1971 Cruise Ship Sinking

Shipwrecks in 1971

A Comprehensive List of Lost Vessels

The Sinking of the RMS Queen Elizabeth

On January 9, 1972, the former British cruise ship RMS Queen Elizabeth sank while anchored in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour. The ship had been renamed Seawise University after being decommissioned in 1969. The cause of the sinking was a fire that broke out in the ship's engine room.

Why did this iconic ocean liner, once known for its opulent transatlantic voyages, sail to Hong Kong in July 1971? The answer lies in the ship's later years, when it was sold to a Hong Kong-based company and converted into a floating university. The move to Hong Kong symbolized a new chapter for the Queen Elizabeth, but fate had a different plan.

Besides the tragic loss of the Queen Elizabeth, 1971 witnessed the sinking of several other notable ships. Chronologically, the list includes:

• January 18: MV Goya, a Spanish passenger ship, collided with another vessel and sank off the coast of Tenerife, resulting in the loss of 89 lives.
• May 11: SS Kamuning, a Filipino passenger ferry, capsized and sank in the Manila Bay, killing over 350 people.
• July 17: MS Hemse, a Swedish passenger ship, struck a rock and sank in the Baltic Sea, with 52 fatalities.
• October 8: SS Sinfra, a Greek cargo ship, sank in the Mediterranean Sea due to an explosion, claiming the lives of 10 crew members.
• November 21: USNS Bluejacket, a United States Navy ship, was destroyed by a mine off the coast of Cambodia.

These shipwrecks serve as a reminder of the inherent risks associated with maritime travel. They highlight the importance of safety regulations, proper maintenance, and efficient emergency response to prevent future tragedies.