The Type T2-SE-A1 tanker broke in two in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Massachusetts. The bow section sank. The stern section grounded six miles off Chatham, Massachusetts and later sank. Thirty-two of her 41 crew were rescued by CG 36500 (United States Coast Guard).
The tug was towing Esso Appalachee (United Kingdom) with Flying Petrel (United Kingdom) when Esso Appalachee fouled her tow and then collided with Flying Buzzard, sinking her. She was salvaged in May and repaired, returning to service in October.
Beltana
Australia
The cargo ship ran aground in Port Philip Bay, Victoria, Australia. Refloated on 7 May.[17]
May[]
4 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 4 May 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Heathery Brae
United Kingdom
Was engaged in salvage work over the wreck of Clarrie (flag unknown) off Bordeaux harbour, Guernsey Channel Islands. Timed explosive charges placed on wreck but she could not move clear in time and was severely damaged by the explosion. She launched her life boat and the four crew pulled clear before the vessel foundered.[18][19]
The decommissioned Admiral Nakhimov-classlight cruiser was grounded on a spit for use as a target. By 1980, nothing remained of the ship above the water's surface.
The Liberty ship ran aground in the Martin Garcia Channel. She was later refloated. Although declared a constructive total loss, she was repaired and returned to service.[21]
Exercise Bluebird: A Royal Netherlands Air ForceRepublic F-84 Thunderjet collided with the motor launch's mast and crashed onto the boat, killing its pilot and fifteen crew of 2582, which sank. The accident occurred in the Marsdiep, Netherlands.[22]
27 June[]
List of shipwrecks: 27 June 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Othon
Greece
The Liberty ship ran aground off Karachi, Pakistan, broke in two and sank.[23]
30 June[]
List of shipwrecks: 30 June 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Mahenge
Belgium
The Victory ship collided with Liberty shipGranville (France) off Alderney, Channel Islands (49°48′N2°18′W / 49.8°N 2.3°W / 49.8; -2.3). Mahenge sank, her 46 crew and three passengers were rescued by Ringas (Norway). Granville severely damaged and set on fire. Later towed to Cherbourg, France after fire extinguished.[24]
July[]
6 July[]
List of shipwrecks: 6 July 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Whiteson
United Kingdom
The cargo ship sank north east of the Paracel Islands, China.[25]
22 July[]
List of shipwrecks: 22 July 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Portland
Denmark
The tanker sank in the Kattegat with the loss of seventeen crew.[26]
Unknown date[]
List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Prins Alexander
Netherlands
The cargo ship collided with N O Rogenaes (Norway), Strait of Dover. Towed into Dover.[2]
August[]
1 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 1 August 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Pas de Calais II
France
The dredger sank in Boulogne Harbour after dredging up a torpedo, which exploded. Eleven crew were killed.[27]
8 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 8 August 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Ariana
Finland
The cargo ship ran aground in the Scheldt, Belgium and broke in two.[28]
10 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 10 August 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Lassei
United Kingdom
The cargo ship ran aground off Cloughey Bay, Northern Ireland.[29] Refloated on 2 September.[30]
17 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 17 August 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Evgenia Chandris
Greece
The Liberty ship ran aground in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, United States. She was later refloated and taken in to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Although declared a constructive total loss, she was repaired and returned to service.[21]
The passenger-cargo ship ran aground at Lena Point in Alaska′s Lynn Canal, then slid into deeper water and sank. All passengers and crew were safe.
9 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 9 September 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Niš
Yugoslavia
The ferry capsized and sank in the Danube at Belgrade. Ninety people drowned.[34]
23 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 23 September 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Joacosta
Portugal
The three-masted sailing trawler sank in the Atlantic 56 nautical miles (104 km) north of Saõ Miguel Island, Azores. Twelve crew were rescued by Compass (United States). Thirty five were rescued by Steel Executive (United States) and the remaining 27 were rescued by Henriette Schulee (West Germany).[35][36]
ran aground at Falconera Islet whilst on a voyage from Crete to Piraeus.[45]
Brunswick
United Kingdom
The tug was involved in a collision with another vessel and sank in the River Mersey with the loss of three crew. Raised on 17 November and beached near Liverpool, Lancashire.[46]
The gunboat ran aground on Scroby Sands, Norfolk, United Kingdom.[48]
10 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 10 December 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Ellen
West Germany
The coastal tanker collided with the ocean liner Maasdam (Netherlands) in the Nieuwe Waterweg, Netherlands. She capsized and sank with the loss of six of the twelve people on board.[49]
11 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 11 December 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Fernstream
Norway
The cargo liner collided with Hawaiian Rancher (United States) and sank near the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California, United States. All 42 crew and twelve passengers were rescued.[50]
The Liberty ship ran aground on the Pearl & Hermes Reef, in the Pacific Ocean 90 nautical miles (170 km) east of Midway Atoll and broke in two, a total loss.[51]
The Liberty ship ran aground off Midway Island. Thirty-five crew were rescued the next day by Frontenac Victory (United States). Quartette broke in two in January 1953 and was declared a total loss.[52]
22 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 22 December 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Champollion
France
The ocean liner ran aground at Ouzai Bay, Beirut, Lebanon and was wrecked.[53] Seventeen people were killed.[54]
Margarita
Finland
The cargo ship ran aground on Ailsa Craig, Firth of Clyde, United Kingdom.[55] Refloated on 29 December.[56]
23 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 23 December 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Albatros
Netherlands
The cargo ship ran aground at St Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight and was wrecked.[57]
Oswestry Grange
United Kingdom
The cargo ship ran aground in the Nieuwe Waterweg, Netherlands.[58]
24 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 24 December 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Virginia
Panama
The cargo ship ran aground off Atherfield, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom. Refloated 23 January 1953, but declared a constructive total loss and subsequently scrapped.[24][59]
27 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 27 December 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Merino
Australia
The 550-ton interstate cargo ship, owned by L. W. Smith Pty. Ltd., Launceston, ran aground in Wineglass Bay, Swansea, Tasmania, Australia.[60]
The Victory ship ran aground at Cairnryan, Wigtownshire, United Kingdom.[61]
29 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 29 December 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Fermain
United Kingdom
Whilst on a voyage from Swansea to Guernsey with Anthracite, the cargo ship ran aground on Black Rock off St Sampson's, Guernsey, Channel Islands. Declared a constructive loss.[62]