List of shipwrecks in 1973

The list of shipwrecks in 1973 includes all ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during 1973.

table of contents

1973
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr
May	Jun	Jul	Aug
Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Unknown date

January

9 January

List of shipwrecks: 9 January 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Dona Anita	Liberia	The cargo ship sank off Vancouver Island, with the loss of all 42 crew.[1]

21 January

List of shipwrecks: 21 January 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Tide	Netherlands	The coaster caught fire off Northern Ireland, driving the crew to the bow area, unable to stop the ship's engine. The ship eventually ran aground at Bangor, County Down. The nine crew were rescued by HMS Bronington ( Royal Navy).[2]

22 January

List of shipwrecks: 22 January 1973

Ship	Country	Description
USS Batfish	United States Navy	The Sturgeon-class submarine ran aground off Charleston, South Carolina. She was later repaired and returned to service.

31 January

List of shipwrecks: 31 January 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Sankt Jacob	Cyprus	The cargo ship sank in Galite Bay, Bizerta, Tunisia.[3]

February

2 February

List of shipwrecks: 2 February 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Alcamo	Italy	The cargo ship struck rocks and was holed off Cap Rosso, Corsica. She was declared a constructive total loss and later scrapped.[4]

15 February

List of shipwrecks: 15 February 1973

Ship	Country	Description
USS Sabalo	United States Navy	The Balao-class submarine was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California.

March

4 March

List of shipwrecks: 4 March 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Auralyn	United Kingdom	The yacht was struck by a whale and sank in the Pacific Ocean. Sailors Maurice and Maralyn Bailey were rescued after 117 days on a liferaft.

12 March

List of shipwrecks: 12 March 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Igara	Italy	The wreck of Igara′s bow section, photographed on 1 May 2007. The ore-oil carrier hit a rock and was holed in the South China Sea. She later sank by the bow 70 nautical miles (130 km) off Singapore. Broke in two at № 1 hold on 19 March. Stern section refloated and fitted with new bow section, returned to service as Eraclide.

22 March

List of shipwrecks: 22 March 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Norse Variant	Norway	The bulk carrier foundered in a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean. Only 1 person survived of the 30 crew.[1]
Anita	Norway	The cargo ship foundered in a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean with the loss of all 32 crew.[5]
Loch Seaforth	United Kingdom	The ferry ran aground on Sleit Rock in the Sound of Gunna, between Tiree and Coll. All on board took to the lifeboats. Loch Seaforth was refloated but declared a constructive total loss and scrapped.

28 March

List of shipwrecks: 28 March 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Mariner	Cyprus	The ship sprang a leak and foundered in the Pacific Ocean (35°00′N 152°47′E / 35.000°N 152.783°E). She was on a voyage from Havana, Cuba to Kobe, Japan.[6][7]

April

2 April

List of shipwrecks: 2 April 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Norderney	Netherlands	Norderney ashore at Scheveningen, 2 April 1973 (Photo: 7 April 1973) The Radio Veronica pirate radio ship was driven ashore at Scheveningen in a storm after her anchor chain snapped.[8]

4 April

List of shipwrecks: 4 April 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Juzenny Burg	Soviet Union	The cargo ship collided with the fishing vessel Dany Gérard ( France), which sank in the English Channel. Juzenny Burgh was escorted into Brest by the minesweeper Antho ( Marine Nationale).[9] All five crew on board Dany Gérard were killed.[10]

24 April

List of shipwrecks: 24 April 1973

Ship	Country	Description
USS Force	United States Navy	The Aggressive-class minesweeper suffered an engine room fire, and sank off Guam.

27 April

List of shipwrecks: 27 April 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Globe Star		The cargo ship ran aground on the Nyali Reef, off Mombasa, Kenya. Five people were killed during salvage operations in November 1973, the ship was later scrapped in situ.
Belle Virtue	West Germany	The coaster ship collided with Maritime Pioneer ( Panama) in the English Channel and sank. All eight crew were rescued by Suderau ( West Germany).[11]

May

3 May

List of shipwrecks: 3 May 1973

Ship	Country	Description
USS Boyle	United States Navy	The decommissioned Benson-class destroyer was sunk as a target off the coast of Florida.

5 May

List of shipwrecks: 5 May 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Captain Niko	Somalia	The ship was sailing from Rotterdam to Alexandria with cargo fertilizer. In heavy seas the cargo shifted. The ship was taken in tow, but the list increased and the ship sank 3 miles north of Guernsey Channel Islands [12] [13]

11 May

List of shipwrecks: 11 May 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Pramnos	Greece	The coaster collided with Tony ( Italy) off Porto Stefano, Italy and sank with the loss of three of her fourteen crew.[14][15]

13 May

List of shipwrecks: 13 May 1973

Ship	Country	Description
USS Blackfin	United States Navy	The decommissioned Balao-class submarine was torpedoed and sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California.

16 May

List of shipwrecks: 16 May 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Hongkong Grace	Liberia	The cargo ship collided with Mina ( South Africa) in Mossel Bay, South Africa and caught fire. She was scrapped in December 1973.[16]

21 May

List of shipwrecks: 21 May 1973

Ship	Country	Description
USS Sturgeon	United States Navy	The Sturgeon-class submarine ran aground off St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands. She was later refloated, repaired and returned to service.

24 May

List of shipwrecks: 24 May 1973

Ship	Country	Description
USS Herndon	United States Navy	The decommissioned Gleaves-class destroyer was sunk as a target off Florida.

31 May

List of shipwrecks: 31 May 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Esso Brussels	Belgium	The tanker was struck by Sea Witch ( United States), which had lost her steering in New York Harbour. She caught fire, killing thirteen crew; Two crew were lost from Sea Witch. Esso Brussels was later repaired and returned to service.

June

3 June

List of shipwrecks: 3 June 1973

Ship	Country	Description
USS Gherardi	United States Navy	The decommissioned Gleaves-class destroyer was sunk as a target off Puerto Rico.

13 June

List of shipwrecks: 13 June 1973

Ship	Country	Description
K-56	Soviet Navy	The Echo-class submarine collided with Academician Berg () and sank in Peter the Great Gulf with the loss of 27 lives.

25 June

List of shipwrecks: 25 June 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Conoco Britannia	Liberia	The supertanker ran aground off Immingham, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom,[17] and was holed when her anchor pierced the hull. She was refloated the next day.[18]

July

6 July

List of shipwrecks: 6 July 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Cherry Venture	Singapore	Cherry Venture The cargo ship was driven aground in a storm at Teewah Beach, Australia. She was scrapped in situ in 2007.
Clive Steele	Philippines	The landing ship, medium was struck by rockets in the Mekong Delta. She was beached and abandoned.

19 July

List of shipwrecks: 19 July 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Nordic Service	Panama	The supply vessel collided with Finn Trader ( Finland) and sank off Great Yarmouth, United Kingdom with the loss of two of her twelve crew.[19][20]

28 July

List of shipwrecks: 28 July 1973

Ship	Country	Description
USS Gunason	United States Navy	Gunason sinking. The decommissioned Buckley-class destroyer escort was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off California.

Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Canberra	United Kingdom	The cruise liner ran aground off Granada, West Indies. She was later refloated and returned to service.[21]

August

14 August

List of shipwrecks: 14 August 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Canberra	United Kingdom	The cruise liner ran aground off St Thomas, British Virgin Islands.[21] She was refloated on 15 August.[22]

29 August

List of shipwrecks: 29 August 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Pisces III	United Kingdom	The submarine sank in the Atlantic Ocean southwest of Ireland in 1,375-foot (419 m) of water.[23] Both of her crew members survived for 76 hours in the vessel, which was raised after a multi-agency rescue effort.[24][25]

31 August

List of shipwrecks: 31 August 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Baltika	Soviet Union	The cruise liner ran aground off Bermuda.[23]

September

10 September

List of shipwrecks: 10 September 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Kondor	Greece	The cargo ship collided with H Capelo ( Portugal) in thick fog off Guernsey, Channel Islands and sank with the loss of ten crew.[26] [27]

28 September

List of shipwrecks: 28 September 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Leliegracht	Netherlands	The cargo ship sank off IJmuiden with the loss of five of her eleven crew.[28]

29 September

List of shipwrecks: 29 September 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Viggo Hinrichsen	West Germany	The coaster foundered off Öland, Sweden. Both crew survived.[29]

October

11 October

List of shipwrecks: 11 October 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Cap de la Hague	France	The dredger capsized and sank off Calais. Six crew were trapped in the sunken vessel.[30] One man was rescued after 68 hours.[31]

13 October

List of shipwrecks: 13 October 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Blythe Star	United Kingdom	The coaster foundered off Hobart, Tasmania. Nine crew took to a liferaft, but one died at sea and two others died of exposure when the liferaft landed near Dunalley nine days later.[32]

25 October

List of shipwrecks: 25 October 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Gotze Delched	Bulgaria	The cargo ship sank in a storm at Palermo, Italy.[33]
Nuova Ustica	Italy	The ferry sank in a storm at Palermo.[33]

November

6 November

List of shipwrecks: 6 November 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Golar Patricia	Liberia	The supertanker exploded and sank in the Atlantic Ocean with the loss of one of the 44 people on board. The survivors were rescued by the ocean liner Cabo San Vicente ( Spain).[34]

15 November

List of shipwrecks: 15 November 1973

Ship	Country	Description
USS Fitch	United States Navy	The decommissioned Gleaves-class destroyer was sunk as a target off Florida.
British Mallard	United Kingdom	The tanker ran aground at Grimsnes, Norway.[35]

18 November

List of shipwrecks: 18 November 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Gapern	Sweden	The cargo ship sprang a leak and sank 50 nautical miles (93 km) off the coast of Northumberland. All eleven crew were rescued by the trawler Kingston Emerald ( United Kingdom).[36]

23 November

List of shipwrecks: 23 November 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Annette	Cyprus	The cargo ship collided with the harbour wall and sank at Ashdod, Israel, killing 21 of her 24 crew.[37]

26 November

List of shipwrecks: 26 November 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Armas	Cyprus	The cargo ship ran aground off Alderney, Channel Island with the loss of one of her 23 crew.[38]

Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date November 1973

Ship	Country	Description
USS Haraden	United States Navy	The decommissioned Fletcher-class destroyer was sunk as a target.
British Mallard	United Kingdom	The tanker ran aground at Grimsnes, Norway.[35]

December

4 December

List of shipwrecks: 4 December 1973

Ship	Country	Description
USS Frankford	United States Navy	The decommissioned Gleaves-class destroyer was sunk as a target off Puerto Rico.

13 December

List of shipwrecks: 13 December 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Kergall	France	The Guilvinec, France-based fishing vessel dragged her anchor whilst sheltering from a southerly gale and went ashore at Chyandour 100 meters (110 yards) west of Penzance railway station, Cornwall, United Kingdom.[39]

19 December

List of shipwrecks: 19 December 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Oriental Monarch	Liberia	The cargo ship foundered 150 nautical miles (280 km) off Victoria, British Columbia with the loss of all 40 crew.[40]

25 December

List of shipwrecks: 25 December 1973

Ship	Country	Description
Elwood Mead	United States	The bulk carrier ran aground on her maiden voyage off Guernsey, Channel Islands. She was refloated on 24 February 1974.[41]

Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1973

Ship	Country	Description
USNS Sgt. Jack J. Pendleton	United States Naval Service	The Lt. James E. Robinson-class cargo ship ran aground off Triton Island, South China Sea and was abandoned.
Kuroshio	Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force	The decommissioned Gato-class submarine was sunk as a target.
Westmoreland	United Kingdom	The Thames barge foundered in the River Medway at Hoo, Kent.[42]

References

1. Stille, Darlene R. (1974). "Disasters". The World Book Year Book 1974. Chicago: Field Enterprises Educational Corporation. p. 293. ISBN 0-7166-0474-4. LCCN 62-4818.
2. "Navy saves nine from sinking ship". The Times (58687). London. 22 November 1973. col D-E, p. 5.
3. "Belgian Merchant A-G" (PDF). Belgische Koopvaardij. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
4. "Belgian Merchant H-O" (PDF). Belgische Koopvaardij. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
5. "M/S Anita" (in Norwegian). Lillesand Sjomannsforening. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
6. "WESTERN PRINCE". Clydesite. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
7. "Prince Line / (Rio Cape Line / Furness Withy)". The Ships List. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
8. "Private ship runs aground". The Times (58748). London. 3 April 1973. col A, p. 5.
9. "Soviet ship held in France". The Times (58751). London. 6 April 1973. col G, p. 8.
10. "Soviet ship released". The Times (58752). London. 7 April 1973. col D, p. 5.
11. "Container hazard to ships after Channel collision". The Times (58769). London. 28 April 1973. col D, p. 1.
12. "MV Captain Niko [+1973]".
13. "The Channel Islands".
14. "Greek ship sinks". The Times (58780). London. 12 May 1973. col A, p. 5.
15. "MV Pramnos (+1973)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
16. "Belgian Merchant P-Z" (PDF). Belgische Koopvaardij. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
17. "Oil leak from tanker on mudbank". The Times (58817). London. 25 June 1973. col E, p. 1.
18. "Oil watch on coast as tanker refloated". The Times (58818). London. 26 June 1973. col E, p. 1.
19. "Search goes on for seamen". The Times (58838). London. 19 July 1973. col G, p. 2.
20. "Nordic Service (+1973)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
21. "British cruise liner aground again". The Times (58862). London. 16 August 1973. col A, p. 1.
22. "Picture Gallery". The Times (58863). London. 17 August 1973. col D-G, p. 5.
23. "Race against time to save two trapped in midget submarine". The Times (58876). London. 1 September 1973. col A-E, p. A. (continued on p 2, Col A).
24. "Regulations on deep-sea work to be considered after near-disaster". The Times (58877). London. 3 September 1973. col E-G, p. 1.
25. "Champagne flows after rescue from the deeo". The Times (58877). London. 3 September 1973. col D-G, p. 2.
26. "10 missing after ships collide in Channel". The Times (58884). London. 11 September 1973. col G, p. 2.
27. cite |title=Dictionnaire des naufrages dans la Manche |published=2008 |author=YvesDufiel
28. "Three die as Dutch ship sinks". The Times (58900). London. 29 September 1973. col D, p. 4.
29. "Swedes guard poison ship". The Times (58902). London. 2 October 1973. col C, p. 8.
30. "British diving bell rushed to help free men trapped in dredger". The Times (58912). London. 13 October 1973. col A, p. 1.
31. "Man rescued from hull of capsized dredger". The Times (58913). London. 15 October 1973. col E, p. 1.
32. "Three die in nine-day ordeal after ship sinks". The Times (58922). London. 25 October 1973. col A, p. 7.
33. "Hurricane closes port of Palermo". The Times (58924). London. 27 October 1973. col D, p. 6.
34. "Supertanker sank after series of explosions". The Times (58932). London. 7 November 1973. col A-B, p. 7.
35. "British tanker runs aground off Norway". The Times (58940). London. 16 November 1973. col A, p. 7.
36. "Trawler saves crew of sinking ship". The Times (58942). London. 19 November 1973. col E, p. 1.
37. "21 die as ship sinks outside Israel harbour". The Times (58947). London. 24 November 1973. col G, p. 7.
38. "Navy helicopters rescue men from freighter". The Times (58949). London. 27 November 1973. col E, p. 6.
39. Carter, C (1998). The Port of Penzance. A History. Lydney: Black Dwarf Publications.
40. "Hunt for lost ship's crew". The Times (58970). London. 21 December 1973. col A-B, p. 6.
41. "Ship aground for 61 days is refloated". The Times (59023). London. 25 February 1974. col E, p. 2.
42. Simper, Robert (1998). River Medway and the Swale. Lavenham: Creekside Publishing. p. 14. ISBN 978-0951992777.

See also

Ship events in 1973
Ship launches:	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978
Ship commissionings:	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978
Ship decommissionings:	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978
Shipwrecks:	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978