List of shipwrecks in 1968

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The list of shipwrecks in 1968 includes ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during 1968.

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← 1967
1968
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Jan Feb Mar Apr
May Jun Jul Aug
Sep Oct Nov Dec
Unknown date
References

1 January

List of shipwrecks: 1 January 1968
ShipStateDescription
Attu United States The motor vessel was destroyed by fire on the beach at Skagway, Alaska.[1]
Denver United States The motor vessel was destroyed by fire at Juneau, Alaska.[2]
Seattle United States The 1,357-ton barge was destroyed by fire at Ugashik, Alaska.[3]

3 January

List of shipwrecks: 3 January 1968
ShipStateDescription
Ioannis K Greece The Liberty ship was wrecked at Vung Tau, Vietnam (10°19′23″N 107°05′11″E / 10.32306°N 107.08639°E / 10.32306; 107.08639). She was on a voyage from Saigon to Singapore.[4][5]
Schiedyk Netherlands The freighter sank off Bligh Island, Nootka Sound, Canada after hitting a submerged rock. She began leaking oil fuel in 2020.[6]

5 January

List of shipwrecks: 5 January 1968
ShipStateDescription
Pochteca Liberia The molten sulphur carrier, a converted T2 tanker, suffered an explosion in one of her sulphur vats whilst on a voyage from Coatzacoalcos, Mexico to Tampa, Florida. She completed her voyage, but was consequently scrapped.[7]

7 January

List of shipwrecks: 7 January 1968
ShipStateDescription
USS Abercrombie  United States Navy The decommissioned John C. Butler-class destroyer escort was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California, by the ships and aircraft of the USS Bon Homme Richard carrier battle group ( United States Navy).

9 January

List of shipwrecks: 9 January 1968
ShipStateDescription
USCGC Coos Bay United States Coast Guard
Coos Bay sinking.
The decommissioned Casco-class cutter was sunk as a target in the Atlantic Ocean 120 nautical miles (220 km; 140 mi) off the coast of Virginia by the guided-missile destroyer USS Claude V. Ricketts ( United States Navy), one other U.S. Navy ship, and 35 aircraft.

11 January

List of shipwrecks: 11 January 1968
ShipStateDescription
St Romanus United Kingdom The trawler issued a mayday on this date which was heard but not responded to. Lost with all twenty crew.
Unidentified fishing vessel South Korea The fishing vessel was shelled and sunk by North Korean ships.[8]

13 January

List of shipwrecks: 13 January 1968
ShipStateDescription
Saxona Canada The steamer sank in the Atlantic Ocean (39°42′N 30°36′W / 39.700°N 30.600°W / 39.700; -30.600) while being towed to Italy for scrapping.[9]

14 January

List of shipwrecks: 14 January 1968
ShipStateDescription
Bristol Queen United Kingdom The paddle steamer was run into by the tanker Geodor ( Liberia) at Cardiff, Glamorgan. She was severely damaged and was consequently scrapped.[10]

15 January

List of shipwrecks: 15 January 1968
ShipStateDescription
Cessnock United Kingdom The dredger capsized and sank in the River Clyde during a storm. Three crew were killed.[11]

16 January

List of shipwrecks: 16 January 1968
ShipStateDescription
Balkan Bulgaria The cargo ship ran aground at Lattakia, Syria. She was on a voyage from Bourgas to Lattakia. She was refloated on 24 July but was consequently scrapped.[12]

18 January

List of shipwrecks: 18 January 1968
ShipStateDescription
Little Joe United States The motor vessel was destroyed by fire in Seal Bay on the coast of Alaska. The wreck report did not specify in which of many Seal Bays along the Alaskan coast the incident took place.[13]

22 January

List of shipwrecks: 22 January 1968
ShipStateDescription
Elpis  Greece The coaster sank between Ameland and Schiermonnikoog, Netherlands. She was on a voyage from London, United Kingdom to Hamburg, West Germany.[14]

23 January

List of shipwrecks: 23 January 1968
ShipStateDescription
INS Dakar  Israeli Navy The Leviathan-class submarine disappeared in the eastern Mediterranean Sea on her delivery voyage to Israel. Claims that Assyout ( United Arab Republic Navy) sank her with depth charges are disputed by Israel.

26 January

List of shipwrecks: 26 January 1968
ShipStateDescription
Kingston Peridot United Kingdom The trawler was last reported off Iceland on this date, lost with all twenty crew.

27 January

List of shipwrecks: 27 January 1968
ShipStateDescription
Minerve  French Navy The Daphné-class submarine sank in the Mediterranean Sea about 25 nautical miles (46 km; 29 mi) from Toulon, France, with the loss of her entire crew of 52. Wreck found 2019.[15]

February

4 February

List of shipwrecks: 4 February 1968
ShipStateDescription
Ross Cleveland United Kingdom The trawler capsized and sank off Isafjordur, Iceland with the loss of eighteen of her nineteen crew.

5 February

List of shipwrecks: 5 February 1968
ShipStateDescription
Pacific Fir  Hong Kong The cargo ship sprang a leak in the South China Sea 75 nautical miles (139 km; 86 mi) east of Tai Tung, Taiwan. (22°37′N 121°42′E / 22.617°N 121.700°E / 22.617; 121.700) and was abandoned. Beached at Koto Soh but broke in two, a total loss.[16]

6 February

List of shipwrecks: 6 February 1968
ShipStateDescription
USS Bache  United States Navy
USS Bache aground.
The Fletcher-class destroyer was blown ashore by a gale outside the harbor at Rhodes in the Aegean Sea during a three-day port call there. Deemed a constructive total loss, she was decommissioned and scrapped in situ.[17]

10 February

List of shipwrecks: 10 February 1968
ShipStateDescription
Charny Canada Charny began taking on water in one hold during a storm while on a voyage from Canada to Haiti. The vessel sank but all 24 people on board were rescued.[citation needed]

11 February

List of shipwrecks: 11 February 1968
ShipStateDescription
Fairwind Liberia The Victory ship ran aground off Grand Bahama, Bahamas (27°16′N 77°16′W / 27.267°N 77.267°W / 27.267; -77.267). She was on a voyage from a West African port to New Orleans, Louisiana. She was refloated on 24 February and towed to Jacksonville, Florida, where she was declared a constructive total loss. She was consequently scrapped.[18]

13 February

List of shipwrecks: 13 February 1968
ShipStateDescription
Spyridon Greece
Spyridon sinking
A fire erupted aboard the cargo ship in the Mediterranean Sea. She sank in the late afternoon. The U.S. Navy ammunition ship USS Suribachi received an SOS call at 0916 hrs and arrived on scene at 1555 hrs. Three Greek merchant ships and a Soviet Kashin-class guided missile destroyer also responded to the call. The crew was rescued by the Greek ships.[citation needed]

16 February

List of shipwrecks: 16 February 1968
ShipStateDescription
Delfini Panama The Liberty ship was driven ashore near Osaka, Japan.[19][20]

18 February

List of shipwrecks: 18 February 1968
ShipStateDescription
Mount Hope United States After entering shallow water in Narragansett Bay off the coast of Rhode Island during a storm, the 118-foot (36 m), 156-gross register ton tug struck an unidentified object and sank quickly in 20 feet (6.1 m) of water just south of Hope Island at 41°35.53′N 071°22.79′W / 41.59217°N 71.37983°W / 41.59217; -71.37983 (Mount Hope) without loss of life.[21]

19 February

List of shipwrecks: 19 February 1968
ShipStateDescription
Capitaine Frangos Panama The cargo ship sank after colliding with an unidentified ship at the entrance to the Dardanelles, Turkey. Fifteen of her twenty crew were killed.[22]

20 February

List of shipwrecks: 20 February 1968
ShipStateDescription
USS Saufley  United States Navy The decommissioned Fletcher-class destroyer was sunk as a target off Key West, Florida.

22 February

List of shipwrecks: 22 February 1968
ShipStateDescription
Parvati Jayanti India The Liberty ship ran aground near Casablanca, Morocco. She was later refloated but declared a constructive total loss and scrapped.[4]

25 February

List of shipwrecks: 25 February 1968
ShipStateDescription
British Crusader United Kingdom The tanker ran aground in the Panama Canal, blocking it.[23]

26 February

List of shipwrecks: 26 February 1968
ShipStateDescription
Shozan Maru Japan The bulk carrier struck a rock in the Panama Canal and sank. Refloated the following day.[24]

27 February

List of shipwrecks: 27 February 1968
ShipStateDescription
Archon Raphael Panama The Liberty ship sank near Djibouti City.[25]

29 February

List of shipwrecks: 29 February 1968
ShipStateDescription
Chirikof United States The crab-fishing vessel sank off Alaska′s Kodiak Island. Her crew of three abandoned ship in a skiff without oars. The cargo ship Chena ( United States) found them adrift on 1 March, but they were too weak from hypothermia to climb her Jacob's ladder. Subsequently the medium endurance cutter USCGC Confidence ( United States Coast Guard) arrived on the scene and rescued them.[26]

March

1 March

List of shipwrecks: 1 March 1968
ShipStateDescription
USS Bayonne  United States Navy The decommissioned Tacoma-class patrol frigate was sunk as a target.
C-165  Vietnam People's Navy Vietnam War: Tet Offensive: The blockade-running naval trawler was sunk off South Vietnam when her cargo exploded when the high endurance cutter USCGC Winona ( United States Coast Guard) hit her with gunfire.[27]
C-235  Vietnam People's Navy Vietnam War: Tet Offensive: The blockade-running naval trawler was sunk off South Vietnam when her cargo exploded when the patrol craft fast USS PCF-14 ( United States Navy) hit her with gunire, or was blown up by a scuttling charge. Her commanding officer and one other member of her crew later were killed by South Vietnamese troops in a firefight ashore.[27]
C-43B  Vietnam People's Navy Vietnam War: Tet Offensive: The blockade-running naval trawler was beached after being shelled by U.S. ships, then scuttled with demolition charges. Three members of her crew were killed and her commanding officer and executive officer were wounded.[27]

3 March

List of shipwrecks: 3 March 1968
ShipStateDescription
Ocean Eagle Liberia
USS Preserver with the sunken Ocean Eagle off Puerto Rico, 1968.
The tanker ran aground at San Juan, Puerto Rico. Later broke in two, a total loss.[28]

6 March

List of shipwrecks: 6 March 1968
ShipStateDescription
Antonios Michalos Greece The cargo ship struck a submerged object at Brăila, Romania and ran aground. Refloated but declared a constructive total loss and scrapped in May 1969.[29]
Nomadisch Netherlands
Nomadisch
The coaster was driven ashore at Knokke, West Flanders, Belgium.

8 March

List of shipwrecks: 8 March 1968
ShipStateDescription
K-129  Soviet Navy The Golf II-class ballistic missile submarine sank in the Pacific Ocean 90 nautical miles (170 km; 100 mi) southwest of Hawaii with the loss of all 98 crew members.[30]

9 March

List of shipwrecks: 9 March 1968
ShipStateDescription
Universal Trader Liberia The Liberty ship ran aground on the coast of Ceylon (6°24′N 81°47′E / 6.400°N 81.783°E / 6.400; 81.783), caught fire and was abandoned. She broke in two on 18 March, a total loss.[31]

10 March

List of shipwrecks: 10 March 1968
ShipStateDescription
Hi Krooyer Denmark The coaster sank 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi) south of Sule Skerry, Orkney Islands following and on-board explosion. One of her five crew was killed.[32]

14 March

List of shipwrecks: 14 March 1968
ShipStateDescription
Four unidentified naval trawlers  Vietnam People's Navy Vietnam War: Tet Offensive: The blockade-running naval trawlers were sunk by U.S. aircraft off the coast of South Vietnam.[33]
Unidentified naval trawler  Vietnam People's Navy Vietnam War: Tet Offensive: The blockade-running naval trawler sunk by gunfire off the coast of South Vietnam by the cutter USCGC Point Ellis ( United States Coast Guard) and the radar picket escort vessel USS Brister and patrol craft fast USS PCF-78 (both  United States Navy).[33]
Four unidentified naval trawlers  Vietnam People's Navy Vietnam War: Tet Offensive: The blockade-running naval trawlers were beached at Trieu Phong, South Vietnam, to facilitate unloading and then scuttled.[33]
Three unidentified naval trawlers  Vietnam People's Navy Vietnam War: Tet Offensive: The blockade-running naval trawlers were beached at Gio Linh, South Vietnam, to facilitate unloading and then scuttled.[33]

20 March

List of shipwrecks: 20 March 1968
ShipStateDescription
Elisabethville Belgium Caught fire at Antwerp, declared a constructive total loss. Scrapped in January 1969.[34]

23 March

List of shipwrecks: 23 March 1968
ShipStateDescription
Akutan United States The motor vessel was wrecked at Kodiak, Alaska.[1]

29 March

List of shipwrecks: 29 March 1968
ShipStateDescription
Jupiter Liberia The Liberty ship ran aground at Cabo San Lázaro, Mexico (24°47′N 112°19′W / 24.783°N 112.317°W / 24.783; -112.317) and was abandoned.[25][35]

April

7 April

List of shipwrecks: 7 April 1968
ShipStateDescription
Capitàn Leonidas Chile
Wreck of Capitàn Leonidas in 1989
The ship was deliberately grounded in Messier Channel, Chile, on 7 April 1968 while on a voyage from Santos to Valparaiso with sugar. The captain wanted to sink the ship for an insurance fraud. However, the ship was only grounded. It was originally the Norwegian-flagged MV Molda, built in Bremen, Germany in 1937.

9 April

List of shipwrecks: 9 April 1968
ShipStateDescription
Belgion  Greece The cargo ship ran aground off Tripoli, Libya. She was on a voyage from Antwerp, Belgium to Lattakia. She was refloated but declared a constructive total loss and consequently scrapped.[36]

10 April

List of shipwrecks: 10 April 1968
ShipStateDescription
Wahine New Zealand
Salvage of TEV Wahine
The New Zealand inter-island ro-ro ferry of the Union Company, foundered on Barrett Reef at the entrance to Wellington Harbour and capsized near Steeple Rock. Of the 610 passengers and 123 crew on board, 53 were killed.

12 April

List of shipwrecks: 12 April 1968
ShipStateDescription
M P E 110 United States The motor vessel sank off Cook Inlet on the south-central coast of Alaska.[37]

21 April

List of shipwrecks: 21 April 1968
ShipStateDescription
Lambda 72 Cuba The fishing vessel was sunk by a Cuban-exile-operated speedboat.[38]
Lambda 100 Cuba The fishing vessel was sunk by a Cuban-exile-operated speedboat.[38]

22 April

List of shipwrecks: 22 April 1968
ShipStateDescription
Alhelli Lebanon The Liberty ship sprang a leak and was abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean. She sank on 24 April at 33°15′N 45°50′W / 33.250°N 45.833°W / 33.250; -45.833.[39]

30 April

List of shipwrecks: 30 April 1968
ShipStateDescription
Brandaris Netherlands The coaster sank in the Bay of Biscay 80 nautical miles (150 km) west of the mouth of the Gironde. All crew rescued by a Spanish trawler.[40]

Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date April 1968
ShipStateDescription
USS Motive  United States Navy The decommissioned Auk-class minesweeper was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean by elements of the United States Pacific Fleet.

May

6 May

List of shipwrecks: 6 May 1968
ShipStateDescription
Cutral Co Argentina The tanker burned and sank at Ensenada, Argentina, after burning oil from the tanker Islas Orcadas ( Argentina) spread to her and set her on fire.[41]
Fray Luis Beltran Argentina The tanker burned and sank at Ensenada, Argentina, after burning oil from the tanker Islas Orcadas ( Argentina) spread to her and set her on fire.[41]
Islas Orcadas Argentina The tanker suffered an explosion, caught fire, and sank at Ensenada, Argentina.[41]

8 May

List of shipwrecks: 10 May 1968
ShipStateDescription
Inverrosa United Kingdom The ore carrier ran aground off Boca Ralon, Florida, United States. She was refloated on 23 May, subsequently laid up and scrapped.[42]
Inverrosa shipwreck, Boca Raton, Florida (May 1968)
Inverrosa shipwreck, Boca Raton, Florida (May 1968)

10 May

List of shipwrecks: 10 May 1968
ShipStateDescription
Gero Miklaos Greece The cargo ship ran aground in a cyclone at Akyab, Burma and broke up, a total loss.[43]

17 May

21 May

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date May 1968
ShipStateDescription
USS Scorpion  United States Navy
Bow section of Scorpion on the ocean bottom, photographed by the bathyscaphe Trieste II.
The Skipjack-class submarine sank in the Atlantic Ocean about 400 nautical miles (740 km; 460 mi) southwest of the Azores on or after this date with the loss of her entire crew of 99.

June

3 June

List of shipwrecks: 3 June 1968
ShipStateDescription
Kostis Greece The Liberty ship ran aground south of Dakar, Senegal 11°18′N 16°48′W / 11.300°N 16.800°W / 11.300; -16.800, a total loss.[44]

14 June

List of shipwrecks: 14 June 1968
ShipStateDescription
World Glory Greece The tanker broke in two off the coast of Natal in a storm. Both sections sank.[45]

17 June

List of shipwrecks: 17 June 1968
ShipStateDescription
Pan 60 United States The gillnet fishing vessel was destroyed near the False Pass entrance to the Bering Sea by a fire in her galley that went out of control. The only person aboard barely survived by jumping overboard just before a 300-US-gallon (1,100 L; 250 imp gal) gasoline tank exploded and swimming 1 nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) to shore in heavy clothing and rubber boots.[46]

29 June

List of shipwrecks: 29 June 1968
ShipStateDescription
John D United States The motor vessel was destroyed by fire near the small-boat harbor in Homer, Alaska.[47]

30 June

List of shipwrecks: 30 June 1968
ShipStateDescription
Riachuelo  Brazilian Navy The decommissioned Gato-class submarine was sunk as a target on or about this date.

July

1 July

List of shipwrecks: 1 July 1968
ShipStateDescription
James B. Richardson United States The Liberty ship was scuttled off the coast of New Jersey (approximately 39°30′N 71°00′W / 39.500°N 71.000°W / 39.500; -71.000) with a cargo of obsolete ammunition.[48]

5 July

List of shipwrecks: 5 July 1968
ShipStateDescription
Southern Exposure United States The motor vessel was destroyed by fire in the Gulf of Alaska 190 nautical miles (350 km; 220 mi) miles east of Cape Chiniak (57°37′N 152°10′W / 57.617°N 152.167°W / 57.617; -152.167 (Cape Chiniak)) on Kodiak Island.[3]

9 July

List of shipwrecks: 9 July 1968
ShipStateDescription
Humaitá  Brazilian Navy The decommissioned Gato-class submarine was sunk as a target in the Atlantic Ocean off Long Island, New York, United States by United States Navy vessels.

17 July

List of shipwrecks: 17 July 1968
ShipStateDescription
Serigi Brazil The 190.9-foot (58.2 m), 750-ton cargo vessel struck a rock was wrecked 7 miles (11 km) off the Canary Islands. She was refloated on unknown date, but wrecked again in heavy weather and abandoned.[49][50]

19 July

List of shipwrecks: 19 July 1968
ShipStateDescription
Magsaysay Philippines The cargo ship caught fire in the South China Sea off South Korea and was abandoned. She was on a voyage from the Philippines to Inchon, South Korea. Magsaysay was later reboarded. Shetowed into Pusan but was declared a constructive total loss and consequently scrapped.[51]

23 July

August

3 August

List of shipwrecks: 3 August 1968
ShipStateDescription
B B 6 United States The 7-ton gasoline-powered screw fishing vessel was destroyed by fire at the Alitak Cannery at Akhiok (also known as Alitak), Alaska.[52]
Lula II United States The motor vessel was destroyed by fire at the Alitak Cannery at Akhiok, Alaska.[13]

5 August

List of shipwrecks: 5 August 1968
ShipStateDescription
Walworth United States The motor vessel was destroyed by fire off Sumner Strait in the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska.[53]

9 August

List of shipwrecks: 9 August 1968
ShipStateDescription
Sealady United States The bulk carrier was holed by USS Von Steuben ( United States Navy) in the Atlantic Ocean (36°34′N 6°16′W / 36.567°N 6.267°W / 36.567; -6.267). She was beached in Cádiz Bay and abandoned.[44]

13 August

14 August

List of shipwrecks: 14 August 1968
ShipStateDescription
USS Devilfish  United States Navy
The sinking of Devilfish.
The decommissioned Balao-class submarine was sunk as a target by a Mark 16 MOD 8 torpedo fired by the submarine USS Wahoo ( United States Navy) in the Pacific Ocean off San Francisco, California, at 37°05′N 124°08′W / 37.083°N 124.133°W / 37.083; -124.133 ("USS Devilfish (SS-292)").

16 August

List of shipwrecks: 16 August 1968
ShipStateDescription
Brownie United States The motor vessel was destroyed by fire in Tonki Bay (58°20′N 152°04′W / 58.333°N 152.067°W / 58.333; -152.067 (Tonki Bay)) on the coast of Afognak Island in Alaska′s Kodiak Archipelago.[54]

17 August

List of shipwrecks: 17 August 1968
ShipStateDescription
USS Traw  United States Navy The decommissioned John C. Butler-class destroyer escort was sunk as a gunnery target off Baja California, Mexico, by the destroyer USS Bausell ( United States Navy).

20 August

List of shipwrecks: 20 August 1968
ShipStateDescription
Whistler United States A tsunami destroyed the motor vessel off of Kokinhenik Bar on the Copper River Delta in Alaska.[53]

21 August

List of shipwrecks: 21 August 1965
ShipStateDescription
Captain G. Panama The Liberty ship foundered in a typhoon 60 nautical miles (110 km) south of Hong Kong (22°24′N 114°55′E / 22.400°N 114.917°E / 22.400; 114.917). She was on a voyage from Kosseir to Shanghai, China.[4][55]

22 August

List of shipwrecks: 22 August 1965
ShipStateDescription
Amaryllis Panama The cargo ship, refloated after running aground in September 1965, is scuttled 0.75 miles (1.21 km) off Riviera Beach, Florida, to form an artificial reef.

23 August

List of shipwrecks: 23 August 1968
ShipStateDescription
Southern Foster United Kingdom The 438 GRT steam-powered whaler foundered and was lost off South Georgia Island in the South Atlantic Ocean.[56]

27 August

31 August

List of shipwrecks: 31 August 1968
ShipStateDescription
Willi Bansch  Volksmarine The 183/1 (Project 183)-class motor torpedo boat was sunk in a collision in heavy fog with Drottingen ( Sweden). Seven crewmen killed.[57]

Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date August 1968
ShipStateDescription
USS Condor  United States Navy The decommissioned YMS-1-class minesweeper of the YMS-135 subclass was sunk as a target.

September

1 September

List of shipwrecks: 1 September 1968
ShipStateDescription
Cabo Santa Maria Spain The cargo ship ran aground at Praia de Atalanta, Cape Verde and was wrecked.[58]
Peter Pan United States The motor vessel was lost off Kodiak Island, Alaska.[46]

5 September

List of shipwrecks: 5 September 1968
ShipStateDescription
Atlantic United States The motor vessel was destroyed by fire at Cape Spencer in Southeast Alaska.[1]

8 September

List of shipwrecks: 8 September 1968
ShipStateDescription
Isabella Baldwin United Kingdom The survey ship struck a wreck in Da Nang harbour, South Vietnam, and sank. All 12 crew members were rescued by a United States Navy vessel.[59]

9 September

List of shipwrecks: 9 September 1968
ShipStateDescription
Ruthy Ann United Kingdom The cargo ship collided with Cuu Long ( South Vietnam) in a typhoon at Haiphong, North Vietnam and then ran aground. She was refloated on 30 September and found to be severely damaged. Subsequently repaired and returned to service.[60]

10 September

List of shipwrecks: 10 September 1968
ShipStateDescription
Helen J United States The motor vessel sank on the south-central coast of Alaska near Icy Bay, northwest of Yakutat.[61]

16 September

List of shipwrecks: 16 September 1968
ShipStateDescription
Babs United States The motor vessel sank in Cook Inlet near Anchorage, Alaska.[54]

17 September

List of shipwrecks: 17 September 1968
ShipStateDescription
Cerberus, and
Coastal Sentry		 Liberia
 Hong Kong		 The T3 tanker caught fire and exploded at Hong Kong whilst being scrapped, setting fire to Coastal Sentry, which was also being scrapped. Both vessels were severely damaged, causing a loss to shipbreakers as a large quantity of steel was nor re-rollable.[62]

23 September

List of shipwrecks: 23 September 1968
ShipStateDescription
Hongkong Star Panama The cargo ship foundered.[63][64]

27 September

List of shipwrecks: 27 September 1968
ShipStateDescription
Marsha Ann United States The motor vessel was lost off Adak Island in the Aleutian Islands.[37]

29 September

List of shipwrecks: 29 September 1968
ShipStateDescription
Polyxeni Somalia The cargo ship struck a submerged object and sprang a leak. She was on a voyage from Sundsvall, Norway to Calcutta, India. She was beached the next day at Port Dauphiné, Madagascar, where she became a total loss.[65]

October

1 October

List of shipwrecks: 1 October 1968
ShipStateDescription
Carmen B United States The motor vessel was destroyed by fire at False Pass, Alaska.[26]

5 October

10 October

List of shipwrecks: 10 October 1968
ShipStateDescription
Dumaguete Philippines The ferry sank near Zamboanga, Mindanao. Only eleven survivors of between 300 and 500 people on board.[67]
El Fausto Spain The 46-foot (14 m) fishing vessel went missing since leaving Tazacorte, La Palma, Canary Islands on 20 July. They were spotted on 25 July but refused assistance. She was found on 9 October with one crewman dead and the other two missing. The vessel was taken under tow but sank next day over 600 miles (970 km) from home.[68]

15 October

List of shipwrecks: 15 October 1968
ShipStateDescription
E Evangelia Greece
The wreck of E Evangelica in January 2008.
The cargo ship ran aground in the Black Sea off Constanţa, Romania (43°58′N 28°39′E / 43.967°N 28.650°E / 43.967; 28.650). Declared a constructive total loss.[69]

16 October

List of shipwrecks: 16 October 1968
ShipStateDescription
Alvin United States
The sunken Alvin photographed on the ocean bottom in June 1969.
The deep submergence vehicle sank in the Atlantic Ocean at approximately 39°53′30″N 069°15′30″W / 39.89167°N 69.25833°W / 39.89167; -69.25833 ("DSV Alvin"), about 88 nautical miles (163 km) south of Nantucket Island, when steel cables lowering her over the side of the research ship Lulu snapped and she fell into the water with her hatch open. All three crew members escaped. Alvin was refloated in September 1969, overhauled, and returned to service.[70]

19 October

List of shipwrecks: 19 October 1968
ShipStateDescription
USS Archerfish  United States Navy The Balao-class submarine was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California by the submarine USS Snook ( United States Navy).

21 October

List of shipwrecks: 21 October 1968
ShipStateDescription
Paso Tiempo United States The motor vessel sank in Thorne Arm (57°56′N 152°50′W / 57.933°N 152.833°W / 57.933; -152.833 (Whale Pass)) on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska.[46]
Sitakund Norway The tanker exploded and sank 17 nautical miles (31 km) south of Eastbourne, Sussex with the loss of three crew. Thirty-nine crew saved by the Eastbourne Lifeboat Beryl Tollemache ( Royal National Lifeboat Institution) and the frigate HMS Mohawk ( Royal Navy).[71][72]

31 October

List of shipwrecks: 31 October 1968
ShipStateDescription
Etnefjell Norway The second Norwegian tanker in ten days to have an explosion and fire evacuated 29 members of its crew into two lifeboats, 350 nautical miles (650 km; 400 mi) southeast of Cape Farewell, Greenland The master, chief mate and first engineer remained behind, and were four days later by USCGC Absecon ( United States Coast Guard). One man was found dead on the ship; the lifeboats were never located after a 10-day search.[73][74]

November

3 November

List of shipwrecks: 3 November 1968
ShipStateDescription
Sacrum Cor Italy The cargo ship sank at Vado during a storm.[75]

7 November

List of shipwrecks: 7 November 1968
ShipStateDescription
Newglade United Kingdom The cargo ship caught fire at Kynosoura, Greece. She was beached in Ambelaki Bay. She was refloated on 19 November and found to be severely damaged. Consequently scrapped.[76]

11 November

List of shipwrecks: 11 November 1968
ShipStateDescription
Cyrus II Iran The Victory ship was damaged by fire at Durban, South Africa. Consequently scrapped.[77]
Empire Ace United Kingdom The Near-Warrior type tug ran aground off Campbeltown, Argyllshire. She was refloated in June 1969 but was declared a constructive total loss and consequently scrapped.[78]
Steepholm United Kingdom She was wrecked off South Wales. Four crewmen of the sand dredger were saved by the Atlantic College lifeboat and the Porthcawl lifeboat in partnership with the Mumbles lifeboat.

15 November

List of shipwrecks: 15 November 1968
ShipStateDescription
YC-21 United Kingdom The barge sank off Hoy, Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, while salvaging the wreck of F-2 ( Kriegsmarine).[79][80]

17 November

List of shipwrecks: 17 November 1968
ShipStateDescription
U.S. Defender United States Vietnam War: The Victory ship was damaged by Viet Cong shellfire at Da Nang, Vietname. Although temporarily repaired, she was consequently scrapped in March 1970.[81]

24 November

28 November

List of shipwrecks: 28 November 1968
ShipStateDescription
Review United States A storm destroyed the motor vessel at Ketchikan, Alaska.[83]

December

Unknown date

References

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