From HandWiki - Reading time: 14 min
This is a partial list of shipwrecks which occurred in the Indian Ocean. The list includes ships that sank, foundered, grounded, or were otherwise lost. The Indian Ocean is here defined in its widest sense, to include its marginal seas: the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, the Great Australian Bight, the Mozambique Channel, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, the Strait of Malacca, and the Timor Sea.

| Ship | Flag | Sunk date | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 9 June 1897 | A P&O steamship that was wrecked on the island of Socotra off the coast of Yemen. | ||
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 2 January 1944 | A Liberty ship torpedoed 60 nautical miles (110 km; 69 mi) off the Arabian Peninsula by the Japanese submarine missing name. | [ ⚑ ] 21°21′N 059°58′E / 21.35°N 59.967°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 6 September 1920 | A cargo ship that was wrecked near the Khuriya Muriya Islands. | [ ⚑ ] 17°44′N 056°38′E / 17.733°N 56.633°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 22 February 1944 | A tanker that was torpedoed by missing name.[1] | [ ⚑ ] 13°30′N 48°56′E / 13.50°N 48.93°E | |
| PNS Khaibar | 4 December 1971 | A Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. that was sunk by he Indian Navy missile boat Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. south of Karachi, Pakistan . | ||
| missing name | 17 June 2013 | A container ship that broke apart in bad weather on 17 June 2013. The stern section took on water and sank on 26 June; the bow was taken under tow, but caught fire and sank on 11 July. | [ ⚑ ] 14°26′N 66°26′E / 14.433°N 66.433°E, [ ⚑ ] 19°56′N 65°25′E / 19.933°N 65.417°E | |
| missing name | 19 May 1932 | An ocean liner that caught fire and sank near Mukalla, Yemen. | [ ⚑ ] 14°20′N 50°25′E / 14.333°N 50.417°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 28 August 1944 | A Liberty ship that was torpedoed by the German submarine missing name off the coast of Oman. | [ ⚑ ] 15°06′N 55°11′E / 15.10°N 55.18°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 9 December 1971 | A Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. that was torpedoed by the Pakistan Navy submarine missing name off Diu, India . | [ ⚑ ] 20°16′38″N 70°59′37″E / 20.27722°N 70.99361°E | |
| SS Montanan | 3 June 1943 | A cargo ship that was torpedoed by the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine missing name 150 nautical miles (280 km; 170 mi) south of Masirah Island, Oman. | [ ⚑ ] 17°05′04″N 58°05′00″E / 17.08444°N 58.0833333°E |
| Ship | Flag | Sunk date | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 11 November 1940 | A refrigerated cargo ship sunk by the German auxiliary cruiser missing name northwest of Sumatra. | ||
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 9 April 1942 | The world's first purpose-built aircraft carrier, sunk by Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft off the coast of Ceylon. | [ ⚑ ] 7°35′N 82°5′E / 7.583°N 82.083°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 10 September 1914 | A steamship captured and scuttled by the Imperial German Navy light cruiser Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist.. | [ ⚑ ] 11°00′N 83°45′E / 11°N 83.75°E | |
| missing name | 11 February 1944 | A Ro-100-class submarine sunk by the Royal Indian Navy sloop Template:HMIS and the Royal Australian Navy corvettes missing name and missing name 200 nautical miles (370 km; 230 mi) northeast of Madras, India . | [ ⚑ ] 17°25′N 083°21′E / 17.417°N 83.35°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 7 April 1942 | A cargo ship sunk by Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft about 25 nautical miles (46 km; 29 mi) off from Vizagapatam (now Vishakhapatnam), India . | [ ⚑ ] 17°11′N 83°20′E / 17.183°N 83.333°E | |
| missing name | 9 April 1942 | A V-class destroyer sunk by Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft off the coast of Ceylon. | [ ⚑ ] 7°35′N 82°5′E / 7.583°N 82.083°E |
| Ship | Flag | Sunk date | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| missing name | 12 February 1662 | An East Indiaman that ran aground on the Saint Brandon Rocks. | ||
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 20 August 1944 | A merchant ship that was torpedoed by missing name.[2] | [ ⚑ ] 30°58′S 38°50′E / 30.967°S 38.833°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 22 February 1944 | A cargo ship that was sunk by a Japanese submarine. | [ ⚑ ] 0°50′S 68°0′E / 0.833°S 68°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 23 October 1942 | A merchant steamer that was torpedoed by missing name off East London, South Africa. | [ ⚑ ] 33°20′S 29°30′E / 33.333°S 29.5°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 12 August 1943 | A Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. cargo steamship that was torpedoed by U-181 off Madagascar. | [ ⚑ ] 23°00′S 53°07′E / 23°S 53.11°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 9 September 1940 | A passenger ship that was sunk by the missing name. | [ ⚑ ] 28°25′S 74°23′E / 28.417°S 74.383°E | |
| missing name | 21 September 1943 | A Liberty ship that was carrying 2,910 tons of steel and 300 tons of gum arabic that was sank by missing name.[3] | [ ⚑ ] 2°08′N 50°10′E / 2.133°N 50.167°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 5 April 1942 | A Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. heavy cruiser that was sunk by Japanese dive bombers in the Easter Sunday Raid. | [ ⚑ ] 1°54′N 77°54′E / 1.9°N 77.9°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 5 April 1942 | A Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. heavy cruiser that was sunk by Japanese dive bombers in the Easter Sunday Raid. | [ ⚑ ] 1°54′N 77°45′E / 1.9°N 77.75°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 17 October 1942 | A cargo ship that was torpedoed by missing name about 450 nautical miles (830 km; 520 mi) south of Cape Town, South Africa. | [ ⚑ ] 38°12′S 20°04′E / 38.2°S 20.067°E | |
| missing name | 7 August 1944 | A cargo ship that was torpedoed by missing name about 200 nautical miles (370 km; 230 mi) east of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. | [ ⚑ ] 7°06′S 42°00′E / 7.1°S 42°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 2 November 1944 | A T2 tanker that was torpedoed by missing name. | [ ⚑ ] 27°35′S 83°11′E / 27.583°S 83.183°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 19 September 1943 | A North Sands-class cargo ship that was torpedoed by missing name. 57 out of the 57 onboard died in the sinking with two crew members surviving after being at sea for 143 days before coming ashore to Sumatra where they were taken prisoner by the Japanese.[4] | [ ⚑ ] 10°00′S 68°00′E / 10°S 68°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 27 September 1957 | A cargo ship that ran aground east of East London, Eastern Cape, Africa. | ||
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 2 July 1943 | A passenger ship that was torpedoed by missing name.[5] | [ ⚑ ] 19°30′S 55°30′E / 19.5°S 55.5°E | |
| missing name | 12 February 1944 | A Type B1 submarine sunk by the British destroyers Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. and Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist.. | [ ⚑ ] 01°25′N 72°22′E / 1.417°N 72.367°E | |
| missing name | 17 January 1942 | A Kaidai 3B-type submarine sunk by the British destroyer Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. south of the Sunda Strait. | [ ⚑ ] 06°19′30″S 104°49′20″E / 6.325°S 104.82222°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 8 March 1943 | A Liberty ship that was torpedoed by missing name about 150 miles (240 km) northeast of Durban, South Africa. | [ ⚑ ] 28°53′S 33°18′E / 28.883°S 33.3°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 12 February 1944 | A steamship that was torpedoed by missing name, with 1,297 deaths. | [ ⚑ ] 01°25′N 72°22′E / 1.417°N 72.367°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 5 October 1881 | An ocean liner that sprang a leak and sank east of the Seychelles. | [ ⚑ ] 5°14′S 64°7′E / 5.233°S 64.117°E | |
| missing name | 27 February 1942 | A seaplane tender scuttled 75 nautical miles (139 km; 86 mi) south of Tjilatjap, Java, after sustaining damage in an attack by Imperial Japanese Navy aircaft. | [ ⚑ ] 08°51′04.2″S 109°02′02.6″E / 8.851167°S 109.034056°E | |
| missing name | 31 July 1898 | A Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. unprotected cruiser wrecked duriing a storm on the coast of Madagascar at Anosy. | ||
| missing name | 24 August 1810 | A Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. that ran aground off Mauritius in the Battle of Grand Port. | ||
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 4 March 1943 | A cargo ship that was torpedoed by missing name. | [ ⚑ ] 31°29′S 31°07′E / 31.49°S 31.11°E | |
| missing name | 8 May 1942 | A Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. submarine sunk by the Royal Navy destroyers Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. and Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. off Diego-Suarez, Madagascar , during the Battle of Madagascar. | ||
| missing name | 1 March 1942 | A Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. sunk by Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft south of Java. | [ ⚑ ] 14°27′S 106°11′E / 14.45°S 106.183°E | |
| missing name | 8 May 1941 | An auxiliary cruiser that was sunk by Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist.. | [ ⚑ ] 3°30′0″N 57°48′0″E / 3.5°N 57.8°E | |
| missing name | 27 February 1941 | An auxiliary cruiser that was sunk by missing name in the action of 27 February 1941. | [ ⚑ ] 1°0′N 68°30′E / 1°N 68.5°E | |
| missing name | 9 July 1943 | A Liberty ship that was torpedoed by missing name. Originally it was believed that it was sank by a Japanese surface raider. There would be no survivors of the ship from the sinking.[6] | [ ⚑ ] 9°00′S 81°00′E / 9°S 81°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 23 August 1810 | A frigate that ran aground off Mauritius in the Battle of Grand Port. | ||
| Texanita | 21 August 1972 | An oil tanker that collided with Oswego-Guardian off Stilbaai, South Africa . | [ ⚑ ] 34°48′S 21°24′E / 34.80°S 21.40°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 26 March 1944 | A cargo ship that was torpedoed by I-8. | [ ⚑ ] 2°30′S 78°40′E / 2.5°S 78.667°E | |
| missing name | 14 January 1897 | A troopship that hit a rock and was wrecked off Réunion. |
| Ship | Flag | Sunk date | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| missing name | 20 January 1942 | A motor vessel torpedoed by the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine missing name at Flying Fish Cove. | ||
| Janga ("SIEV-221") | 15 December 2010 | A fishing boat that hit the rocks at Flying Fish Cove while carrying asylum seekers from Iraq and Iran. | [ ⚑ ] 10°25′1″S 105°40′24″E / 10.41694°S 105.67333°E | |
| missing name | 8 January 2012 | A cargo ship wrecked at Flying Fish Cove. |
| Ship | Flag | Sunk date | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 9 November 1914 | A collier scuttled while under attack by the Royal Australian Navy light cruiser missing name in the Battle of Cocos. | ||
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 9 November 1914 |
| Ship | Flag | Sunk date | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahomed Shah | April 1853 | A barque that caught fire on 18 April 1853 and sank several days later. All on board were rescued. | [ ⚑ ] 40°10′00″S 119°10′00″E / 40.1666667°S 119.1666667°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 29 March 1929 | A cargo ship that collided with the steamship Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. 25 nautical miles (46 km; 29 mi) southwest of Cape Otway, Victoria, Australia . |
| Ship | Flag | Sunk date | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| missing name | 5 May 1942 | A Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. submarine sunk by Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm aircraft west of Cap d'Ambre, Madagascar , during the Battle of Madagascar. | ||
| missing name | 20 June 1817 | An East Indiaman wrecked on a coral reef. | ||
| missing name | 6 August 1944 | A cargo ship torpedoed by the German submarine missing name off Mocímboa da Praia, Mozambique. | [ ⚑ ] 11°33′S 41°25′E / 11.55°S 41.417°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 30 June 1942 | A Type C3-E cargo ship torpedoed by the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine missing name. | [ ⚑ ] 23°30′S 37°30′E / 23.5°S 37.5°E | |
| missing name | 7 May 1942 | A Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. submarine sunk by Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm aircraft off Courrier Bay, Madagascar , during the Battle of Madagascar. | [ ⚑ ] 12°03′45″S 049°03′30″E / 12.0625°S 49.05833°E | |
| missing name | 11 July 1943 | A steam merchant ship torpedoed by missing name.[7] | [ ⚑ ] 15°40′S 40°45′E / 15.667°S 40.75°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 14 July 1943 | A Liberty ship torpedoed by the German submarine missing name.[8] | [ ⚑ ] 15°25′S 41°13′E / 15.417°S 41.217°E |
| Ship | Flag | Sunk date | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iran Ajr | Template:Country data Islamic Republic of Iran | 26 September 1987 | A landing craft that served as a minelayer during the Iran–Iraq War, captured and scuttled by United States Navy forces. | |
| U-533 | 16 October 1943 | A Type IXC/40 U-boat sunk by British aircraft off Fujairah. | [ ⚑ ] 25°28′N 56°50′E / 25.467°N 56.833°E |
| Ship | Flag | Sunk date | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aida | 15 September 1957 | A supply ship sunk off the coast of Big Brother Island.[citation needed] | [ ⚑ ] 26°19′N 34°50′E / 26.317°N 34.833°E | |
| Al-Baraqua II | 6 April 2006 | A capsized passenger ferry. | ||
| MS al-Salam Boccaccio 98 | 3 February 2006 | Capsized passenger ferry. | [ ⚑ ] 27°01′59″N 34°52′59″E / 27.033°N 34.883°E | |
| SS Carnatic | 15 September 1869 | Ran aground on a coral reef on 12 September, broke in half and sank three days later. 31 people drowned.[9] | [ ⚑ ] 27°34′N 33°55′E / 27.567°N 33.917°E | |
| Chrisoula K | 31 August 1981 | A cargo ship that ran aground on a reef.[10] | [ ⚑ ] 27°34′53″N 33°55′55″E / 27.58139°N 33.93194°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 25 April 1876 | A merchant ship that hit a reef and sank in the Gulf of Suez, close to the Sinai Peninsula.[citation needed] | [ ⚑ ] 27°25′17″N 34°04′23″E / 27.4215°N 34.0730°E | |
| Giannis D | 19 April 1983 | A cargo ship that sank with its cargo of timber at Sha'ab Abu Nuhas, north of Hurghada.[citation needed] | ||
| Kimon M | 12 December 1978 | A cargo ship which sank on at Sha'ab Abu Nuhas, north of Hurghada, when she ran into the reef of Abu Nuhas.[11] | [ ⚑ ] 27°34′48″N 33°56′00″E / 27.58°N 33.9333333°E | |
| Numidia | 20 July 1901 | A cargo liner that sank at Big Brother Island.[citation needed] | [ ⚑ ] 26°19′N 34°50′E / 26.317°N 34.833°E | |
| El Mina | 1969 | A Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. bombed and sunk by an Israeli Air Force aircraft near Hurghada.[12] | [ ⚑ ] 27°13′55″N 33°51′34″E / 27.23194°N 33.85944°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | October 1941 | A cargo ship bombed two days after the supply ship Thistlegorm—– anchored some 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) away off the Sinai Peninsula — was sunk. She rests north of Hurghada, north of the reefs of Abu Nuhas, in some 50 meters (164 ft) of water.[13] | [ ⚑ ] 27°39′03″N 33°46′17″E / 27.65083°N 33.77139°E | |
| MV Salem Express | 17 December 1991 | The passenger ship ran into a shallow reef and sank 57 nautical miles (106 km; 66 mi) south of Hurghada, after the captain took a shortcut on his trip from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to Safaga, Egypt. | [ ⚑ ] 26°38′22.02″N 34°3′39.9″E / 26.63945°N 34.061083°E | |
| SS Thistlegorm | 6 October 1941 | A cargo ship sunk by German bombers near Sharm el-Sheikh.[14] | [ ⚑ ] 27°48′51″N 33°55′12″E / 27.81417°N 33.92°E | |
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 9 June 1940 | A cargo ship scuttled by her crew near Port Sudan. | [ ⚑ ] 19°38′19″N 37°19′38″E / 19.63861°N 37.32722°E | |
| Zingara | 22 August 1984 | Commonly referred to as the Kormoran, a cargo ship that sailed from Aqaba with a cargo of phosphate rock and hit Laguna Reef in the Straits of Tiran. |
| Ship | Flag | Sunk date | Notes | Coordinates | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| missing name | 23 August 1992 | A cruise ship that sank in a collision with the Taiwanese fishing vessel Terfu 51. | |||
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 21 May 1999 | A cruise ship that sank off the coast of Perak following a fire. | [ ⚑ ] 4°37′1″N 99°54′6″E / 4.61694°N 99.90167°E | ||
| missing name | 22 April 1943 | A Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. scuttled off Phuket, Thailand, after Japanese aircraft damaged her the previous day. | [ ⚑ ] 06°30′N 097°40′E / 6.5°N 97.667°E | ||
| missing name | 16 May 1945 | A Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. sunk by British forces 48 nautical miles (89 km; 55 mi) off Penang in the Battle of the Malacca Strait. | |||
| missing name | 13 November 1943 | A Type B1 submarine sunk 30 nautical miles (56 km; 35 mi) off Penang by the British submarine Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist.. | [ ⚑ ] 05°17′N 100°05′E / 5.283°N 100.083°E | ||
| missing name | 17 July 1944 | A Kaidai 5-type submarine that was sunk by the British submarine Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. off One Fathom Bank. | [ ⚑ ] 2°48′N 101°03′E / 2.8°N 101.05°E | ||
| missing name | 11 January 1944 | A Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. that was sunk by the Royal Navy submarine Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. west of Penang. | [ ⚑ ] 5°26′N 99°52′E / 5.433°N 99.867°E | ||
| missing name | 28 October 1914 | An Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. sunk by the Imperial German Navy light cruiser Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. at Penang during the Battle of Penang. | |||
| missing name | 8 June 1946 | A Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. that was scuttled near Port Klang. | [ ⚑ ] 3°5′N 100°40′E / 3.083°N 100.667°E | ||
| missing name | 6 August 1859 | A clipper that was wrecked on the Pyramid Shoal. | |||
| missing name | 19 October 1946 | A Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. heavy cruiser that was surrendered to the British and sunk as a target. | [ ⚑ ] 03°05′05″N 100°41′00″E / 3.08472°N 100.6833333°E | ||
| missing name | 12 February 1946 | A Type IXD2 U-boat that was scuttled near Port Klang. | [ ⚑ ] 3°05′50″N 100°42′50″E / 3.09722°N 100.71389°E | ||
| missing name | 23 September 1944 | A Type IXD2 U-boat that was sunk by Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist.. | [ ⚑ ] 5°46′01″N 100°04′01″E / 5.767°N 100.067°E | ||
| missing name | 13 February 1946 | A Type IXD2 U-boat that was scuttled near Port Klang. | [ ⚑ ] 3°05′N 100°38′E / 3.083°N 100.633°E | ||
| missing name | 14 February 1944 | A Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist., formerly named Reginaldo Giuliani, that was seized by Germany and was torpedoed by the British submarine Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. northwest of Pangkor Island. | [ ⚑ ] 04°27′N 100°11′E / 4.45°N 100.183°E | ||
| Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. | 26 July 1945 | An Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. damaged by a kamikaze attack and subsequently scuttled. | [ ⚑ ] 07°05′N 97°50′E / 7.083°N 97.833°E | ||
| missing name | 28 October 1914 | An Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. protected cruiser sunk by the Imperial German Navy light cruiser Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. at Penang during the Battle of Penang. |
| Ship | Flag | Sunk date | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| missing name | 27 January 1942 | A Kiraisen-type submarine sunk by Royal Australian Navy and United States Navy ships and aircraft 18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi) due south of Penguin Hill on Bathurst Island in Australia 's Northern Territory. | [ ⚑ ] 12°07′12.328″S 130°06′23.619″E / 12.12009111°S 130.10656083°E |