Episodes

Captain James Cook was one of the most successful explorers and navigators of the 18th century. His scientific discoveries and charting of the Pacific islands, New Zealand, and Australia proved invaluable. But his legacy is tarnished with the baggage of colonialism, racism, and conflicts that are still felt today. His three Pacific voyages were legendary, and he would pay for them with his life. Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrec...

Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen was wanted for murdering his wife, and was tracked down while on board the SS Montrose.

Dr. Howard Gray joins me again for this final installment of Batavia's Graveyard. Jeronimus Cornelisz and his fellow mutineers begin their reign of terror on the other survivors of the Batavia shipwreck. Cornelisz orders the senseless murders of countless survivors. Francisco Pelsaert, Ariaen Jacobsz and over 40 others reach the Dutch settlement of Batavia on the island of Java in the longboat, and Pelsaert is dispatched with a rescue ship to recover survivors and cargo. Meanwhile Cornelisz laun...

In Part 2 of Batavia's Graveyard, the Batavia and its crew depart Table Bay in southern Africa and continue their voyage to the Dutch East Indies. The Schipper, Ariaen Jacobs had just been publicly dressed down in front of the crew for his drunken rowdiness, and both Jacobsz and Jeronimus Cornelisz begin planning a mutiny. As the ship races across the Indian Ocean, they run into an unexpected archipelago of coral islands, the Houtman's Abrolhos, off the coast of Western Australia. The Batavia is...

In 1628, the Dutch East India Company sent its brand new flagship vessel Batavia from The Netherlands on a voyage to the settlement of Batavia (modern day Jakarta) in the Dutch East Indies. The cast of characters on board would produce one of the most bizarre maritime stories in history. After being wrecked on Houtman Abrolhos archipelago off the coast of Western Australia, a horrible tragedy of survival, manipulation, torture, sexual assault, and murder took place at the hands of the monstrous ...

I appeared as a guest on this episode of Archive Unknown, hosted by Lara Zielin. Join us as we discuss the curious disappearance of the USS Cyclops in 1918. Go AD-FREE by becoming a Patreon Officer's Club Member! Join at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! ⁠⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠ You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: ⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠ Join the Into History Networ...

Samuel Bellamy, or "Black Sam" Bellamy, was an extraordinarily successful pirate, albeit for a very short time. Called the "Robin Hood of the Seas," he abhorred violence, treated his victims humanely, and was very generous to his men. When he and his fleet captured the slave ship Whydah Gally, he scored a huge payday, but it all wound up lost for almost 300 years when the Whydah was wrecked in a storm off Cape Cod in 1717. This is the story of the Gentleman Pirate, a ship laden with riches, and ...

The Carlskrona was a 19th century corvette of the Swedish Navy. In 1846, the fast but unstable ship encountered a freak storm which came out of nowhere in the Florida Strait. The crew was not able to adjust the sails fast enough and the ship went down, with only 17 survivors ever making it back to Sweden. Author and historian Jens Kuhn is my guest. Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean...

On October 7, 1916 the German U-Boat U-53 showed up unexpectedly at Newport Harbor, Rhode Island. World War 1 was raging, although the United States remained firmly neutral. The U-53 captain, Hans Rose, paid courtesy visits to local US Navy commanders, and in return had them visit his U-Boat. The visit was friendly and accommodating, if not a bit strange. Curious onlookers snapped photos and gathered their boats around the U-53. The next morning, the U-53 commenced sinking Allied ships, and with...

The USCG Cutter Blackthorn sank after colliding with the SS Capricorn, outside of Tampa Bay, Florida.

The Achille Lauro burned and sank on December 2, 1994.

On July 24th, 1915, the SS Eastland rolled on its side in the Chicago River, just 19 feet from the dock, killing 844 people. The ship, along with 4 others were scheduled to transport over 7000 employees of the Western Electric company to a fun-filled day at the company's annual outing. Paul Durica, Director of Exhibitions at the Chicago History Museum joins me. Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme m...

In the early morning hours of 29 May, 1914, the Empress of Ireland collided with the Norwegian ship Storstad, killing over 1000 passengers.

In 1968, Hugo Vihlen broke the record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean in the smallest vessel, in his 6 foot long boat "April Fool."

Many of the Queen Mary's crew and guests have claimed to have experienced paranormal activity throughout its long history.

Wrecktoberfest special! The spooky tales of the ghost ship Ourang Medan, and the haunted St. Augustine Lighthouse. The Ourang Medan might be the creepiest ghost ship of all time, with all of its crew found dead, frozen in panic stricken terror. And the former residents of the St. Augustine Lighthouse don't seem to want to leave. Their spirits haunt the lighthouse to this day. Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. O...

The luxury passenger line Andrea Doria was the pride of post World War 2 Italy, and sank in 1956 after a collision with the vessel Stockholm.

In 1994, the passenger and vehicle ferry MV Estonia sank in the Baltic Sea during a violent storm, killing 852 of its passengers.

On the morning of May 9, 1980, the large freighter Summit Venture smashed into the Sunshine Skyway Bridge while entering Tampa Bay, Florida. The center section of the southbound span was destroyed, killing 35 motorists. This is the story of how it happened, and the tragedy it left in its wake. Rich's guest co-host for this episode is his wife Dawn. Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean...

The S.S. Sultana was transporting former Union prisoners of war at the end of the American Civil War when it suddenly exploded on April 27th, 1865. Jerry Potter, author of The Sultana Tragedy: America's Greatest Maritime Disaster, offers fantastic insight and perspective into this horrible shipwreck. An estimated 1200 people lost their lives due to greed, corruption, negligence, and incompetence. Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwre...

The S.S. Sultana was transporting former Union prisoners of war at the end of the American Civil War when it suddenly exploded on April 27th, 1865. Jerry Potter, author of The Sultana Tragedy: America's Greatest Maritime Disaster, offers fantastic insight and perspective into this horrible shipwreck. An estimated 1200 people lost their lives due to greed, corruption, negligence, and incompetence. Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwre...

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs: maritime history podcast.