Major Ferry/Ship Sinkings Fast Facts
Here’s a look at major ferry and ship sinking disasters throughout history.
This timeline is not-all inclusive; various incidents with at least 1,000 fatalities are listed. Death tolls vary by source.
Timeline
April 27, 1865 – The Mississippi River steamer Sultana explodes and sinks near Memphis, Tennessee, killing between 1,450 and 1,700 people.
June 15, 1904 – The General Slocum excursion steamer sinks in the East River in New York, killing 1,021 people.
April 15, 1912 – The Titanic sinks in the North Atlantic Ocean after hitting an iceberg on April 14, 1912, killing 1,503 people.
September 28, 1912 – The Japanese steamer Kiche Maru sinks during a typhoon off the coast of Japan, killing more than 1,000 people.