List of shipwrecks of Massachusetts

Map of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, 1857

This is a list of shipwrecks located off the coast of Massachusetts.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Barnstable County

Due to its dangerously hidden and constantly moving shoals located just off-shore, Cape Cod's coastline from Chatham to Provincetown – a mere fifty-mile stretch of sea – has been called an "ocean graveyard", containing over 3,000 shipwrecks.^[1]

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Alva	25 July 1892	A luxury yacht that was rammed in fog by the steamer H. F. Dimock off Chatham.
Aransas	7 May 1905	A passenger steamer that collided with the schooner barge Glendower in fog, off Chatham.
USS Bancroft	July 1945	A Clemson-class destroyer that sank in a collision off Cape Cod.
Dixie Sword	12 February 1942	A cargo ship that foundered in a storm off Monomoy Island, and is thought to have been torpedoed.	41°32′58″N 69°58′50″W / 41.54944°N 69.98056°W
General Greene	6 March 1960	A USCG Cutter that was blown onto a beach at Sandwich while disabled in storm.
Horatio Hall	10 March 1909	A steamship that collided in fog with the freighter H. F. Dimock, 3 miles east of Chatham.
James Longstreet		A Liberty ship that ran aground in 1943, and was used as a target ship until 1971.	41°49′53.27″N 70°02′39.28″W / 41.8314639°N 70.0442444°W
Kate Harding	30 November 1892	A barque that was beached in a storm, near Cape Cod Light.
USS Merrimack		A ship that served in the Quasi-War and was wrecked off Cape Cod.	42°07′34″N 69°44′56″W / 42.126°N 69.749°W
Montclair	4 March 1927	A schooner that ran aground off Nauset Light in a storm.
Paul Palmer	15 June 1913	A schooner that caught fire and sank off Provincetown.
Pendleton	18 February 1952	A tanker that broke in half in a storm, 1 mile east of Monomoy Island.	41°35′10″N 69°57′45″W / 41.58611°N 69.96250°W
HMS Somerset	2 November 1778	A third-rate ship of the line that ran aground in a storm off Provincetown.	42°4′34″N 70°8′53″W / 42.07611°N 70.14806°W
Whydah Gally	26 April 1717	The flagship of the pirate "Black Sam" Bellamy, which sank in a storm off Marconi Beach, claiming the lives of Bellamy and most of his crew.	41°53′31″N 69°57′34″W / 41.89194°N 69.95944°W

Bristol County

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Angela	4 March 1971	A cement barge that broke its towline in a storm and grounded on a reef off Westport.	41°27′40″N 71°02′02″W / 41.46111°N 71.03389°W
City of Taunton	1930s	A steamship that was beached at Somerset and abandoned.	41°42′39″N 71°10′33″W / 41.71083°N 71.17583°W
Colonel William B. Cowin	17 December 1941	A ferry that struck Hens and Chickens Reef off Westport and sank quickly.	41°28.3′N 70°58.8′W / 41.4717°N 70.9800°W
Hilda Garston	20 February 1961	A dredger that struck a reef off Westport.	41°16.4′N 71°02.1′W / 41.2733°N 71.0350°W
USS Yankee	23 September 1908	A steamboat that sank in Buzzards Bay while under tow.

Dukes County

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Ardandhu	23 January 1900	A cargo ship that collided in fog with the steamer Herman Winter in Vineyard Sound.	41°26′30″N 70°48′00″W / 41.44167°N 70.80000°W
SS City of Columbus	18 January 1884	A steamboat that ran aground on Devil's Bridge, off Aquinnah.	41°21′36″N 70°50′55″W / 41.36000°N 70.84861°W
Dynafuel	15 November 1963	A tanker that collided with Norwegian freighter Fernview northwest of Pasque Island.	41°28′18″N 70°51′12″W / 41.47167°N 70.85333°W
Herman Winter	7 March 1944	A steamship that was stranded on Devils Bridge reef, off Martha's Vineyard.	41°20′57″N 70°50′50″W / 41.34917°N 70.84722°W
John S. Dwight	6 April 1923	A rum runner that was scuttled south of Nashawena Island.	41°23′26″N 70°52′36″W / 41.39056°N 70.87667°W
Mertie B. Crowley	23 January 1910	A schooner that ran aground on Wasque Shoal, off Martha's Vineyard.
Nantucket	7 August 1859	A whaler that was wrecked on Nashawena Island.
USS Valor	29 June 1944	An Accentor-class minesweeper sunk by USS Richard W. Suesens off Cuttyhunk.	41°28′N 70°57′W / 41.467°N 70.950°W

Essex County

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Ada K. Damon	26 December 1909	A Grand Banks schooner that wrecked on Crane Beach in Ipswich, Massachusetts.	42°41′28.14″N 70°46′58.14″W / 42.6911500°N 70.7828167°W
USS Albert Gallatin	6 January 1892	A cutter that grounded on Boo Hoo Ledge off Manchester.	42°33′50″N 70°44′52″W / 42.56389°N 70.74778°W
Alice M. Colburn	3 January 1923	A schooner that ran aground and broke up in a storm off Manchester.
Alma A. E. Holmes	10 October 1914	A schooner that collided with the steamer Belfast off Marblehead.	42°26′6″N 70°44′54″W / 42.43500°N 70.74833°W
California	15 September 1955	A fishing trawler that ran aground on a ledge off Rockport.	42°40′25″N 70°34′19″W / 42.67361°N 70.57194°W
Charles S. Haight	1946	A cargo ship that was stranded on a ledge off Rockport.	42°40′38″N 70°35′03″W / 42.67722°N 70.58417°W
Chelsea	10 February 1957	A tanker that was grounded on the Sandy Bay Breakwater northeast of Thatcher Island.	42°38′52″N 70°34′11″W / 42.64778°N 70.56972°W
Chester A. Poling	10 January 1977	An oil tanker that broke in half in a storm, southwest of Eastern Point Light.
Edward Rich	30 August 1899	A schooner that struck the Sandy Bay Breakwater off Rockport in fog.	42°40′39″N 70°35′25″W / 42.67750°N 70.59028°W
Ellenora Van Dusen	20 September 1900	A schooner that caught fire and sank in Gloucester Harbor.
Frank A. Palmer	17 December 1902	A schooner that collided with the Louise B. Crary off Gloucester.
USS Grouse (AMS-15)	21 September 1963	A YMS-1-class minesweeper that ran aground off Rockport.	42°40′24″N 70°34′29″W / 42.67333°N 70.57472°W
Herbert	5 August 1924	A lighter that was rammed in fog by the steamer City of Gloucester while at anchor off Nahant.	42°25′05″N 70°51′25″W / 42.41806°N 70.85694°W
Jennie M. Carter	April 13, 1894	A schooner smashed into one of the jetties in a storm off Salisbury.
Joffre	August 9, 1947	A schooner that caught fire and sank off Gloucester. The wreck was discovered in 2006.
Lamartine	May 17, 1893	A schooner that sank in a storm off Gloucester. The wreck was discovered in 2004.
Louise B. Crary	1902	A schooner that collided with the Frank A. Palmer off Gloucester.
Monohansett	June 1904	A paddle steamer that sank off Salem Harbor.
USS New Hampshire	26 July 1922	A training ship that caught fire and sank in the Hudson River on 23 May 1921. She was raised and sold for scrap, but caught fire again and sank while under tow off Manchester.	43°4′18″N 70°45′47″W / 43.07167°N 70.76306°W
USS Nezinscot	11 August 1907	The navy tug was steaming from Portsmouth to Boston carrying a cargo of chains, anchors and search light equipment for the USS Missouri. She capsized and sank when a deck load shifted in heavy seas off Cape Ann. Of the 9 person crew, there were 4 fatalities
Nina T	September 1997	A fishing trawler that was scuttled off Gloucester.	42°34.133′N 70°40.522′W / 42.568883°N 70.675367°W
Northern Voyager	1997	A factory ship that foundered during sea trials after refit, 2.5 miles east of Eastern Point Light.	42°34.451′N 070°36.295′W / 42.574183°N 70.604917°W
Portland	27 November 1898	A steamship that sank off Cape Ann in the Portland Gale.

Nantucket County

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Alice M. Lawrence	5 December 1914	A schooner that was grounded on Tuckermuck Shoal, in Nantucket Sound.	41°24′13″N 70°13′00″W / 41.40361°N 70.21667°W
MV Argo Merchant	December 1976	An oil tanker that ran aground 25 miles southeast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, causing an oil spill.	41°01′59″N 69°27′00″W / 41.033°N 69.45°W
Barge & Crane	1 November 1963	A crane barge that foundered in Nantucket Sound.	41°26′03″N 70°13′28″W / 41.43417°N 70.22444°W
Edward E. Briry	15 December 1917	A schooner that foundered in a gale 6 miles northeast of Great Point Light.
Fort Mercer	18 February 1952	A tanker that broke in half in heavy seas southeast of Nantucket.
French Van Gilder	29 March 1885	A schooner that was grounded on Tuckermuck Shoal in Nantucket Sound.	41°24.1′N 70°13′W / 41.4017°N 70.217°W
Jennie French Potter	18 May 1909	A schooner that was grounded on Halfmoon Shoal in Nantucket Sound.	41°28′28″N 70°16′38″W / 41.47444°N 70.27722°W
Kershaw	1 June 1928	A cargo ship that collided with the liner President Garfield northeast of East Chop Light.	41°28.9′N 70°31.9′W / 41.4817°N 70.5317°W
LV-117	15 May 1934	A lightvessel that was rammed by RMS Olympic off Nantucket.	40°37′2″N 69°37′6″W / 40.61722°N 69.61833°W
LV-58	11 December 1905	A lightvessel that started to leak and sank while being towed off Nantucket.
SS North American	4 September 1967	A steamboat that sank under tow off Nantucket.	42°11′00″N 87°39′00″W / 42.18333°N 87.65000°W
Pemberton	13 February 1907	A schooner that caught fire and sank northeast of Nobska Light.	41°30′59″N 70°37′41″W / 41.51639°N 70.62806°W
RawFaith	8 December 2010	A wheelchair-accessible galleon that sank off Nantucket.
U-550	16 April 1944	A Type IXC/40 U-boat sunk by USS Joyce off Nantucket.	40°09′N 69°44′W / 40.150°N 69.733°W
RMS Republic	24 January 1909	A steam powered ocean liner that collided with SS Florida south of Nantucket Island.	40°26′03″N 69°46′0″W / 40.43417°N 69.76667°W

Plymouth County

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Columbia	26 November 1898	A schooner that was blown onto the beach at Scituate in a storm.
Delaware	27 November 1898	A barge that sank off Scituate in the Portland Gale.
Edna G.	June 1988	A fishing vessel that sank near Stellwagen Bank.
Forest Queen	29 February 1853	A cargo ship that grounded off Second Cliff Beach, Scituate, in a storm.
Henry Endicott	18 September 1939	A schooner that foundered southeast of Manomet while under tow in heavy seas.	41°54′30″N 70°29′08″W / 41.90833°N 70.48556°W
Kenwood	4 February 1926	A schooner that was blown onto rocks in a gale, north of Cedar Point, Scituate.
Mars	13 September 1942	A tug that collided with the tanker Bidwell east of Manomet.	41°56′16″N 70°29′33″W / 41.93778°N 70.49250°W
USS Mohave (AT-15)	13 February 1928	An Arapaho-class fleet tug that struck a submerged ledge near Nantasket Beach.	42°18′18″N 70°50′52″W / 42.30500°N 70.84778°W
Nancy	20 February 1927	A schooner that dragged her anchor onto Nantasket Beach in a storm.

Suffolk County

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Baleen	1 November 1975	A tug that foundered in Boston Harbor, northeast of The Graves Light, while in tow after a fire on board.	42°23′05″N 70°44′02″W / 42.38472°N 70.73389°W
City of Salisbury	22 April 1938	A cargo ship that struck a ledge in fog and broke up in Boston Harbor.	42°22′26″N 70°51′35″W / 42.37389°N 70.85972°W
Coyote	1932	A steamboat that was scuttled outside Boston Harbor.	42°22′06″N 70°43′06″W / 42.36833°N 70.71833°W
Davis Palmer	26 December 1909	A schooner that struck Graves Ledge in Boston Harbor.	42°22′19″N 70°55′29″W / 42.37194°N 70.92472°W
King Philip	7 April 1935	A steamboat that sank at dock, and was raised and scuttled in Boston Harbor.
Kiowa	26 December 1903	A cargo ship that was rammed by the steamer Admiral Dewy in a snowstorm, while anchored southeast of Boston Light.	42°19′19″N 70°51′52″W / 42.32194°N 70.86444°W
Mary E. O'Hara	21 January 1941	A fishing vessel that collided with the barge Winifred Sheridan in Boston Harbor.	42°23′00″N 70°55′00″W / 42.38333°N 70.91667°W

References

1. "Shipwrecks – Cape Cod National Seashore". National Park Service. Retrieved 30 January 2013.

• "Shipwrecks of Massachusetts". Hunting New England Shipwrecks. Retrieved 1 July 2012.