Shipwreck


 * // __ SHIPWRECK  __ // **

A **shipwreck** is the remains of a ship that has wrecked, either sunk or beached. A shipwreck can refer to a wrecked ship or to the event that caused the wreck, such as the striking of something that causes the ship to sink, the stranding of the ship on rocks, land or shoal, or the destruction of the ship at sea by violent weather. Whatever the cause, a sunken ship or a wrecked ship is a physical example of the event. There are more than 3 million shipwrecks on the ocean floor, the United Nations estimates.

Factors for the loss of a ship may include:
 * poor design or failure of the ship's equipment or pressure hull
 * instability, due to poor design, improperly stowed cargo, cargo that shifts its position or the free surface effect.
 * navigation errors and other human errors, leading to collisions (with another ship, rocks, an iceberg, etc.) or running aground
 * bad weather
 * warfare, piracy, mutiny, or sabotage including: guns, torpedoes, depth charges, mines, bombs and missiles.
 * fire
 * overloading - either cargo or icing, and displacement exceeding the plimsoll line
 * intentional sinking (scuttling)
 * to form an artificial reef
 * use as a target ship for training or testing weapons
 * as a blockship to create an obstacle to close a harbour, river, etc. against enemy ships
 * to prevent a ship from falling into an enemy's hands (e.g. Graf Spee)
 * to destroy a derelict ship that poses a menace to navigation
 * as part of an insurance scam