This is a list of shipwrecks located off the coast of Massachusetts.
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.
ShipFlag Sunk date Notes CoordinatesAlva25 July 1892A luxury yacht that was rammed in fog by the steamer H. F. Dimock off Chatham.Aransas7 May 1905A passenger steamer that collided with the schooner barge Glendower in fog, off Chatham. July 1945A that sank in a collision off Cape Cod.Dixie Sword12 February 1942A cargo ship that foundered in a storm off Monomoy Island, and is thought to have been torpedoed.Emmy RoseNovember 23, 2020 An long fishing vessel, lost in a storm about northeast of Provincetown, Massachusetts with four crew members aboard, all presumed deceased.General Greene6 March 1960A United States Coast Guard Cutter that was blown onto a beach at Sandwich while disabled in storm.Horatio Hall10 March 1909A steamship that collided in fog with the freighter H. F. Dimock, east of Chatham. A Liberty ship that ran aground in 1943, and was used as a target ship until 1971.Kate Harding30 November 1892A bark that was beached in a storm, near Cape Cod Light.Montclair4 March 1927A schooner that ran aground off Nauset Light in a storm.MonticelloUnknownA ship that served in the Quasi-War, which was decommissioned and wrecked off Cape Cod.15 June 1913A schooner that caught fire and sank off Provincetown.Peace and Prosperity2 January 1784A brig shipwrecked off of Truro under Captain John Callahan. Passengers included John Wheelock and James Wheelock who were returning from a fundraising tour in Europe for Dartmouth College, they lost all of their papers and the money raised in the wreck. 18 February 1952A tanker that broke in half in a storm, east of Monomoy Island. 2 November 1778A third-rate ship of the line that ran aground in a storm off Provincetown. 10 April 1963 The first submarine in her class, sank during deep-diving trials after flooding, loss of propulsion, and a failed attempt to blow the emergency ballast tanks, causing it to exceed crush depth. All 129 on board died, including shipyard personnel supporting the deep-diving tests.Whydah GallyPirate26 April 1717The flagship of the pirate Samuel Bellamy, which sank in a storm off Marconi Beach, claiming the lives of Bellamy and most of his crew.
Bristol County ShipFlag Sunk date Notes CoordinatesAngela4 March 1971A cement barge that broke its towline in a storm and grounded on a reef off Westport.1930sA steamship that was beached at Somerset and abandoned.Colonel William B. Cowin17 December 1941A ferry that struck Hens and Chickens Reef off Westport and sank quickly.Hilda Garston20 February 1961A dredger that struck a reef off Westport. 23 September 1908A steamboat that sank in Buzzards Bay while under tow.
Dukes County ShipFlag Sunk date Notes CoordinatesArdandhu23 January 1900A cargo ship that collided in fog with the steamer Herman Winter in Vineyard Sound.18 January 1884A steamboat that ran aground on Devil's Bridge, off Aquinnah.Dynafuel15 November 1963A tanker that collided with Norwegian freighter Fernview northwest of Pasque Island.Herman Winter7 March 1944A steamship that was stranded on Devils Bridge reef, off Martha's Vineyard.John S. Dwight6 April 1923A rum runner that was scuttled south of Nashawena Island.Leonardo24 November 2019A scallop fishing vessel that capsized and sank during a powerful storm off the coast of Martha's Vineyard with four crew members aboard. Only one survivor was found, and the other three are presumed deceased.Mertie B. Crowley23 January 1910A schooner that ran aground on Wasque Shoal, off Martha's Vineyard.7 August 1859A whaler that was wrecked on Nashawena Island. 29 June 1944An sunk by off Cuttyhunk.
Essex County ShipFlag Sunk date Notes CoordinatesAda K. Damon26 December 1909A Grand Banks schooner that wrecked on Crane Beach in Ipswich, Massachusetts. 6 January 1892A cutter that grounded on Boo Hoo Ledge off Manchester.Alice M. Colburn3 January 1923A schooner that ran aground and broke up in a storm off Manchester.10 October 1914A schooner that collided with the steamer Belfast off Marblehead.California15 September 1955A fishing trawler that ran aground on a ledge off Rockport.Charles S. Haight1946A cargo ship that was stranded on a ledge off Rockport.Chelsea10 February 1957A tanker that was grounded on the Sandy Bay Breakwater northeast of Thatcher Island.Chester A. Poling10 January 1977An oil tanker that broke in half in a storm, southwest of Eastern Point Light.Edward Rich30 August 1899A schooner that struck the Sandy Bay Breakwater off Rockport in fog.Ellenora Van Dusen20 September 1900A schooner that caught fire and sank in Gloucester Harbor.Frank A. Palmer17 December 1902A schooner that collided with Louise B. Crary off Gloucester. 21 September 1963A that ran aground off Rockport.Herbert5 August 1924A lighter that was rammed in fog by the steamer City of Gloucester while at anchor off Nahant.Jennie M. Carter13 April 1894A schooner smashed into one of the jetties in a storm off Salisbury.9 August 1947A schooner that caught fire and sank off Gloucester. The wreck was discovered in 2006.17 May 1893A schooner that sank in a storm off Gloucester. The wreck was discovered in 2004.Louise B. Crary1902A schooner that collided with Frank A. Palmer off Gloucester.7 January 1796A former maritime fur trade ship sold to new owners in 1794 and wrecked in 1796 on Gooseberry Rocks, near Gooseberry Island.June 1904A paddle steamer that sank off Salem Harbor.26 July 1922A 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.11 August 1907The navy tug was steaming from Portsmouth to Boston carrying a cargo of chains, anchors and search light equipment for . She capsized and sank when a deck load shifted in heavy seas off Cape Ann. Of the nine-person crew, there were four fatalities.Nina TSeptember 1997A fishing trawler that was scuttled off Gloucester.Northern Voyager1997A factory ship that foundered during sea trials after refit, east of Eastern Point Light.27 November 1898A steamship that sank off Cape Ann in the Portland Gale.
Nantucket County ShipFlag Sunk date Notes CoordinatesAlice M. Lawrence5 December 1914A schooner that was grounded on Tuckernuck Shoal, in Nantucket Sound. The vessel grounded upon the wreck of French Van Gilder (see below). 26 July 1956An Andrea Doria-class ocean liner capsized and sunk after colliding with . December 1976An oil tanker that ran aground southeast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, causing an oil spill.Edward E. Briry15 December 1917A schooner that foundered in a gale northeast of Great Point Light.Fort Mercer18 February 1952A tanker that broke in half in heavy seas southeast of Nantucket.French Van Gilder29 March 1885A schooner that was grounded on Tuckernuck Shoal in Nantucket Sound.Jennie French Potter18 May 1909A schooner that was grounded on Halfmoon Shoal in Nantucket Sound.Kershaw1 June 1928A cargo ship that collided with the liner President Garfield northeast of East Chop Light.11 December 1905A lightvessel that started to leak and sank while being towed off Nantucket.15 May 1934A lightvessel that was rammed by off Nantucket.4 September 1967A steamboat that sank under tow off Nantucket.Coords = off Chicago, Lake Michigan. (?)Pemberton13 February 1907A schooner that caught fire and sank northeast of Nobska Light.8 December 2010A wheelchair-accessible galleon that sank off Nantucket.24 January 1909A steam-powered ocean liner that collided with Florida south of Nantucket Island.8 October 1916Torpedoed by and sunk by , east-north-east of Nantucket.16 April 1944A Type IXC/40 U-boat sunk by off Nantucket.Unnamed crane barge1 November 1963A crane barge that foundered in Nantucket Sound.
Plymouth County