List of missing ships

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This is a short guide to missing ships and wrecks. It lists ships that disappeared or sank and for which no wreck has been found. If a ship sank but its wreck isn’t located, it’s considered missing. Disappearances usually meant all crew were lost, and many ships became part of nautical legends, such as the Bermuda Triangle. In many cases a likely cause can be guessed—storms, war, collisions, rogue waves, or piracy—but nothing can be confirmed without evidence. Before wireless communication on ships, distress calls could not be sent. Sudden disasters or underwater damage can prevent reporting a location. Submarines are especially hard to locate because they have limited communication. After World War II, radar and GPS make it more likely to find distressed vessels. Most missing ships disappeared in deep water or wide seas, making searches costly and sometimes not worth it. Some cases are pursued for history, legal, or insurance reasons and may involve government funding, like the 2008 discovery of HMAS Sydney and Kormoran. The list is organized by the sea or region where the disappearance happened, with year, last known location, and a possible wreck location. Some entries don’t fit a single country or international waters.