Shipwreck
A shipwreck is the remains of a vessel lost or abandoned at sea, including its hull, cargo, and associated debris.
Ship grounding: A vessel's contact with the seabed or shore that stops or damages its movement. Grounding can breach a hull or strand a vessel, creating a wreck without a deep-water sinking.
RMS Titanic: A British ocean liner that sank in the North Atlantic in 1912 after striking an iceberg. Its deep-ocean remains became one of the best-known and most studied shipwrecks.
Underwater archaeology: The archaeological study of human activity preserved beneath water. It uses wreck sites to reconstruct shipbuilding, trade, and life at sea.
Maritime disaster: A catastrophic event involving a ship or other vessel that causes major loss of life, property, or environmental harm. A wreck is often the physical aftermath of a maritime disaster.
Law of salvage: A body of maritime law governing voluntary recovery of property from danger at sea. Salvage claims can conflict with archaeological preservation and public ownership of wrecks.
Capsizing: The overturning of a vessel in water, often causing loss of stability and possible sinking. A capsized vessel may sink intact or break apart as it floods.
Vasa: A Swedish warship that sank on its maiden voyage in Stockholm in 1628 and was salvaged in 1961. Its unusually complete survival reveals a seventeenth-century warship in detail.
Marine salvage: The recovery of vessels, cargo, or other property from water after an accident or loss. Salvage turns a wreck into a site of recovery, with practical and legal consequences.
Oil spill: The release of liquid petroleum into the environment, especially water, where it can harm ecosystems. Fuel leaking from wrecks can contaminate nearby marine habitats and coastlines.
War grave: A burial place associated with people killed in war, including some sunken military vessels. Wrecks containing human remains raise questions about access, disturbance, and commemoration.