About Shipwrecks Map

Shipwrecks Map is an independent, interactive map and guide to 2,349 historic shipwrecks around the world, with a detailed section on the waters of the UK and Ireland. Each wreck has its own page with a map, key facts (each with its source), a summary and location information.

• UK & Ireland: 460
• Europe: 605
• North America: 237
• Central America & Caribbean: 18
• South America: 26
• Africa: 138
• Asia: 130
• Oceania: 90
• Antarctica: 3
• Open ocean: 642

How wrecks are chosen

Wrecks come from Wikidata items that are shipwrecks, or ships with a recorded shipwreck, sinking or scuttling event, that have a position and an English Wikipedia article. All designated wrecks in England (Historic England Protected Wreck Sites) and Scotland (Historic Marine Protected Areas) are also included, matched to Wikidata where possible. Positions can be approximate and are not for navigation.

How facts are derived

• Year lost: Wikidata significant-event date, otherwise Wikidata dissolution date, otherwise the year following a loss verb (“sank”, “wrecked”…) in the Wikipedia lead.
• Era: from the year: Ancient & medieval (to 1499), Age of Sail (1500–1849), Steam era (1850–1913), First World War (1914–1918), Interwar (1919–1938), Second World War (1939–1945), Modern (1946 on).
• Cause: Wikidata where recorded; otherwise a keyword match on the Wikipedia lead sentence describing the loss. Shown only when a match is found.
• Region, nearest coast and sea: computed from Natural Earth boundaries and marine areas (public domain).
• Depth: Wikidata, or the charted least depth over the wreck from NOAA charts where a NOAA wreck with the same name lies nearby.

Data sources and licences

• Wikidata (CC0): wreck list, dates, ship type, nationality, operator, lives lost, positions.
• English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): summaries and diving/visiting notes; each page links to the article revision used and lists the changes made.
• Wikimedia Commons: freely licensed or public-domain images only; author and licence credited under each image.
• Historic England, Protected Wreck Sites, via the Open Data Hub (terms). Protected Wreck data © Historic England 2026. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The Historic England Data contained in this material was obtained on 22 October 2026.
• Historic Environment Scotland, Historic Marine Protected Areas. Contains Historic Environment Scotland data © Historic Environment Scotland – Scottish Charity No. SC045925 2026, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
• NOAA Office of Coast Survey, ENC Direct to GIS: Charted wreck data from NOAA Office of Coast Survey ENC Direct to GIS (U.S. Government work, public domain). Not for navigation.
• Natural Earth (public domain) for coasts and seas; base map © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Shipwrecks Map is not affiliated with or endorsed by Historic England, Historic Environment Scotland, NOAA, the UK Hydrographic Office, Wikimedia or OpenStreetMap. Information is compiled automatically from the sources above; please check official records before relying on it.