The ship ran aground off Isaacs Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada, with the loss of eighteen of her 27 crew. She was on a voyage from Pelley Island, Newfoundland to New York, United States.[1]
6 January[]
List of shipwrecks: 6 January 1896
Ship
Country
Description
Emperor of St. John
Canada
The ship was driven ashore and severely damaged south of Cape George, Nova Scotia. She was on a voyage from Montreal, Quebec to Guysboro, Nova Scotia.[2]
February[]
29 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 29 February 1896
Ship
Country
Description
Ailsa
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The steamer was rammed and sunk by the French liner La Bourgogne while anchored at the entrance to New York Harbor in fog. All on board were rescued.[3]
March[]
2 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 2 March 1896
Ship
Country
Description
Rosstrevor
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The passenger-cargo ship grounded at Carlingford Lough. Refloated on 7 March, repaired and returned to service.[4]
6 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 6 March 1896
Ship
Country
Description
Volo
Norway
During a voyage from Goteburg, Sweden, to Lourenço Marques, Portuguese East Africa, with a cargo of Baltic pine timber, the barque was wrecked without loss of life on the coast of South Africa near the mouth of the Bushman River.
April[]
10 April[]
List of shipwrecks: 10 April 1896
Ship
Country
Description
Cleves
Belgium
The steamer caught fire at Antwerp, Belgium, and was gutted. Later repaired and returned to service.[5]
The ocean liner ran aground in heavy fog on Saints Rest Beach shortly after departing Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, without loss of life. She was declared a total loss.
While en route from Singapore to Kuching, the cargo ship ran aground and was wrecked on Victory Island in the South China Sea between Singapore and Borneo.[8]
The former White Star Line passenger liner ran aground on Terschelling Island in the Netherlands. She was declared a total loss. After refloating, she was auctioned for scrap on 9 December 1896 and towed to Amsterdam, where she was broken up
26 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 26 September 1896
Ship
Country
Description
Alexander james Yeats
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The ship ran aground at Gurnard's Head. Crew of 19 rescued.[9]
The schooner sank in Lake Superior without loss of life after dragging her anchors and running into a breakwater during a storm at Two Harbors, Minnesota.
November[]
17 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 17 November 1896
Ship
Country
Description
Memphis
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The cargo ship was wrecked in Dunlough Bay, County Cork with the loss of nine of her crew. She was on a voyage from Montreal, Quebec, Canada to Avonmouth, Somerset.[11]
December[]
5 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 5 December 1896
Ship
Country
Description
Nathan F. Cobb
United States
Nathan F Cobb
The three-masted schooner capsized in the Atlantic Ocean after departing Brunswick, Georgia, and drifted onto the outer sand bar off Ormond Beach, Florida, where she ran around. Two crewman and a civilian rescuer were killed during the incident.
8 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 8 December 1896
Ship
Country
Description
British Peer
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The sailing ship struck a reef off Saldanha Bay, South Africa, and was wrecked with 471 Indian indentured labourers on board. Eighteen crew were killed; there were only four survivors.
Unknown date[]
List of shipwrecks: Unknown date in December 1896
Ship
Country
Description
Douro
Brazil
The cargo ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean off Ouessant, Finistère, France.[12]
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Canada
Norway
Belgium
United Kingdom
Sweden) in the Bay of Biscay (45°50′N 9°30′E / 45.833°N 9.5°E. Both ships sank.[6]
Kingdom of Sarawak
Zanzibar
Royal National Lifeboat Institution).[7]
Spain
United States
Brazil