Iceberg Casualties – Ship Names starting with “M”

Clicking on the vessel name if hyperlinked will open a pdf document giving all the information known about the vessel and the collision event. The format is slightly distorted in some places, unfortunately, but should not be a problem. Clicking on the hyperlinks in the Image column will open any relevant images of the ship and in some cases an ice chart showing the location of the collision; S = image or illustration of the ship, D = image taken of around the time of the accident or damage to the vessel, C = ice chart showing a the approximate conditions at the time, T = additional information.

Name of Vessel	Vessel Type	Date	Geographic. Area	Lat N (deg.min)	Long W (deg.min)	Scenario Description	Damage Severity	Fatalities (Y/N/U)	Injuries (Y/N/U)	Iceberg Size/Multi-Year	Image
Magda	Steam Schooner	10-Jul-1913	Grand Banks	50.00	55.30	Direct Impact	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Small
Magdalena (I)	Bark	6-May-1885	Grand Banks	45.00	47.00	Unknown	Abandoned	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Magdalena (II)¹	Bark	15-Apr-1890	Grand Banks	43.50	39.37	Direct Impact	Abandoned	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	S1
Mai	Brig	10-Jun-1874	Grand Banks	44.41	49.22	Direct Impact	Cracks	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Maia	Schooner	11-Oct-1933	Labrador Sea and Davis Strait	57.20	54.45	Unknown	Sinking	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Majestic	Bark	16-May-1868	Grand Banks	46.00	46.00	Direct Impact	Abandoned	No	Unknown	Unknown
Maksim Gorkiy (Maxim Gorky)¹⁷	Cruise Ship	19-Jun-1989	Greenland Sea	78.00	0.30	Direct Impact	Large hole	No	Unknown	Ice Island	S1
Malvina¹⁸	Motor Tanker	25-Jul-1941	Strait of Belle Isle and Approaches	51.45	54.45	Unknown	Unknown	Unnown	Unknown	Unknown
Manche²	Survey Vessel	31-Jul-1899	Strait of Belle Isle and Approaches	54.15	56.30	Direct Impact	Crushed	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	T1
Manchester Citizen (II) 2²⁷	Steam Cargo	24-Apr-1929	Grand Banks	46.00	53.00	Glancing Blow	Puncture	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	S1 T1
Manchester Citizen (II) 1	Steam Cargo	03-Jul-1927	Strait of Belle Isle and Approaches	50.30	58.38	Glancing Blow	Denting	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	S1
Manchester Commerce	Steam Cargo	02-Nov-1913	Strait of Belle Isle and Approaches	51.40	52.38	Direct Impact	Crushed	No	Unknown	Large	S1 D1 D2 D3
Manchester Corporation 2	Steam Cargo	06-Aug-1922	Strait of Belle Isle and Approaches	51.36	56.13	Direct Impact	Crushed	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	S1
Manchester Corporation 1	Steam Cargo	29-Jul-1901	Strait of Belle Isle and Approaches	51.45	54.00	Striking concealed growler/bergy bit in waves	Hole	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	S1
Manchester Inventor	Steam Cargo	24-Jul-1912	Strait of Belle Isle and Approaches	51.50	55.00	Direct Impact	Hole	Unknown	Unknown	Growler	T1
Manchester Port	Steam Cargo	15-Jul-1899	Strait of Belle Isle and Approaches	51.30	51.40	Direct Impact	Crushed	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	S1
Manchester Spinner	Steam Cargo	16-May-1914	Grand Banks	44.00	49.13	Glancing Blow	Denting	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	S1
Mancunia	Steam Cargo	30-May-1915	Grand Banks	49.38	54.49	Direct Impact	Hole	Unknown	Unknown	Growler
Mansepool	Steam Cargo	05-Jun-1935	Grand Banks	45.35	48.30	Unknown	Crushed	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	S1
Margaret	Bark	3-Jul-1864	Grand Banks	46.00	46.00	Unknown	Abandoned	No	Unknown	Unknown
Maria	Sailing Ship	1-Jul-1842	Grand Banks	46.00	48.00	Glancing Blow	Hole	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Maria Preciosa	M/V Fishing Vessel	14-Jun-1944	Labrador Sea and Davis Strait	62.15	60.15	Unknown	Sinking	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Marie³	Schooner	01-Jul-1907	Grand Banks	47.00	50.00	Unknown	Unknown	No	No	Unknown
Marine Clipper II	M/V Fishing Trawler	01-Aug-1992	Grand Banks	48.56	50.18	Unknown	Denting	Unknown	Unknown	Growler	C1
Marine Transport⁴	M/V Cargo	22-Apr-1991	Grand Banks	46.32	53.22	Striking concealed growler/bergy bit in field ice	Sinking	No	No	Unknown
Martha⁵	Bark	15-Jul-1893	Grand Banks	45.30	49.20	Direct Impact	Crushed	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	T1
Mary and Mildred	Schooner	23-Apr-1917	Grand Banks	47.34	52.41	Direct Impact	Sinking	Unknown	Unknown	Growler
Mary Louisa⁶	Steam Cargo	10-May-1885	Grand Banks	46.00	49.00	Iceberg drifts upon vessel	Sinking	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Mary Morris	Bark	1-Jul-1855	Grand Banks	46.00	46.00	Direct Impact	Crushed	No	Unknown	Very Large	T1
Maskinonge²⁵	Steam Cargo	26-Jun-1919	Grand Banks	46.15	54.00	Direct Impact	Crushed	No	No	Small	T1
Massasoit⁷	Fishing Schooner	16-Jun-1882	Grand Banks	47.10	52.28	Direct Impact	Sinking	Yes	Unknown	Unknown	T1 T2
Mastiff²¹	Steam Sealing Vessel	11-Mar-1874	Grand Banks	48.10	52.45	Direct Impact	Cracks	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Maud	Sailing Ship	12-Jun-1875	Grand Banks	47.03	47.02	Unknown	Crushed	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Maud Helen	Bark	18-May-1875	Grand Banks	47.03	47.02	Direct Impact	Cracks	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Maxwell²³	Schooner	13-Jul-1909	Grand Banks	48.30	52.50	Grounding on	Cracks	No	No	Large	T1
Mayfall	M/V Cargo	12-Jul-1961	Grand Banks	46.57	52.46	Grounding on	Denting	No	No	Unknown	C1
Mayfield	M/V Cargo	1-May-1881	Gulf of St. Lawrence and South	46.13	60.01	Unknown	Sinking	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Melita	Steam Cargo	01-Jun-1905	Strait of Belle Isle and Approaches	51.57	55.37	Unknown	Large hole	Unknown	Unknown	Growler
Melpomene	Bark	1-Jun-1874	Grand Banks	48.00	48.00	Direct Impact	Crushed	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Merlin²⁰	RMS	c.1850-59	Grand Banks				Denting	No	No	Large
Merton²⁴	Steam Cargo	27-Jul-1944	Strait of Belle Isle and Approaches	52.15	50.32	Direct Impact	Crushed	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	S1 T1 T2 C1
Mesange⁸	M/V Cargo	21-Jul-1983	Hudson Strait	61.17	64.22	Striking concealed growler/bergy bit in field ice	Hole	No	No	Multi-Year	S1 D1 C1
Mindet	Bark	1-May-1885	Grand Banks	46.06	47.27	Direct Impact	Crushed	Yes	Unknown	Unknown
Miranda²²	SS Cargo/ Passenger	17-Jul-1894	Strait of Belle Isle and Approaches	52.06	55.31	Unknown	Hole	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	S1 T1
Miss Morris⁹	Schooner	12-Jun-1908	Grand Banks	46.00	48.00	Direct Impact	Puncture	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	S1 T1
Moen¹⁹	Bark	1-May-1885	Grand Banks	46.00	45.00	Direct Impact	Sinking	Yes	Unknown	Large	T1
Mohawk, USCGC¹⁰	Patrol Gunboat	20-Dec-1944	Greenland Sea	61.10	48.15	Glancing Blow	Hole	No	No	Growler	S1 S2
Moldava¹⁵	Steam Cargo	19-Aug-1896	Grand Banks	47.55	49.19	Direct Impact	Sinking	No	Unknown	Large	T1 T2
Monmouth	Steam Cargo/ Passenger	31-Jul-1908	Strait of Belle Isle and Approaches	51.45	55.15	Direct Impact	Puncture	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Montague	Brigantine	21-Jun-1882	Grand Banks	42.20	52.05	Direct Impact	Cracks	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Montcalm	SS Passenger	03-Jul-1927	Strait of Belle Isle and Approaches	51.00	54.07	Striking projection	Denting	Unknown	Unknown	Large	S1
Montclare	SS Passenger	19-Apr-1928	Grand Banks	47.10	48.37	Glancing Blow	Denting	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	S1
Monte Cervantes¹⁶	M/V Passenger	24-Jul-1928	Greenland Seas			Direct Impact	Puncture			Growler	S1
Montrose (I) 2 ¹¹	SS Passenger	23-Jul-1909	Grand Banks	46.40	52.23	Glancing Blow	Puncture	Unknown	Yes	Large	S1 C1 T1 T2
Montrose (I) 1	SS Passenger	1-Jul-1899	Grand Banks	46.06	46.27	Unknown	Puncture	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	S1
Montrose (II)²⁶	SS Passenger	09-Apr-1928	Grand Banks	44.38	46.02	Direct Impact	Crushed	Yes=2	Yes-2	Small	S1 D1 D2 T1 C1
Moon	Sailing Ship	May 1885	Grand Banks	Unknown	Unknown	Direct Impact	Sinking	Yes	Unknown	Unknown
Moravian	SS Passenger	2-Sep-1875	Strait of Belle Isle and Approaches	51.36	52.37	Direct Impact	Denting	Unknown	Unknown	Large	S1
Mordaunt	Schooner	12-Sep-1884	Grand Banks	47.45	53.02	Unknown	Cracks	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Mouette	Schooner	14-Jun-1909	Grand Banks	46.00	52.00	Glancing Blow	Denting	No	No	Medium
Mount Temple ¹²	SS Passenger	1913	Grand Banks			Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Mountstone ¹³	Schooner	5-Jun-1823	Grand Banks	46.10	43.30	Unknown	Sinking	Yes	Unknown	Unknown
Munroe¹⁴	Oil Screw 30 ton	29-Aug-1969	Alaskan Waters	57.13	133.39	Collision	Sinking	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown

1. Further vessel characteristics at https://skipshistorie.net/Drammen/DRA438%20Bruusgaard%20Kiosterud/Tekster/DRA43818880100000%20MAGDALENA.htm
2. Details remain illusive but correct vessel name is likely La Manche, a French Naval survey ship. New info (4 Mar 2023) from 3 August 1899 edition of Evening Telegram (T1) regarding date and location now updated in the table above.
3. According to the Daily News “Schr Marie has loaded 161 tons seal oil at Job’s, and sails for Hamburg this morning”, which eventually was 8 July.
4. Almost certainly the sinking was due to sea ice rather than glacial ice but is included for interest as 5 of the crew were later arrested for drug smuggling while several hundred kilograms of cocaine settled to the bottom of the ocean.
5. Updated position in table based on report in Evening Telegram (T1). Norwegian flag, built in St. John, New Brunswick, from Bay Chaleur to Glasgow, Scotland. See https://skipshistorie.net/Oslo/OSL486Winge/Tekster/OSL48618830300000%20MARTHA.htm for further details although coming from Bay Verte would appear to be an error based on Eve. Tel. report and the position of the collision.
6. From New York to Newcastle-on-Tyne. See also South Wales Echo 4 June 1885 p.3 “Ice in the Atlantic” at https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4230610/4230613/
7. See also https://www.downtosea.com/1876-1900/massasoi.htm
8. See also “Lucien Paquin“
9. Date in table corrected to 12 June according to info in the Telegram. Video of Miss Morris sinking at the hands of a German U-boat in 1917 available at: https://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675040086_German-U-boat_submarine-warfare_steamship-sinks_torpedo-under-surface_periscope.
10. For first hand account see also http://ussmohawkcgc.blogspot.com/2007/09/looking-for-mohawk-wpg-78-vets.html
11. A personal communication describes how the port pow was stove in with 2 inch thick plates and iron girders bent and twisted, and anchor broken. The berg was as high as a church tower, grounded in 78 fathoms of water and the collision left tons of ice on the forecastle which was cleared away.
12. Details of this collision are vague and so far no confirmation of this incident have been found. The vessel did go aground in 1913 with damage.
13 A full description from the West Briton 13 Sep [1824?] edition can be found at https://www.theshipslist.com/ships/Arrivals/1824d.shtml “Dreadful Shipwreck”.
14 New addition, source https://alaskashipwreck.com/ , for further information.
15. Moldava is the correct name and is listed in Lloyds’ Register as such although occasionally referred to as the Moldavia. The co-ordinates in the table have been given both as the position of the collision and of the the picking up of the crew. This is about 170 nm or 200 statute miles to the NE of Cape Race in the shipping lanes rather than the 200 miles south as mentioned in the pdf file.
16. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Monte_Cervantes for details.
17. See also, for instance: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-21-mn-2390-story.html and https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/06/20/Soviet-cruise-ship-hits-iceberg/8459614318400/ and for photographs and further context see Arctic Transportation Challenges and Emergency Preparedness. Svalbard Region at https://www.arcticfrontiers.com/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2016/Arctic%20Frontiers%20Science/Presentations%2028%20January%202016/Part%20III%20Technology%20needs/06_Nataly_Marschenko.pdf
18. New addition. As part of Convoy HX 140. Halifax – UK, loaded with crude oil struck a berg in the Strait Of Belle Isle and returned to Sydney, Nova Scotia. Vessel specifications and photos at https://www.marhisdata.nl/schip?id=3943. Convoy was paired with SC 38 and altogether at least 7 vessels struck icebergs in the passage though the Strait. While bergs were innumerable around the area of Belle Isle it was an unusually light season further south. Collision position is estimated. Unfortunately most of the microfilm records are illegible: https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c5512/5187 and dates for all collisions uncertain. See also: http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hx/index.html and http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/hx140.html . Vessels striking bergs at this time are Oregon 1 and Malvina of Convoy HX140, and Agia Marina, Armathia, Boltonhall, Dimitrios Chandris, Gloxinia and Senta of Convoy SC 38. Also to be noted is the Svend Foyn of HX 140 which sank with loss of life in 1943 after collision with an iceberg.
19. While at least one source gives a position of 46N 41W, the 46N 45W is more likely.
20. New addition but details very sketchy and come from a letter published in the Courier, St. John’s, 11 June 1859 p.3 col.1 dated 31 May, Halifax. According to this the RMS Merlin in one of its voyages to Sydney and Halifax struck a berg three times the height of the mast in a “cold mass of dense fog that morning”. There appears to be little damage with a bent prow and rails. The Merlin came in to service in 1850. Further searches have revealed nothing further so far. Article can be viewed at https://collections.mun.ca/digital/collection/morncourier/id/7447/rec/1 .
21. Owned by Messrs. Paterson & Foster. Click here and go to foot of page to Ref #866 to see log book extracts.
22. Dr. Frederick Cook’s 1894 polar expedition ship.
23. New addition as of 13 March 2023. Position estimated.
24. Previously listed as “Unnamed 6” and updated 27 March 2023 now known to be the 7150 ton SS Merton of Convoy ON 245 Liverpool to New York (Convoy Database), and mentioned without name but with position in the International Ice Patrol Bulletin for 1944 page 56 (https://archive.org/details/reportofinternat3033unit) in which the vessel was towed to St. John’s for repair. See also https://www.pilotmag.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Cairn-Line-volume-2-web.pdf : “In 1944, on a voyage from Swansea to Canada, the MERTON (I) struck an iceberg. A tug and frigate escort
towed the ship to St Johns N.F. The MERTON (I) then travelled to Sydney, Cape Breton Island, where a block
of several tons of cement were placed in the bows – then onto Quebec and Montreal to discharge her cargo.
She returned to Quebec to dry dock, where a new bow was fitted.” The vessel was built in 1941 and full particulars can be found at: https://www.clydeships.co.uk/. In fact, the Naval Signals (T1 & T2 in table above) give a slightly different position and date from the IIP Bulletin and suggest the ship did not need towing although the tug was indeed there. The signals of the Royal Canadian Navy : Convoy Reports of Proceedings, 1939-1945 for Convoy ONS 245 are on Reel C-5530 images 894 – 1142, in particular Nos, 960 & 968, https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c5530. The chart (C1) is from reel C-5545 image 215 showing the convoy route across the Atlantic but does not show the route of the 15 detached ships through the Strait of Belle Isle.
25. (Updated 26 Dec 2023). Newspaper reports indicate that the SS Maskinonge hit a small berg to the west of Cape Pine at 5 pm on the Wednesday which would be be June 25, and the record in the table above has been amended to reflect these.
26. (Updated 21 Feb 2024). Incredible film footage of damage while in Liverpool at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V64jR5C05pM
27. Updated 29 Feb. 2024 with T1. It is also reported in the Newfoundland Ice Extent page for April 1929 in which the source did not mention an iceberg.