a fire, the superstructure was rebuilt in modern style. LAUNCHED: 1926, April as Peralta; relaunch 1934 → FATE: Moored at Tacoma, Washington.

(Another )

Kalmar Nyckel — Swedish full-rigged pinnace
The ship is famed for carrying Swedish settlers to North America in 1638 to establish the colony of New Sweden. A replica (as seen in "Another IMAGE) was launched in 1997. The Kalmar Nyckel made four successful round trips from Sweden to North America, a record unchallenged by any other colonial vessel. LAUNCHED: 1625 → FATE: The original ship was sunk in the North Sea by the Dutch in a war against the English in July of 1652. Replica is in service as a tourist attraction at Wilmington, Delware.

Page 7

Kiangya, SS — Chinese steamship, passenger
Blew up, probably after hitting a World War II Japanese mine, resulting in over 3000 killed. She was packed with refugees from the Chinese Civil War fleeing the advancing Communist army when she sank. LAUNCHED: 1939 → FATE: Sank December 4, 1948 in the mouth of the Huangpu River 50 miles south of Shanghai.

Kuru, SS — Finnish steamship
On September 7, 1929, she capsized and sank on lake Näsijärvi, in Tampere making it the worst maritime disaster in Finnish waters with the loss of 136 lives. The capsizing was mainly due to a high center of gravity when a third deck level was added in 1927. LAUNCHED: 1915 → FATE: The wreck was raised and repaired shortly afterwards and served until 1936.

La Amistad — Spanish schooner, two-masted; built in U.S.
In 1839, Africans being transported as slaves revolted against their captors aboard. She primarily engaged in short coastal trade with sugar-industry cargo. Her normal route ran from Havana to her home port of Guanaja. LAUNCHED: 1838, maybe → FATE: Renamed Ion, she was sold in Guadeloupe in 1844. No record after 1844.

Laconia, RMS — British ocean liner, then converted to a troop ship
After a torpedo attack, a dramatic rescue of the ship's passengers turned to disaster and became known as the Laconia incident. U.S. planes attacked the several German U-boats trying to rescue its 2,732 passengers and crew most of whom were abandoned by the subs, resulting in a loss of over 1,649 people. The sinking was portrayed in the 2011 British TV movie. LAUNCHED: 1921, April 18 → FATE: Sunk by German submarine U-156 off the coast of West Africa, September 12, 1942.

Lady Lovibond — English schooner
A legendary ship said to reappear every fifty years as a ghost ship, yet no records of the ship or its sinking exist. The ship may have been a fabrication from a newspaper article in 1924, or based on phantom sightings between 1914 and 1924. LAUNCHED: 1798, February 12, first supposed sighting → FATE: Allegedly wrecked on the Goodwin Sands, off the coast of south-east England, on February 13, 1748, killing everyone aboard.

Lancastria, RMS — British ocean liner
Worst single loss of life in British maritime history and the bloodiest single engagement for UK forces in World War II. Over 4000 people were lost while evacuating British nationals and troops from France. LAUNCHED: 1922, June → FATE: Sunk off the French port of St. Nazaireon June 17, 1940.

Liberté, SS — German ocean liner; then American war prize; then French owned
Featured prominently in the movie The French Line, starring Jane Russell. She was taken as a US war prize at the end of World War II, then used to transport US servicemen back to the states, and finally turned over to the French as war reparations. LAUNCHED: 1928, August 18 → FATE: Retired in 1961 and scrapped in 1962.

Liemba, MV — German ferry, passenger and car
The last vessel of the German Imperial Navy still sailing. She was the inspiration for the German gunboat in the novel and movie The African Queen. LAUNCHED: 1915, February → FATE: Scuttled July 26, 1916; raised in 1927, still in service on Lake Tanganyika.

Page 8

(Another )

Lusitania, RMS — British ocean liner
Torpedoed by German submarine U-20, killing 1,198 people. Her sinking during transatlantic passage turned public opinion against Germany in World War I. LAUNCHED: 1906, June 18 → FATE: Sank 70 kms from the Old Head of Kinsale May 7, 1915.

(Another )

Majestic — American paddle steamboat, stern-wheeler showboat
The last of the original traveling showboats. Now the riverboat is a venue for comedies and musicals. LAUNCHED: 1920 → FATE: Currently docked at the Cincinnati Public Landing in Ohio.

Mary Celeste — American brigantine
The "ghost ship" found near the Strait of Gibraltar abandoned by its seven crew members in 1872. The popular mystery of the ship began with Arthur Conan Doyle's story in 1884, about a derelict ship which he called Marie Celeste. LAUNCHED: 1860 → FATE: Intentionally scuttled in January of 1885.

Maryland Dove — American merchant vessel
Replica of the Dove, one of two early 17th-century English ship that, in 1634, brought the first settlers to what is now Maryland. The original Dove was the smaller of the two ship, used in shallow waterways along the coast. The accompanied ship with 140 passengers was the Ark. LAUNCHED: 1978, August 18 → FATE: On exhibit at Historic St. Mary's City and occasionally other ports.

Mauretania, RMS — British ocean liner
At the time, she was the largest and fastest ship in the world. She made an eastbound transatlantic crossing with a long-standing record average speed of 23.7 knots. She served as a hospital ship and troop ship in World War I. LAUNCHED: 1906, September 18 → FATE: Scrapped in 1934.

Maxim Gorky — Russian cruise ship
Portrayed the fictional SS Britannic in the filming of Juggernaut in 1974. She was sold to a Russian company in 1974. The hard luck ship hit an ice floe while on a cruise and nearly sank in 1989. LAUNCHED: 1968, February 18 → FATE: Beached and scrapped in India February of 2009.

Mayflower — English galleon
Transported the English Pilgrims from England to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620. The ocean crossing took 66 days. A second ship called the Mayflower made a voyage from London to Plymouth Colony in 1629. LAUNCHED: 1607, about → FATE: Sold and taken apart in May of 1624.

Minnow, S.S. — American express cruiser
A fictional charter boat on the hit 1960s television sitcom Gilligan's Island. There were actually four different boats used on the show. (See Original S.S. Minnow Found for more.) LAUNCHED: 1964, for the TV series → FATE: Series ended in 1967.

Page 9

(Another )

Morro Castle, SS — American cruise ship
A devastating fire aboard ship that killed 137 resulted in greater fire safety on newer ships. The burnt ship ended up at Asbury Park, NJ, where it became a tourist attraction. The tragedy resulted in the establishment of the United States Merchant Marine Academy. LAUNCHED: 1930, August 18 → FATE: Beached on September 8, 1934, scrapped March 29, 1935.

Noah's Ark — Ancient cargo ship andferry
Legendary vessel that carried Noah's family and animal pairs during a torrential rain storm. Information about the ship is found in the Bible as well as the Koran. LAUNCHED: 2400, about → FATE: Unknown.

Norge, SS — Norwegian, then Danish ocean liner
The biggest civilian maritime disaster in the Atlantic in the until the sinking of the Titanic. More than 635 people died during the sinking, among them 225 Norwegians. The disaster remains the worst in Danish maritime history. LAUNCHED: 1881, June 18 → FATE: Ran aground and sank June 28, 1904.

(Another )

Normac, MS — American fire tug, later a ferry
Used as Captain John's Harbour Boat Restaurant, a floating restaurant in Toronto Harbour, from 1969-1981. She sank after being severely damaged when the ferry Trillium struck her in 1981. She was raised in 1986 and again refurbished as a restaurant as seen in "Another IMAGE". LAUNCHED: 1902 → FATE: Currently a floating restaurant in Toronto, Ontario.

(Another )

Norman Atlantic, MS — Italian roll-on/roll-off car ferry
At least thirty people died when she caught fire in the Strait of Otranto, in the Adriatic Sea. More than 400 people were rescued, most in nighttime helicopter sorties despite high winds and seas. LAUNCHED: 2009, November, 2 → FATE: Scrapped.

(Another )

Normandie, SS — French ocean liner
Largest, fastest and most powerful passenger ship ever built. Considered one of the greatest ocean liners in history, her Art Deco motif was so splendid she was known as the "Ship of Light" just as Paris was the "City of Light". LAUNCHED: 1935, October 29 → FATE: Caught fire and capsized in February 1942; scrapped October, 1946.

Oceanos, MTS — Greek cruise ship
Realizing the ship was doomed, the crew fled in panic, neglecting their duties and the passengers. All 571 people on board were saved following one of the most dramatic and successful rescue operations of its kind. LAUNCHED: 1952, July → FATE: Sank off South Africa's eastern coast on August 4, 1991.

Orion, RMS — British ocean liner
First to offer modern passenger comforts in ocean travel including air conditioning.. She was launched at England from Brisbane, Australia by wireless remote by the Duke of Gloucester. She served as a troop ship in World War II, then converted to a passenger liner in 1946. LAUNCHED: 1934, December 18 → FATE: Broken for scrap at Antwerp, Belgium in 1963.

Page 10

Pacific Princess — American cruise ship
The ship featured in the TV series Love Boat from 1977 to 1986. In 1998 the Pacific Princess was impounded by police in Piraeus, Greece after 25 kg of heroin was found on board. LAUNCHED: 1970, May 18 → FATE: Sold to be scrapped in March of 2012.

Portland, PS — American sidewheel steamer
Known as the "Titanic of New England" and considered New England's worst maritime disaster, she went down with an estimated 192-245 passengers and crew. The storm that sank her, killed more than 400 persons and sank more than 150 other boats and ships. LAUNCHED: 1889 → FATE: Sank in the Portland Gale off of Cape Ann November 27, 1898.

President — American steamboat
The last original "Western Rivers" style side-wheel river excursion steamboat in the United States and the second riverboat casino in modern times. In the 1950s and 1960s, she berthed in New Orleans for many years as a popular music venue featuring concerts by national acts; in 1990 she was converted into a floating casino. LAUNCHED: 1924 → FATE: In 2007 she was disassembled and moved in pieces to St. Elmo, Illinois where she may be re-assembled as a non-floating tourist attraction and hotel.

(Another )

Princess Alice — British paddle steamer
The greatest loss of life, 600-700, of any British inland waterway shipping accident after being struck by the Bywell Castle. Because of the river pollution from the sewage and local industrial output, the recovered bodies were covered with slime and toxins. LAUNCHED: 1865, July → FATE: Sank on September 3, 1878 after the collision on the River Thames.

Princess Mafalda, SS — Italian ocean liner
Her sinking and the loss of 314 people was the greatest loss of life in Italian shipping and the largest ever in the in the Southern Hemisphere in peacetime. At the time, she was the largest Italian passenger ship afloat and known for her luxury. LAUNCHED: 1908, October 18 → FATE: Sank of the coast of Brazil October 9, 1927.

Princess Sophia, SS — Canadian passenger ship
The worst maritime accident in the history of British Columbia and Alaska. The wreck and the loss of 343 people was controversial since some thought that all aboard could have been saved. LAUNCHED: 1911, November 18 → FATE: Grounded on October 24,1918 and sank following day during a storm near Juneau Alaska.

(Another )

Principessa Jolanda, SS — Italian ocean liner
She was to be among the first transatlantic vessels with Marconi telegraphy, electric lighting and telephones. She never sailed, but capsized during initial launch and sank. LAUNCHED: 1907, September 18 → FATE: Sank September 22, 1907.

Prinzessin Victoria Luise — German passenger ship
First purpose-built cruise ship. Not only did she look more like a private yacht, she had 120 first class cabins, a library, gymnasium, and darkroom. LAUNCHED: 1900, June 18 → FATE: Declared a loss December 19, 1906 after running onto rocks at Kingston.

Page 11

(Another )

Queen Elizabeth, RMS — British ocean liner
With sister ship Queen Mary, dominated the transatlantic passenger service. She was used in World War II as troop transport. After being converted to a university and renamed Seawise University, she was destroyed by fire. The charred wreck was featured in the 1974 James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun. LAUNCHED: 1938, September 18 → FATE: After a fire, capsized in Hong Kong Harbor, January 9, 1972.

Queen Mary, RMS — British ocean liner
Once dominated transatlantic passenger service with sister ship Queen Elizabeth. She was used in World War II as troop transport carrying up to 15,000 passengers at a time. Featured in the 1972 movie The Poseidon Adventure and the 1981 movie Goliath Awaits. LAUNCHED: 1934, Septmber 26 → FATE: After sailing nearly 4 million miles, she was retired in 1967 and berthed in Long Beach, California as a museum ship and hotel from 1974 to present.

(Another )

Rhone, RMS — British packet ship
Sunk during a hurricane with the loss of approximately 123 lives. The wreckage is now a popular diving site and was used in the 1977 film The Deep that featured Jacqueline Bisset in a wet T‑shirt. LAUNCHED: 1865 → FATE: Wrecked in the British Virgin Islands on October 29, 1867.

River Queen — American sidewheel steamer
Closely associated with President Abraham Lincoln and General Ulysses S. Grant while operating on the Potomac River during the American Civil War. In March 1865, Abraham Lincoln met with his generals aboard the River Queen to discuss strategy for the end of the Civil War. LAUNCHED: 1864 → FATE: Burn to the water line in 1911, July

Royal Clipper — German tall ship; steel-hulled five masted fully rigged design
The largest and only five-masted full-rigged sailing ship in service. Her design was based on the German ship Preussen, but was configured for passenger comfort rather than cargo carrying. LAUNCHED: 2001 → FATE: Still in service.

Saint John Paul II, MV — Maltese catamaran ferry
The largest high-speed catamaran in the Mediterranean Sea and the second largest in the world as of 2020. Her service speed is approximately 37 knots, or 69 km/h (43 mph). She is operated by Virtu Ferries. LAUNCHED: 2018, December 22 → FATE: Still in operation.

Salem Express, MV — French roll-on/roll/off car ferry
She sank after colliding with reefs while carrying hundreds of Egyptian pilgrims. More than 500 passengers and crew were lost. The sunken wreck is in good condition although coral covers much of the ship. The wreck still contains cars and luggage. LAUNCHED: 1966 → FATE: Sank after collision on the Egyptian coast December 17, 1991.

Saluda — American river paddle steamboat, side-wheeler
Worst river steamboat accident in US; a tragedy for the Mormon Church. Over 100 passengers out of 175 were killed, including 28 Mormons. There were several dozen survivors. LAUNCHED: 1846, (sunk in 1847, raised and repaired) → FATE: Boilers exploded and destroyed the boat on the Missouri River near Lexington, Missouri, she sank April 9, 1852.

Page 12

San Capador, SS — American cruise ship
Backdrop for the movie Captain Hates the Sea, a 1934 comedy film showing a series of intertwining stories involving the passengers on a cruise ship. The exterior footage of the ship would be seen again in the Three Stooges short Dunked in the Deep. LAUNCHED: 1934, movie release → FATE: Inconclusive.

Santana — American commuter yacht
The boat in the 1948 movie Key Largo, starring Humphrey Bogart. The boat used in the movie, with Bogart's character at the helm, was the name of Bogart's personal sailing yacht. LAUNCHED: 1926, probably → FATE: Unknown.

(Another )

Scandinavian Star, MS — Scandinavian ferry for cars and passengers
The ship was set on fire by an arsonist in 1990, killing 159 people. She had at various times the names of MS Massalia, Stena Baltica, Island Fiesta, Scandinavian Star, MS Candi, MS Regal Voyager, and finally MS Regal V. LAUNCHED: 1971, January 18 → FATE: As MS Regal V, she was broken up and scrapped May, 2004.

Sea Venture — English merchant ship; purpose-built
First dedicated emigration ship as part of the Third Supply mission to the Jamestown Colony. During the storm, massive leaks developed because of faulty construction. All 150 people aboard and one dog made it to shore safely. LAUNCHED: 1609 → FATE: Damaged in a hurricane and scuttled at Discovery Bay, June 1609.

Sea Wing — American paddle steamer
One of the worst maritime disasters that has occurred on the upper Mississippi River with 98 passengers drowned. Shortly after leaving Lake City on the excursion return trip, a violent storm broke and capsizing the steamer. LAUNCHED: 1888 → FATE: Sunk in July 13, 1890. Later recovered and rebuilt.

Seaborn Legend — American cruise ship
The ship in the movie Speed 2: Cruise Control; starring Sandra Bullock. The plot has a couple on vacation to the Caribbean aboard a luxury cruise ship which is hijacked by a villain. LAUNCHED: 1997, for movie relase; ship launched in 1991. → FATE: Ship is still in service as Star Legend.

Seeadler, SMS — Scottish windjammer, three-masted; American owned
One of the last sailing ships used in a war; as a German merchant raider disguised as a Norwegian wood carrier. she was originally named Pass of Balmaha before capture by a German submarine. LAUNCHED: 1888 → FATE: Wrecked on a reef at the island of Pacific, August 2, 1917.

(Another )

Sewol, MS — Korean ferry brought from Japan
Worst Korean loss of life at sea. The provisional conclusion is that a sudden turn and the consequential shift of cargo caused the accident. LAUNCHED: 1994 → FATE: Capsized and sank April 16, 2014.

Page 13

SN.R4 — British Mountbatten class hovercraft
Was the largest civil hovercraft ever built, carrying 254 passengers and up to 30 cars. She is the only surviving hovercraft that served English Channel traffic from 1968 to 2000. The others, Sir Christopher, Sure, Swift, Princess Margaret, and The Prince of Wales, were all scrapped. LAUNCHED: 1968 → FATE: Preserved and on static display at the Hovercraft Museum at Lee-on-Solent, England.

(Another )

Spirit of Chartwell, MV — English hotel barge
The Royal Barge used for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, June 3, 2012. She originally sailed the Rhine River as the Van Gogh, designed to sail the waterways of Europe and venture into coastal waters. She was refitted in for the 2011 jubilee. LAUNCHED: 2009 → FATE: Still afloat.

St. Louis, SS — German ocean liner
In 1939, her captain, Gustav Schröder, tried to find homes for 937 German Jewish refugees after denied entry to Cuba. She was the subject of a 1974 book, Voyage of the Damned, and adapted for a 1976 movie of the same name. LAUNCHED: 1928, August 18 → FATE: Scrapped in Hamburg, Germany, 1952.

(Another )

Star Princess — Italian cruise ship; American-British owned
Fire amidship produced smoke, killing one passenger and injuring 13 others. With the fire initiated, highly combustible polycarbonate partitions, polyurethane deck tiles, and the plastic furniture produced large amounts of thick black smoke. LAUNCHED: 2001, May 18 → FATE: Damage repaired and still in service.

Staten Island Ferry — American passenger ferry boats
A fleet of eight ferry boats sailing free of charge between Manhattan and Staten Island in New York. On October 15, 2003, the Andrew J. Barberi collided with a pier killing eleven people and injuring many others; NYC's deadliest mass-transit incident in 50 years. LAUNCHED: 1819 → FATE: Still in service.

(Another )

Stockholm, MS — Swedish luxury cruise ship (ocean liner)
Collided with the SS Andrea Doria in heavy fog off the coast of Nantucket. She sailed under dozens of other names and is currently MS Athena. LAUNCHED: 1948 → FATE: Still in use.

Sultana, SS — American paddle steamboat, stern-wheeler
Tragically collided with the SS Narragansett. An estimated 1,800 of 2,400 passengers were killed when the ship's boilers exploded, earning her the appellation "Titanic of the Mississippi." LAUNCHED: 1863 → FATE: Sank April 27, 1865.

Susan Constant — British fully-rigged ship
The largest of three ships of the English Virginia Company sailing to establish the new Colony of Virginia, Jamestown. Replicas of Susan Constant, shown in image, and her sister-ships are docked in the James River at Jamestown Settlement. LAUNCHED: 1607 → FATE: After 1615, fate unknown.

Page 14

Taiping — Chinese steamship
Tragically collided with another vessel killing over 1,500 people. A memorial to the ship and those who died aboard her was established at Port Keeling naval base on Taiwan. The 2014 movie The Crossing is based on the sinking. LAUNCHED: 1920, probably → FATE: Sank January 27, 1949.

The World, MS — Swedish cruise ship
A ship serving as a residential community owned by its residents. She became the largest passenger ship to transit the Northwest Passage by sailing from Nome, Alaska to Nuuk, Greenland in 25 days, August-September, 2012. LAUNCHED: 2002, March → FATE: Still in service.

Thermopylae — English extreme clipper
Raced the clipper Cutty Sark from Shanghai back to London and won by seven days. In 1897, she was sold to Portugal and renamed Pedro Nunes for used as a naval training ship. LAUNCHED: 1868, August → FATE: Sunk as target practice by the Portuguese Navy, October 13, 1907.

(Another )

Titanic, RMS — British luxury ocean liner
The most famous ship sinking in history, she sank after hitting iceberg in the Atlantic, claiming over 1500 lives. Believed by many to be unsinkable, her disintegrating remains lie at a depth of 3,784 meters. Many movie have been made about her sinking including the 1997 film. LAUNCHED: 1911, May 18 → FATE: Sank in the North Atlantic April 15, 1912.

Toya Maru — Japanese train ferry
Her sinking was one of the major factors behind the construction of the Seikan Tunnel between Hokkaido and Honshu. Perhaps 1,153 people were lost but the exact number is unknown because some people boarded without tickets and others cancelled just before sailing. LAUNCHED: 1947, November → FATE: Sank during a typhoon in the Tsugaru Strait September 26, 1954.

Trent, RMS — British paddle steamer serving as a packet boat
Principle ship in the Trent affair in 1861 during the American Civil War. Her interception by USS San Jacinto and unlawfully capture of two Confederate diplomats almost led to war between the Britian and the United States. LAUNCHED: 1841 → FATE: Sold and broken up after 1865.

Umbria, RMS — British ocean liner
With her sister ship, Etruria, the last two transatlantic ocean liners fitted with auxiliary sails. In May of 1903, the Mafia tried to blow her up but failed. LAUNCHED: 1884, June 18 → FATE: Scrapped in 1910.

United States, SS — American ocean liner (steamship)
The fastest liner ever built; virtually no wood used in her construction. On her maiden voyage she captured the Blue Riband with the fastest transatlantic crossing on record in 3 days, 10 hours, 40 minutes at an average speed of 35.59 knots. LAUNCHED: 1951, June 18 → FATE: As of February 7, 2012, work has begun on the restoration project to prepare the ship for her eventual rebuild.

Page 15

Valbanera, SS — Scotish, then Spanish passenger steamship
Notable because of the mystery surrounding her disappearance during a hurricane. More than 480 passengers and crew were lost. Two empty lifeboats and the ships mast marked the spot where the ship sank. LAUNCHED: 1906 → FATE: Sank in a hurricane off Key West September of 1919.

Valencia, SS — American passenger steamboat (steamship)
Consider the worst maritime disaster in the Graveyard of the Pacific, a treacherous area off the southwest coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. 27 years after her sinking, one of her life rafts was found floating peacefully in nearby Barkley Sound. LAUNCHED: 1882, May → FATE: Wrecked January 22, 1906.

Vandenberg, USAFS — American transport ship
Second-largest artificial reef in the world, after the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany. She transported troops in World War II. In 1998, she was featured in the film Virus as the Russian research ship Akademik Vladislav Volkov. LAUNCHED: 1943, October → FATE: Sank May 27, 2009, six miles off the Florida Keys.

Vestris, SS — British passenger steamship
The ship sank taking more passengers to their death than crew. 60 of 128 passengers survived, 155 of 198 crew survived. None of 13 children and only 8 of 33 women survived. LAUNCHED: 1912, May → FATE: Sank November 12, 1928.

Vulcan — Scottish barge
The original barge was the first all iron-hulled vessel to be built; the replica was the last Scottish vessel built using traditional riveting techniques. The iron canal boat named Trial, built by John Wilkinson in 1787, was not all iron. In 1988, a replica of the Vulcan was constructed. LAUNCHED: 1819, original ship; replica, 1985 → FATE: The original was sold for scrap 1873; the replica now sits decaying at Coatbridge, in North Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Walk-in-the-Water — American paddle steamboat, stern-wheeler with two masts
First steamboat on Lake Erie and the eastern Great Lakes. Two large paddle boxes amidship housed her paddle wheels. LAUNCHED: 1818, August 23, first voyage → FATE: Grounded on the beach south of Buffalo, NY, October 31, 1821.

Waratah, SS — Australian steamship
Known as the Australia's Titanic, she disappeared en route with 211 passengers and crew aboard. To this day, no trace of the ship has been found. LAUNCHED: 1908, October → FATE: Disappeared without trace south of Durban, July of 1909.

Wilhelm Gustloff, MV — German purpose-built cruise ship used as a hospital ship and troop ship in World War II
Greatest ship disaster in recorded maritime history with an estimated 9,400 people were killed in the sinking. It was sunk by a Soviet submarine while participating in the evacuation of civilians, military personnel, and Nazi officials who were surrounded by the Red Army in East Prussia. LAUNCHED: 1937, May → FATE: Torpedoed in the Baltic Sea January 30, 1945.

Page 16

Winfield Scott, SS — American paddle steamer
A sidewheel steamer that transported passengers and cargo between San Francisco and Panama in the early 1850s, during the California Gold Rush. She has been the object of numerous salvage operations since the crash and currently rests underwater as part of the Channel Islands National Park. LAUNCHED: 1850, October 5 → FATE: During a foggy night, crashed on Anacapa Island December 2, 1853.

Yarmouth Castle, SS — American cruise ship
Fire left 90 of 552 on board died. Her loss lead to the Safety of Life at Sea law. During World War II, she served as a troop ship and hospital ship in the Pacific. LAUNCHED: 1927 → FATE: Sunk in a blaze on the way to Nassau November 13, 1965.

The number of All Countries Passenger Ships and Boats listed is 121

The contents of this page are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license and the GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL).

For a full list of all ships, select HERE

First Ship on each page
Page	Ship Name (Country and Type)
1.	Aeolus (British cruise ship)
2.	Archimedes, SS (British steamship)
3.	Carpathia (British ocean liner)
4.	Constitution, SS (American ocean liner)
5.	Estonia, MS (German cruise ferry)
6.	Great Eastern, SS (British iron paddle steamboat)
7.	Kiangya, SS (Chinese steamship)
8.	Lusitania, RMS (British ocean liner)
9.	Morro Castle, SS (American cruise ship)
10.	Pacific Princess (American cruise ship)
11.	Queen Elizabeth, RMS (British ocean liner)
12.	San Capador, SS (American cruise ship)
13.	SN.R4 (British Mountbatten class hovercraft)
14.	Taiping (Chinese steamship)
15.	Valbanera, SS (Scotish, then Spanish passenger steamship)
16.	Winfield Scott, SS (American paddle steamer)

All Countries Passenger Ships and Boats
1.	Aeolus British cruise ship
2.	Albert M. Boe American liberty ship
3.	American Queen American river paddle steamboat
4.	Ancon, SS American steamship
5.	Andrea Doria, SS Italian ocean liner
6.	Antonia Graza Italian ocean liner
7.	Archimedes, SS British steamship
8.	Ariel English clipper ship
9.	Atlantic, RMS English ocean liner
10.	Belle of Louisville American steamboat
11.	Birkenhead, HMS British frigate
12.	Britannic, HMHS British ocean liner
13.	Buford, USAT American cargo
14.	Cap Arcona, SS German ocean liner
15.	Carpathia British ocean liner
16.	Central America, SS American paddle steamboat
17.	Champion of the Seas English clipper ship
18.	City of Adelaide English clipper ship
19.	City of Benares, SS British steam passenger ship
20.	Clermont American steamboat
21.	Color Magic Norwegian cruise ferry
22.	Comet, PS British paddle steamer
23.	Constitution, SS American ocean liner
24.	Costa Concordia Italian cruise ship
25.	Cutty Sark English clipper ship
26.	Doña Paz, MV Japanese ferry
27.	Driver, HMS British paddle sloop
28.	Earnslaw, TSS New Zealand ferry
29.	Eastland, SS American steamship
30.	Empress of Ireland Canadian ocean liner
31.	Estonia, MS German cruise ferry
32.	Eureka American paddle steamboat
33.	Exodus 1947 American packet steamer
34.	Flying Cloud American clipper
35.	Francisco, HSC Argentine high-speed catamaran
36.	General Slocum American river paddle steamboat
37.	Goliath, RMS British ocean liner
38.	Great Britain, SS British steamship
39.	Great Eastern, SS British iron paddle steamboat
40.	Great Republic American clipper
41.	Great Western, SS British paddle steamboat
42.	Henrietta French steamboat
43.	Icon of the Seas American cruise ship
44.	Ile de France, SS French ocean liner
45.	Kalakala American ferry
46.	Kalmar Nyckel Swedish full-rigged pinnace
47.	Kiangya, SS Chinese steamship
48.	Kuru, SS Finnish steamship
49.	La Amistad Spanish schooner
50.	Laconia, RMS British ocean liner
51.	Lady Lovibond English schooner
52.	Lancastria, RMS British ocean liner
53.	Liberté, SS German ocean liner
54.	Liemba, MV German ferry
55.	Lusitania, RMS British ocean liner
56.	Majestic American paddle steamboat
57.	Mary Celeste American brigantine
58.	Maryland Dove American merchant vessel
59.	Mauretania, RMS British ocean liner
60.	Maxim Gorky Russian cruise ship
61.	Mayflower English galleon
62.	Minnow, S.S. American express cruiser
63.	Morro Castle, SS American cruise ship
64.	Noah's Ark Ancient ferry
65.	Norge, SS Norwegian, then Danish ocean liner
66.	Normac, MS American ferry
67.	Norman Atlantic, MS Italian roll-on/roll-off car ferry
68.	Normandie, SS French ocean liner
69.	Oceanos, MTS Greek cruise ship
70.	Orion, RMS British ocean liner
71.	Pacific Princess American cruise ship
72.	Portland, PS American sidewheel steamer
73.	President American steamboat
74.	Princess Alice British paddle steamer
75.	Princess Mafalda, SS Italian ocean liner
76.	Princess Sophia, SS Canadian passenger ship
77.	Principessa Jolanda, SS Italian ocean liner
78.	Prinzessin Victoria Luise German passenger ship
79.	Queen Elizabeth, RMS British ocean liner
80.	Queen Mary, RMS British ocean liner
81.	Rhone, RMS British packet ship
82.	River Queen American sidewheel steamer
83.	Royal Clipper German tall ship
84.	Saint John Paul II, MV Maltese catamaran
85.	Salem Express, MV French roll-on/roll/off car ferry
86.	Saluda American river paddle steamboat
87.	San Capador, SS American cruise ship
88.	Santana American commuter yacht
89.	Scandinavian Star, MS Scandinavian ferry
90.	Sea Venture English merchant ship
91.	Sea Wing American paddle steamer
92.	Seaborn Legend American cruise ship
93.	Seeadler, SMS Scottish windjammer
94.	Sewol, MS Korean ferry
95.	SN.R4 British Mountbatten class hovercraft
96.	Spirit of Chartwell, MV English hotel barge
97.	St. Louis, SS German ocean liner
98.	Star Princess Italian cruise ship
99.	Staten Island Ferry American passenger ferry
100.	Stockholm, MS Swedish luxury cruise ship
101.	Sultana, SS American paddle steamboat
102.	Susan Constant British fully-rigged ship
103.	Taiping Chinese steamship
104.	The World, MS Swedish cruise ship
105.	Thermopylae English extreme clipper
106.	Titanic, RMS British luxury ocean liner
107.	Toya Maru Japanese train ferry
108.	Trent, RMS British paddle steamer
109.	Umbria, RMS British ocean liner
110.	United States, SS American ocean liner
111.	Valbanera, SS Scotish, then Spanish passenger steamship
112.	Valencia, SS American passenger steamboat
113.	Vandenberg, USAFS American transport ship
114.	Vestris, SS British passenger steamship
115.	Vulcan Scottish barge
116.	Walk-in-the-Water American paddle steamboat
117.	Waratah, SS Australian steamship
118.	Wilhelm Gustloff, MV German purpose-built cruise ship
119.	Winfield Scott, SS American paddle steamer
120.	Yarmouth Castle, SS American cruise ship

Famous Ships and Boats

In history, movies, books, on exhibit

War ships, ship tragedies, steam ships, yachts, and more

with Images and Information

All Countries Passenger Ships and Boats