On January 22, 1873, the British passenger ship Northfleet was anchored in the English Channel, bound for Tasmania, when she was suddenly struck by another vessel in the darkness. Carrying more than 300 people, many of them emigrants, the ship sank within minutes.

Lifeboats failed, distress signals went unanswered, and passengers were thrown into icy waters just miles from shore. More than 300 lives were lost, making the Northfleet shipwreck one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters of the 19th century.

This is a bonus episode for all listeners of Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes, notes, and merchandise can be found at ⁠⁠⁠shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠.

Original theme music by ⁠⁠⁠Sean Sigfried⁠⁠⁠.

**No AI was used in the production of this episode.

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is a maritime history podcast about shipwrecks, tragic loss, and incredible accomplishments on the world's oceans and waterways.

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The RMS Niagara was a trans-Pacific ocean liner of the Canadian-Australasian Line, lost during World War II after striking a German mine off the coast of New Zealand in 1940. While all on board were evacuated safely, the ship went down with 590 gold bars intended as payment to the United States for war munitions.

This episode includes the history of the RMS Niagara, the circumstances of its loss during World War II, and the remarkable salvage effort to recover the gold.

The RMS Niagara was one of the most significant shipwrecks of World War 2 involving a passenger ship, and one of the most valuable salvage operations in maritime history.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes, notes, and merchandise can be found at ⁠⁠shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠.

Original theme music by ⁠⁠Sean Sigfried⁠⁠.

**No AI was used in the production of this episode.

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is a maritime history podcast about shipwrecks, tragic loss, and incredible accomplishments on the world's oceans and waterways.

Listen AD-FREE by becoming an Officer's Club Member!

Join on Patreon at ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join through Apple Podcasts at ⁠⁠https://apple.co/4j60XCG⁠⁠.

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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🍾This is the 100th regular episode of Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs! ⚓

The SS Wilhelm Gustloff was a cruise ship built by Nazi Germany for the German Labour Front in 1938. It was converted into a hospital ship during World War 2, and then a U-boat training ship. On January 30, 1945, more than 10,000 people, mostly civilian women and children, boarded the Wilhelm Gustloff to escape the advancing Soviet Red Army into East Prussia. She was torpedoed and sunk in the Baltic Sea by Soviet submarine S-13. An estimated 9500 people were killed, making the Wilhelm Gustloff the deadliest shipwreck in history.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes, notes, and merchandise can be found at ⁠shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠.

Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

**No AI was used in the production of this episode.

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is a maritime history podcast about tragic loss and incredible accomplishments on the world's oceans and waterways.

Listen AD-FREE by becoming an Officer's Club Member!

Join on Patreon at ⁠https://www.patreon.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join through Apple Podcasts at ⁠https://apple.co/4j60XCG⁠.

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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On the evening of 30 December, 1896, the SS Warwick of the Donaldson Line crashed into the rocks at Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick, Canada. All 31 on board escaped safely, and there with no injuries. But the curious locals of Grand Manan soon found the precious cargo in the hold of the Warwick, and had themselves a New Year's Eve celebration to remember.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠.

Original theme music by ⁠⁠Sean Sigfried⁠⁠.

Listen Ad-Free, get exclusive bonus episodes, and free Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs merchandise by subscribing at ⁠patreon.com/shipwreckspod⁠. Three tiers available!

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All episodes, notes, and merchandise can be found at shipwrecksandseadogs.com.

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This episode originally was published on November 22, 2022.

The Empress of Ireland was a luxurious and beautiful steamship of the early 20th century, carrying passengers across the North Atlantic between Quebec City and Liverpool. She and her sister ship, the Empress of Britain, were an important cog during the peak of Canadian immigration. In the early morning hours of 29 May, 1914, the Empress of Ireland collided with the Norwegian ship Storstad in dense fog on the St. Lawrence River. Over 1000 people on the Empress of Ireland perished, and more passengers died than on the Titanic just two years prior. Because of the massive loss of life, she has been called "Canada's Titanic."

Dan Conlin, Curator of the Canadian Immigration Museum at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia joins me as my guest.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

Listen Ad-Free, get exclusive bonus episodes, and free Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs merchandise by subscribing at patreon.com/shipwreckspod. Three tiers available!

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This replay of Episode 4 contains NEW information from a recent report from an investigation that took place from 2021-2025.

In 1994 the passenger and vehicle ferry MV Estonia sank in the Baltic Sea during a violent storm. 852 of the 989 on board were lost, despite being in communication with other nearby ships. The cause of the ship's demise remains disputed and controversial.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠.

Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

Go AD-FREE and get exclusive bonus episodes by becoming a Patreon Officer's Club Member!

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The Loch Ard was a 3-masted, iron-hulled clipper of the Loch Line. On the 1st of June 1878, bound from London to Melbourne, it struck the rocks on the isolated coast of Victoria, Australia in a heavy fog. Of the 18 passengers and 36 crew, only 18 year old apprentice Thomas Pearce, and 19 year old Eva Carmichael. Their struggle to survive was made possible by the generosity of the local people of Victoria.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes, notes, and merchandise can be found at shipwrecksandseadogs.com.

Original theme music by Sean Sigfried.

**No AI was used in the production of this episode.

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is a maritime history podcast about tragic loss and incredible accomplishments on the world's oceans and waterways.

Listen AD-FREE by becoming an Officer's Club Member!

Join on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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If you’re already a member of the Officer’s Club on Patreon, nothing has changed, and you don’t have to do anything different. The cost is the same (minus one penny), and the benefits are the same, so no worries. But if you have an Apple device, and don’t want the hassle of using another app or creating another account, you can now listen to Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs without any ads, and get access to all bonus episodes - at least two new bonus episodes every month - directly within Apple Podcasts.⁠

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Best selling author John U. Bacon joins me to discuss his new book, Gales of November, and the behind the scenes stories of the crewmembers. We discuss their families, loved ones, and personalities that made up the crew of the famed ship. Gales of November can be purchased at the author's web site, johnubacon.com, Amazon, or wherever books are sold. (No commission is paid to Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs.)

A video version of this episode is also available. 

*Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of Gales of November was provided to Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs by the publisher. No other compensation, promotional consideration, or remuneration of any kind was paid or will be paid to Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs or Rich Napolitano for Mr. Bacon's participation in this episode.
**No AI images or voices were used to make this video.
Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Original theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sean Sigfried⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Listen AD-FREE by becoming an Officer's Club Member ! Join at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join the Into History Network for ad-free access to this and many other fantastic history podcasts! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.intohistory.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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