List of shipwrecks in 2002

The list of shipwrecks in 2002 includes ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during 2002.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

table of contents

2002
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr
May	Jun	Jul	Aug
Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Unknown date
References

January

2 January

List of shipwrecks: 2 January 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Willy	Cyprus	The tanker ran aground at Kingsand, Cornwall, England.[1]

15 January

List of shipwrecks: 15 January 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Unnamed barge	United States	The retired 109-foot (33.2 m) barge was scuttled as an artificial reef in the North Atlantic Ocean 3.6 nautical miles (6.7 km; 4.1 mi) off Sea Girt, New Jersey, at 40°07.370′N 073°56.765′W. Her wreck is nicknamed the "Wedding Barge."[2]

18 January

List of shipwrecks: 18 January 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Meridian	United States	The 52-foot (15.8 m) fishing vessel sank in Marmot Bay (58°00′N 152°06′W) in the Kodiak Archipelago approximately 14 nautical miles (26 km; 16 mi) north of Kodiak, Alaska. The fishing vessel Carlsen Point ( United States) rescued her entire crew of three.[3]

February

1 February

List of shipwrecks: 1 February 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Le Perrain	France	The fishing vessel was abandoned 250 nautical miles (460 km; 290 mi) north of the Outer Hebrides and eighteen men were airlifted by a RAF Lossiemouth, 202 squadron, Sea King helicopter. One man, the skipper, was swept overboard and was missing.[4]

2 February

List of shipwrecks: 2 February 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Kodima	Norway	The cargo ship ran aground in Whitsand Bay, Cornwall, England.[5] She was refloated on 16 February and towed to Falmouth.

9 February

List of shipwrecks: 9 February 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Vehar	United States	The 39-foot (12 m) crab fishing vessel sank after striking a rock near Cape Chiniak (57°37′N 152°10′W), 13 nautical miles (24 km; 15 mi) south of Kodiak, Alaska. Her crew of three abandoned ship in survival suits and a United States Coast Guard helicopter rescued them.[6]

18 February

List of shipwrecks: 18 February 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Contentment	United States	The 35-foot (10.7 m) cod- and crab-fishing vessel struck a rock and sank in the North Pacific Ocean approximately 40 nautical miles (74 km; 46 mi) south of King Cove, Alaska. Her crew of two was rescued by the fishing vessel Coastal Pilot ( United States).[7]
Tradewind	United States	The 51-foot (16 m) cod-fishing vessel sank in the North Pacific Ocean 35 nautical miles (65 km; 40 mi) south of King Cove, Alaska. Her crew of three escaped in a life raft and were rescued by the fishing vessel Temptation ( United States).[8]

March

12 March

List of shipwrecks: 12 March 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Camadan	Turkey	The cargo ship sunk in bad weather in the Mediterranean Sea off Malta (35.51°N 14.53°E / 35.51; 14.53). All the crew were rescued.[9]

15 March

List of shipwrecks: 15 March 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Gilbert Sea	Honduras	Cargo ship seized for carrying cocaine and sunk as an artificial reef 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the Lake Worth Inlet, Florida.[10]

19 March

List of shipwrecks: 19 March 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Belmonte	Brazilian Navy	The decommissioned landing ship was sunk as a target.

23 March

List of shipwrecks: 23 March 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Northern Dawn	United States	The 33-foot (10.1 m) longline halibut-fishing vessel sank off Cape Ommaney (56°10′00″N 134°40′20″W) on the coast of Southeast Alaska approximately 54 nautical miles (100 km; 62 mi) southwest of Sitka, Alaska. Her two crew members put on survival suits and abandoned ship in a life raft, from a which a United States Coast Guard helicopter rescued them.[11]

April

4 April

List of shipwrecks: 4 April 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Jawgal	Libya	The cargo ship sank in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Algeria. Fifteen of her 24 crew members lost their lives.[12]

17 April

List of shipwrecks: 17 April 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Bob′s Big Boat	United States	The retired 150-foot (45.7 m) or 167-foot (50.9 m) (source gives both lengths) fishing trawler and former floating restaurant was scuttled as an artificial reef in the North Atlantic Ocean south of Long Island 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km; 2.9 mi) off Moriches Inlet, New York.[13]

May

8 May

List of shipwrecks: 8 May 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Sea Spray	United States	The 32-foot (9.8 m) bowpicker was destroyed by fire in Nushagak Bay off of Bristol Bay on the Bering Sea coast of Alaska. The only person aboard ran her aground and escaped onto the shore.[14]

17 May

List of shipwrecks: 17 May 2002

Ship	Country	Description
USS Spiegel Grove	United States Navy	The decommissioned Thomaston-class dock landing ship was sunk as an artificial reef off Key Largo, Florida, at 25°04′00.2″N 80°18′00.7″W.

19 May

List of shipwrecks: 19 May 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Libby No. 12	United States	The 43-foot (13.1 m) dive boat sank in Southeast Alaska 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) west of Craig, Alaska. The Craig harbormaster rescued the only person aboard.[15]

21 May

List of shipwrecks: 21 May 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Unidentified barge	United States	The retired 42-foot (12.8 m) tow boat was scuttled as an artificial reef in the North Atlantic Ocean 3.1 nautical miles (5.7 km; 3.6 mi) off Barnegat, New Jersey, at 39°45.973′N 074°01.459′W.[16]

27 May

List of shipwrecks: 27 May 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Genei Maru No. 7	Japan	The 97-foot (29.6 m) squid-fishing catcher processor was abandoned in the North Pacific Ocean after she caught fire. She floated as a derelict until she washed ashore on 10 November in Kazakof Bay (58°06′N 152°35′W) on the coast of Afognak Island in Alaska′s Kodiak Archipelago.[17]

June

3 June

List of shipwrecks: 3 June 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Clipper Cheyenne	Bahamas	The semi-submersible dock ship sank at Foynes, County Limerick, Ireland. She was later salvaged and towed to a French port.[18]

4 June

List of shipwrecks: 4 June 2002

Ship	Country	Description
USS Hepburn	United States Navy	The decommissioned Knox-class frigate was sunk as a target.

12 June

List of shipwrecks: 4 June 2002

Ship	Country	Description
USS Wainwright	United States Navy	The decommissioned Belknap-class guided-missile cruiser was sunk by explosive charges off Puerto Rico after being used as a missile, torpedo, and aircraft target on 11 and 12 June.

13 June

List of shipwrecks: 13 June 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Carrie of Camaret	United Kingdom	The schooner ran aground off Tory Island, County Donegal, Ireland. All eleven people on board were rescued but the vessel was a total loss.[19]
Dark Star	United States	The 43-foot (13.1 m) longline halibut-fishing vessel was abandoned in the Bering Sea after she struck a submerged object northwest of Unalaska, Alaska, 8 nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi) west of Spray Cape (53°36′50″N 167°09′20″W) on Unalaska Island in the Aleutian Islands.[20]

29 June

List of shipwrecks: 29 June 2002

Ship	Country	Description
PKM-357	Republic of Korea Navy	Second Battle of Yeonpyeong: The Chamsuri-class patrol ship was shelled and sunk by No. 684 ( Korean People's Army Naval Force). The vessel was later raised.[21]

July

5 July

List of shipwrecks: 5 July 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Barbara Jean	United States	The 42-foot (12.8 m) seiner burned to the waterline and sank in 30 feet (9.1 m) of water near Point Baker, Alaska, in Frederick Sound in the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska. The fishing vessel Ruffies One ( United States) rescued the only person aboard.[22]
USS Rathburne	United States Navy	The decommissioned Knox-class frigate was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean during the RIMPAC 02 exercise.

7 July

List of shipwrecks: 7 July 2002

Ship	Country	Description
HMS Nottingham	Royal Navy	The Type 42 destroyer ran aground on Wolf Rock, Lord Howe Island, Australia and was severely damaged. Subsequently repaired and returned to service in July 2004.

8 July

List of shipwrecks: 8 July 2002

Ship	Country	Description
USS White Plains	United States Navy	The decommissioned Mars-class combat stores ship was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean at 22°55′00.9″N 160°10′00.3″W, during the RIMPAC 02 exercise.

10 July

List of shipwrecks: 10 July 2002

Ship	Country	Description
USS Harold E. Holt	United States Navy	The decommissioned Knox-class frigate was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean during the RIMPAC 02 exercise.

12 July

List of shipwrecks: 12 July 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Ana Palmira	United States	The retired 80-foot (24.4 m) fishing trawler was scuttled as an artificial reef in the North Atlantic Ocean south of Long Island 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km; 2.9 mi) off Moriches Inlet, New York.[13]

23 July

List of shipwrecks: 23 July 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Victor	United States	During a voyage from Bristol Bay to Prince William Sound, the 99-foot (30 m) wooden fish tender was destroyed by a fire ignited by an engine room explosion in Shelikof Strait 18 nautical miles (33 km) east of Cape Kuliuk, Alaska. Her four-member crew abandoned ship in a life raft and was rescued by a United States Coast Guard helicopter.[6]

24 July

List of shipwrecks: 24 July 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Riptide	United States	The 30-foot (9.1 m) gillnet fishing vessel sank without loss of life in Lynn Canal in Southeast Alaska 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) north of Juneau, Alaska, after colliding with the 51-foot (15.5 m) fish tender Ola Jean ( United States). Ola Jeean rescued her crew.[23]

26 July

List of shipwrecks: 26 July 2002

Ship	Country	Description
A R 5	United States	The 100-foot (30.5 m) fish tender struck a rock and sank in 1,080 feet (330 m) of water in Clarence Strait in the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska near Ratz Harbor (55°53′15″N 132°35′45″W), 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) south of Thorne Bay, Alaska. Her crew of three abandoned ship in a 16-foot (4.9 m) skiff and was rescued by the cruise ship Norwegian Sky ( Bahamas).[24]
Reaper	United States	During a voyage from Kodiak on Kodiak Island to Ketchikan in Southeast Alaska, the 32-foot (9.8 m) gillnetter sank in the Gulf of Alaska 90 nautical miles (170 km; 100 mi) southeast of Cordova, Alaska, after striking an unidentified object. A United States Coast Guard helicopter rescued the two people on board and a dog from a life raft.[23]

August

24 August

List of shipwrecks: 24 August 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Kalitan	United States	The 38-foot (11.6 m) troller burned to the waterline at Hidden Falls Hatchery in Kasnyku Bay (57°13′00″N 134°52′30″W) on the coast of Baranof Island in the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska. Her crew of three survived.[25]

30 August

List of shipwrecks: 30 August 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Bismihita'la	Liberia	The cargo ship developed a severe list 500 nautical miles (930 km) off Cape Town, South Africa due to No. 2 hold flooding. Crew rescued by Mineral York ( Liberia). Ship taken in tow by tug Suhaili. She was scuttled on 17 September at 25°12′S 9°23′E[26]

September

5 September

List of shipwrecks: 5 September 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Mantank	United States	The retired 224-foot (68.3 m) water barge was scuttled as an artificial reef in the North Atlantic Ocean east of Cape May, New Jersey, in 120 feet (36.6 m) of water at 38°58.688′N 074°11.410′W.[27][28]
Vincent Tibbetts	United States	The retired 244-foot (74.4 m) Mettawee-class T1-M-A2 tanker was scuttled as an artificial reef in the North Atlantic Ocean east of Cape May, New Jersey, in 135 feet (41.1 m) of water at 38°58.358′N 074°11.429′W.[28][29]

13 September

List of shipwrecks: 13 September 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Bligh Reef	United States	The two-member crew of the 52-foot (15.8 m) seiner abandoned ship in a life raft near the Copper River Delta (60°25′N 145°00′W) on the south-central coast of Alaska 31 nautical miles (57 km; 36 mi) southwest of Cordova, Alaska, after her steering failed in heavy seas and several attempts by the fishing vessel Snug Harbor ( United States) to tow her failed when towlines parted. A United States Coast Guard helicopter rescued them from the raft.[22]
Southwicks	United States	The retired 62-foot (18.9 m) barge was scuttled as an artificial reef in the North Atlantic Ocean 4 nautical miles (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) off Holgate, New Jersey, at 39°28.560′N 074°11.300′W.[30]

24 September

List of shipwrecks: 24 September 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Sparrowcastle	United States	The 58-foot (18 m) seiner began flooding and sank in 20 minutes in the North Pacific Ocean approximately 2 nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) south of Akutan Island in the Aleutian Islands. The only person aboard escaped in a life raft.[14]

25 September

List of shipwrecks: 25 September 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Dakota	United States	The 50-foot (15.2 m) seine fishing vessel was destroyed by fire in Izhut Bay (58°11′N 152°15′W) on the coast of Afognak Island in Alaska′s Kodiak Archipelago. The two people aboard abandoned ship in a skiff and reached the beach, where a United States Coast Guard helicopter rescued them.[20]

26 September

List of shipwrecks: 26 September 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Le Joola	Senegal	The passenger ferry capsized and sank in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Gambia with the loss of at least 1,863 of the over 2,000 people on board.

October

6 October

List of shipwrecks: 6 October 2002

Ship	Country	Description
USS Okinawa	United States Navy	The decommissioned Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California at 031°27′N 119°42′W, absorbing several hits by bombs, Maverick missiles, and Harpoon missiles before being finished off by a Mark 48 torpedo fired by the submarine USS Portsmouth ( United States Navy).

9 October

List of shipwrecks: 9 October 2002

Ship	Country	Description
USS Towers	United States Navy	USS Towers sinking. The decommissioned Charles F. Adams-class guided-missile destroyer was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California by the guided-missile frigate USS Sides ( United States Navy).

11 October

List of shipwrecks: 11 October 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Shenandoah	United States	While towing the 65-foot (20 m) vessel Mary J ( United States) from Homer to Seward, Alaska, the 48-foot (15 m) fishing vessel disappeared with the loss of both people aboard after sending an automated distress signal from the vicinity of Chugach Bay (59°11′N 151°34′W) off the south-central coast of Alaska, probably while foundering in a storm. Mary J drifted ashore at the entrance to Windy Bay (59°13′21″N 151°29′20″W), and wreckage from Shenandoah later was found in and around Chugach Bay.[14]

20 October

List of shipwrecks: 20 October 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Galaxy	United States	The 171-foot (52.1 m) cod-fishing catcher processor caught fire, suffered a number of explosions, and sank in the Bering Sea approximately 30 nautical miles (56 km; 35 mi) southwest of Saint Paul Island with the loss of two lives. The United States Coast Guard and the vessels Blue Pacific, Clipper Express, and Glacier Bay (all  United States) rescued her 24 survivors, but Clipper Express lost one of her own crewmen when a rogue wave washed him overboard subsequent to the rescue.[17]
Paper Chase	United Kingdom	The yacht was abandoned off Eastbourne, East Sussex. Her crew were rescued by the Eastbourne Lifeboat.[31]

21 October

List of shipwrecks: 21 October 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Rockett II	United States	The 44-foot (13.4 m) longline halibut-fishing vessel was wrecked on rocks off Cape Cheerful (54°00′50″N 166°40′20″W) on Unalaska Island in the Aleutian Islands approximately 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi) northwest of Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The 151-foot (46.0 m) crab-fishing vessel Stormy Sea ( United States) rescued her entire crew of three.[23]

23 October

List of shipwrecks: 23 October 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Mercury II	Azerbaijan	The cargo ship sank in the Caspian Sea with the loss of 42 of the 51 people on board.[32][33]

November

5 November

List of shipwrecks: 5 November 2002

Ship	Country	Description
HMAS Hobart	Royal Australian Navy	The wreck of HMAS Hobart in 2010. The Perth-class guided-missile destroyer was sunk as an artificial reef and dive wreck in Yankalilla Bay, South Australia, at 35°28′51.6″S 138°09′26.0″E, 4.8 nautical miles (5.5 miles; 8.9 km) west-northwest of Marina St. Vincent.

6 November

List of shipwrecks: 6 November 2002

Ship	Country	Description
HMS Trafalgar	Royal Navy	The Trafalgar-class submarine ran aground underwater at Fladda-chuain, Scotland. She surfaced and proceeded to Faslane. Subsequently repaired and returned to service.

10 November

List of shipwrecks: 10 November 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Genei Maru No. 7	Japan	The 97-foot (29.6 m) squid-fishing catcher processor, floating as a derelict since she was abandoned in the North Pacific Ocean on 27 May 2002 after she caught fire, washed ashore in Kazakof Bay (58°06′N 152°35′W) on the coast of Afognak Island in Alaska′s Kodiak Archipelago.[17]

19 November

List of shipwrecks: 19 November 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Prestige	Greece	The oil tanker broke in two and sank off Galicia, Spain, creating the Prestige oil spill, a massive oil spill polluting thousands of kilometers of coastline.
HNoMS Orkla	Royal Norwegian Navy	The Alta-class minesweeper suffered an engine room explosion, caught fire and capsized the next the day in Harøyfjorden north-west of Flemsøya in Møre og Romsdal, Norway. Eleven of the thirty-three crew suffered light smoke inhalation injuries.[34]

Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Nge Zin Thein	Myanmar	The ferry sank on a Burmese river with the loss of an unknown number of passengers.[35]

December

4 December

List of shipwrecks: 4 December 2002

Ship	Country	Description
USS Caron	United States Navy	USS Caron sinking. The decommissioned Spruance-class destroyer was sunk off Puerto Rico during explosives testing.

11 December

List of shipwrecks: 11 December 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Princess Pia	Panama	The cargo ship ran aground at Klaipėda, Lithuania and was holed. She was refloated 16 December and subsequently scrapped in October 2003.[26]

14 December

List of shipwrecks: 14 December 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Tricolor	Norway	The vehicle carrier collided with Kariba ( Bahamas) in the English Channel and sank off Dunquerque, Nord, France. The wreck was removed in 2004.

16 December

List of shipwrecks: 16 December 2002

Ship	Country	Description
Nicola	Netherlands	The cargo ship ran aground on the wreck of Tricolor ( Norway). She was later refloated.[36]

Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date

Ship	Country	Description
Regina Maris	United States	The schooner sank at her moorings at Glen Cove, New York, due to the poor condition of her hull. Efforts to refloat her in 2003 damaged her beyond repair, and she subsequently was scrapped.[37][38]

References

1. Simon de Bruxelles (3 January 2002). "Village threatened as tanker hits rocks". The Times (67328). London. col A-H, p. 9.
2. njscuba.net Wedding Barge
3. alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (M)
4. "Crew rescued from stricken boat". BBC. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
5. "Salvage team will reinspect ship". BBC. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
6. alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (V)
7. alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (C)
8. alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (T)
9. "Cargo Ship Camadan". Subway Dive Centre. Archived from the original on 21 July 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
10. "Gilbert Sea". Dive Spots. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
11. alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (N)
12. "Bodies retrieved". The Times (67419). London. 8 April 2002. col E, p. 16.
13. njscuba.net Moriches Artificial Reef
14. alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (S)
15. alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (L)
16. njscuba.net "Tuna Sub"
17. alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (G)
18. "Report Of The Investigation Into The Sinking Of The M.V. "Clipper Cheyenne"". Marine Casualty Investigation Board. 15 December 2003. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
19. "Report into the Grounding of "Carrie of Camaret" (Alias "Cabin Fever I") at Tory Island, Co. Donegal on 13th June 2003". Marine Casualty Investigation Board. 15 March 2005. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
20. alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (D)
21. "North Korean Naval Battles". Redfleet-Soviet empire. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
22. alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (B)
23. alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (R)
24. alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (A)
25. alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (K)
26. "Belgian Merchant H-O" (PDF). Belgische Koopvaardij. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
27. njscuba.net Mantank
28. nj.gov Deepwater Reef
29. njscuba.net Vincent Tibbetts
30. njscuba.net Southwicks
31. "The History of the Eastbourne Lifeboat Station". Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
32. "42 missing as tanker goes down". The Times (67589). London. 24 October 2002. col H, p. 18.
33. "40 Missing in Caspian Sea Shipwreck". The Moscow Times. 24 October 2002. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
34. ""Orkla" har kantret". Bergensavisen (in Norwegian). 26 January 2003. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
35. Su Wai, Khin (4 November 2015). "Eight bodies recovered, scores still missing". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
36. Sam Lister (17 December 2002). "Third ship in big Channel pile-up may not be the last". The Times (67636). London. col A-H, p. 9.
37. "Celebrated barquentine Regina Maris scrapped". Ocean Navigator (122). May–June 2002.
38. LeDuff, Charlie (10 February 1999). "Faded Glory on the Gold Coast; Glen Cove, Relic of the Gilded Age, Plans a Comeback". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 August 2014.

Ship events in 2002
Ship launches:	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
Ship commissionings:	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
Ship decommissionings:	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
Shipwrecks:	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007