Boating Safety Articles and Resources
You may have thought that we would have learned a few things since the Titanic, but even in today's modern times major boating accidents happen across the world. Here is a list of tragic boating accidents within the past 20 years from around the world. Remember, no matter how much experience you have on the water, accidents can happen if not adhering to proper boating rules, regulations and common sense!
#1)The Packed Wedding Party
Location: Nigeria
The Accident: A boat that was taking a bride-to-be to see her new husband capsized on a Nigerian river in 2008 - only 3 people survived the accident. The boat was packed to the brim and ran into a tree that was submerged in the water. The bride was not recovered.
# of Fatalities:
26
Fatality Rate:
90%
#2) Vessel Carrying Senior Citizens Tips
Location: New York, USA
The Accident: The 'Ethan Allen' was carrying 48 passengers in upstate NY, most of whom were senior citizens. The boat suddenly rolled when it encountered large wake from another watercraft.
# of Fatalities:
20
Fatality Rate:
42%
#3) Chinese Passenger Vessel Capsizes
Location: Yantai, China
The Accident: A 9,000-ton Dashun ferry was carrying over 300 people when a extreme weather from a level 10 typhoon forced it to turn back. Huge waves created a fire in the lower deck the engines then forze up and the burning ship capsized.
# of Fatalities:
280
Fatality Rate:
93%
#4) Weather and Panic Cause Sinking of Smugglers
Location: Libya
The Accident: 257 migrants were on a boat that capsized off the coast of Libya. They were attempting to arrive in Europe but bad weather and panicking and the boat collapsed.
# of Fatalities:
237
Fatality Rate:
92%
#5) Wild Animal Enthusiasts Experience Tour Boat Overturning
Location: India
The Accident: The double decked boat taking tourists to Thekkady where they would find a wide variety of wild animals in their natural habitat, suddenly found themselves off balance as they crowded onto one side of the boat which ultimately tipped, throwing most of the 76 passengers into the water.
# of Fatalities:
45
Fatality Rate:
59%
#6) Logging Boat Transporting Passengers Sinks
Location: Indonesia
The Accident: A boat designed for logging sank with 345 unauthorized passengers aboard. Without passengers, this boat would more than likely remained afloat in stormy waters.
# of Fatalities:
73
Fatality Rate:
21%
#7) School Holidays Ends Tragically for 150 Students
Location: Sierra Leone
The Accident: The boat carrying children between 8 and 16 years of age, returning to school, sank in a harsh storm near their destination. Too large a load and lack of proper maintenance are believed to have contributed to the accident.
# of Fatalities:
80
Fatality Rate:
53%
#8) Tragedy When Boat Strikes Unknown Object
Location: Provence of Katanga in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The Accident: A boat transporting both cargo and passengers, struck an unknown object and sending nearly 50 passengers into the murky waters of the Lualeba River. It is believed that poor enforcement of safety standards, inadequate maintenance, and over loading, were the primary causes of this accident. Thirty Four passengers have not been recovered.
# of Fatalities:
14
Fatality Rate:
10%
#9) Two Boats Capsize on the River Sava
Location: The Republic of Slovenia
The Accident: Two boats with fourteen passengers out enjoying the beauty of the water, capsized in rough water. All were tossed into the strong currents of the River Sava near the site of the Blanca hydropower plant.
# of Fatalities:
13
Fatality Rate:
93%
#10) No Vacation for These Boaters
Location: Turks and Caicos Islands (about 500 miles SW of Miami, Fl)
The Accident: Seeking refuge in the United States over 100 Haitians crowded onto a boat that struck a reef tossing many overboard. Those who survived were nearly immediately processed for repatriation.
# of Fatalities:
15
Fatality Rate:
9%
#11) May Day Celebration Turns Tragic
Location: Ca Mau Province of Vietnam
The Accident: A boat illegally carrying 150 passengers, most of whom were children, sank when a pump broke and the boat took in huge amounts of water. Those who survived, reported that children were desperately trying to reach family members by cell phone even as the boat began to disappear under water.
# of Fatalities:
39
Fatality Rate:
26%
#12) Two Deck Boat Capsizes on Celebratory First Trip
Location: Bahrain
The Accident: A large group boarded the recently completed two decked tour boat. While in calm waters, the board overturned, throwing many overboard. The cause of this accident is undetermined although many believe there were simply too many people onboard.
# of Fatalities:
57
Fatality Rate:
38%
#13) Florida Tugboat Tragedy
Location: Florida, USA
The Accident: A 22 foot boat with 14 people on board slammed into a docked Tugboat near the shore of St. Augustine Florida. No one was aboard the tugboat and the dock was unfinished, which stalled rescuers as they had to lay planks down to get to the scene of the accident.
# of Fatalities:
5
Fatality Rate:
36%
#14) Greek Tanker, Spyros, Explodes
Location: Jurong Shipyard
The Accident: An explosion aboard the Tanker, Spyros, thrust flaming bodies of workers from the ship to the dock. It also sent firey debris over 100 meters onto a second ship. The cause of the explosion is unknown. Another 69 workers suffered serious burns.
# of Fatalities:
76
Fatality Rate:
52%
#15) Ferry Perishes in Rough Water
Location: The Coast of Gambia
The Accident: The ferry built to carry no more than 60 was filled with an estimated 2,000 passengers. The lower deck was hot and it is believed that many of the passengers moved to an upper deck in order to sleep. The number caused instability, especially as the wind increased and the ferry hit rough water.
# of Fatalities:
1,863
Fatality Rate:
93%
#16) Egyptian Ferry Sinks in Red Sea
Location: The Coast of Egypt
The Accident: The ferry was carrying nearly 1,400 passengers, some of whom were returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca. The cause of the accident is unknown. All safety requirements had been met prior to departure. Some authorities cite high winds and the possibility of movement of vehicles that were being carried aboard, as contributing to this accident.
# of Fatalities:
1,018
Fatality Rate:
72%
#17) Princess of Stars, Cruise Ship Capsizes in Typhoon
Location: Two miles from Sibuyan Island (Philippines)
The Accident: A typhoon that reeked havoc on both land and sea, is apparently the cause of the capsizing of a cruise ship. The cruise line reports that there were 825 passengers aboard the ship. Fifty two passengers are known to have survived and 416 are missing. Among the passengers were 20 children and 33 infants.
# of Fatalities:
312
Fatality Rate:
38%
#18) The MS Estonia Sinks
Location: Baltic Sea
The Accident: The combined auto/passenger ferry carrying 950 passengers, suddenly began to take on water while cruising in the Baltic Sea and immediately began to sink. Although the cause is unknown, an unnamed official stated that he had noted the water tight seals to be unsafe and that there had been ongoing concerns regarding the ability of the crew to safely seal cargo. Thirty people were rescued while it was believed that the frigid cold would be lethal to any of those who remained in the water.
# of Fatalities:
852
Fatality Rate:
86%
#19) Vietnam River Boat Sinking; Last Day of the Year of the Rat
Location: Vietnam
The Accident: The overly crowded Riverboat was crossing the river with shoppers headed to market. The number of passengers created instability and the boat sunk. Among those on board were many women and children.
# of Fatalities:
40
Fatality Rate:
95%
#20) Tourist Laden WWII "Duck" Boat Submerges
Location: Arkansas, USA
The Accident: A World War II vintage "duck" boat (for use on land and water) that was carrying 20 tourists sank quickly in 50ft deep waters. The front of the boat flew up during the tour and the beck quickly took on water. An ill-advised canopy trapped many of the passengers under the water which prevented many of the tourists from escaping.
# of Fatalities:
11 confirmed
Fatality Rate:
55%
#21) Boat Carrying 80 People Capsized
Location: Coast of Turkey
The Accident: A boat overloaded by illegal migrants, capsized. Over half of them have been confirmed or presumed dead.
# of Fatalities:
51
Fatality Rate:
64%
#22) Louisiana Fishermen Accident
Location: Louisiana, USA
The Accident: A group of fishermen slated to partake in the Houma Oilman's Invitational Fishing Tournament were killed when their 24 foot aluminum boat ran underneath one end of a barge. The barge was set in place to stabilize a canal bank.
# of Fatalities:
5
Fatality Rate:
100%
#23) Conscripts overcrowd a boat
Location: Sudan
The Accident: A crowd of young conscripts attempting to flee a training camp for soldiers readying themselves to fight rebels in Southern Sudan, caused the vessel they boarded to overturn.
# of Fatalities:
55
Fatality Rate:
??
