The container ship was beached on the south coast of Iceland. Declared a constructive total loss, she was scrapped in situ.
26 March
List of shipwrecks: 26 March 1997
Ship
Country
Description
Cita
Antigua and Barbuda
Cita
The cargo ship ran aground at Newfoundland Point, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly. She subsequently sank. All seven crew were rescued.
28 March
List of shipwrecks: 28 March 1997
Ship
Country
Description
Kateri i Radës
Albania
Tragedy of Otranto: The motorboat was in collision with Sibilia (Marina Militare) in the Strait of Otranto. She capsized and sank with the loss of 83 lives
The La Prudente-classnetlayer exploded and sank in the English Channel off Cherbourg, Seine-Maritime with the loss of five of her sixteen crew.[1]
May
4 May
List of shipwrecks: 4 May 1997
Ship
Country
Description
King Cruiser
Thailand
The ferry ran aground on the Anemone Reef, Andaman Sea, 10 nautical miles (19 km) off the Phi Phi Islands. All on board, in excess of 560 people, were rescued.
The ocean liner sank in the Pacific Ocean 700 nautical miles (1,300 km) north of Hawaii whilst under tow to the shipbreakers.
19 November
List of shipwrecks: 19 November 1997
Ship
Country
Description
Green Lily
Bahamas
The cargo ship ran aground at Bressay, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom after her engine failed in a storm. All fifteen crew were rescued by the Lerwick lifeboat and a helicopter, although the winchman of the helicopter was killed after his winchline had to be cut.[5]
The sailing ship sank off the Île de Gonâve with the loss of about 40 lives. There were fifteen survivors reported.[6]
30 December
List of shipwrecks: 30 December 1997
Ship
Country
Description
Merchant Patriot
United Kingdom
The ship sprang a leak in her engine room and was abandoned off the Bahamas. Declared a constructive total loss, she was towed to Freeport, Bahamas for scrapping.[7]