Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs

Rich Napolitano
  • 4.8 (150)
  • History
  • Updated Biweekly

A maritime history podcast about shipwrecks, maritime disasters, and seafaring legends. Hear tragic shipwreck stories as well as heroic tales of triumph. Host Rich Napolitano explores maritime history like you've never heard, including occasional guests such as authors, historians, mariners, divers, and archaeologists. If you love history, you will love Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs.

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  1. 1d ago

    Disaster in the Baltic: The Jan Heweliusz

    On 14 January 1993, the Polish ferry MV Jan Heweliusz capsized in a hurricane-force Baltic storm off Cape Arkona, Germany. Fifty-five people died and only nine crew members survived. It remains Poland’s deadliest peacetime maritime disaster. This episode of Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs traces the full story of the ill-fated roll-on/roll-off ferry. Built in Norway in 1977, she was plagued by accidents, stability problems and a questionable repair after a 1986 fire. Days before her final voyage, the stern gate was damaged at Ystad, and the owners ordered only a temporary fix. Hear what happened as Storm Verena struck during the overnight crossing from Świnoujście, Poland, to Ystad, Sweden, and how a rescue in the dark came too late for most of those on board. Then follow the aftermath: conflicting investigations, maritime chamber rulings, and a 2005 judgment from the European Court of Human Rights in Brudnicka and Others v. Poland, which found that Poland’s maritime tribunals lacked independence. ** No AI was used to create this episode. Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes, images, and sources can be found at shipwrecksandseadogs.com. Original theme music by Sean Sigfried and you can find him at seansigfried.com. **🎧 LISTEN AD-FREE + BONUS EPISODES** 👉Get exclusive bonus episodes and merch on Patreon: ⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/patreon⁠⁠ 👉Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/apple⁠⁠ 👉Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is part of the Into History podcast channel. Subscribe here: ⁠⁠https://www.intohistory.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠ 👉Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! ⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠ 👉You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: ⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Disaster in the Baltic: The Jan Heweliusz

  2. 5d ago

    This Week in Shipwrecks #9

    This week in Shipwrecks features the possible discovery of the oldest known shipwreck, a ring depciting the Lighthouse of Alexandria, a deadly shipwreck of migrants off the coast of Djibouti, commercial shipping turmoil in the Black Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, images of the steam-yacht Ituna, and a 2300 yeard old shipwreck found at Vis in Croatia. Sources for this episode: ABC News, October 14, 2026 Anadolu Agency, October 14, 2026 Archaeology Magazine, October 8, 2026 We Are the Frontier, October 15, 2026 International Organization for Migration, October 11, 2026 Financial Times, October 15, 2026 Associated Press, October 14, 2026 Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, October 14, 2026 The Times of India, October 2026 Divernet, October 8, 2026 Nantucket Current Egan Maritime Institute, October 8, 2026 Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes, images, and sources can be found at shipwrecksandseadogs.com. Original theme music by Sean Sigfried. ⁠⁠https://www.seansigfried.com 🎧 Listen to Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs, a weekly maritime history podcast hosted by Rich Napolitano, wherever you get your podcasts. 🔗https://www.podfollow.com/shipwreckspod **🎧 LISTEN AD-FREE + BONUS EPISODES** 👉Get exclusive bonus episodes and merch on Patreon: ⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/patreon⁠⁠ 👉Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/apple⁠⁠ 👉Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is part of the Into History podcast channel. Subscribe here: ⁠⁠https://www.intohistory.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠ 👉Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! ⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠ 👉You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: ⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    This Week in Shipwrecks #9

  3. 1d ago

    Introducing the Jordan Harbinger Show

    Gain insights from some incredible guests on The Jordan Harbinger Show. I have become a regular listener again and hope you check it out too!

    Introducing the Jordan Harbinger Show

  4. Oct 13

    Charles Lightoller: Titanic’s Highest-Ranking Survivor w/Dustin Hyland

    Charles Lightoller was the most senior officer to survive the sinking of the Titanic, and his story did not end in the North Atlantic. In this episode, we follow Titanic’s Second Officer from the bridge on the night of April 14, 1912, to the beaches of Dunkirk nearly three decades later. Rich Napolitano speaks with author and historian Dustin D. Hyland about his book, "Unsinkable Lights: Charles H. Lightoller’s Epic Tale of Hope and Survival". Available now at https://www.penandswordbooks.com/ or dustinhyland.com Lightoller survived the sinking by climbing onto an overturned collapsible lifeboat and helping keep dozens of people alive until rescue arrived. He then testified at the inquiries that followed, defending his actions and the crew’s conduct. Few expected him to return to the sea, but he did, serving in the Royal Navy during World War I and earning decorations for his command of warships in combat. In 1940, at age 66, he took his private yacht Sundowner across the Channel to help evacuate Allied troops from Dunkirk, bringing back more than 120 soldiers on a boat built for far fewer. In this episode: ⚓The Titanic’s final hours from the officer’s point of view ⚓Survival on the overturned lifeboat ⚓Lightoller’s wartime service and his Dunkirk crossing ⚓His legacy as one of history’s most remarkable seafarers * No compensation or remuneration was received by or paid by Rich Napolitano, Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs, or Nautilus Media, LLC in exchange for Mr. Hyland's participating in this podcast. ** No AI was used to create this video. Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes, images, and sources can be found at shipwrecksandseadogs.com. Original theme music by Sean Sigfried. ⁠⁠https://www.seansigfried.com 🎧 Listen to Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs, a weekly maritime history podcast hosted by Rich Napolitano, wherever you get your podcasts. 🔗https://www.podfollow.com/shipwreckspod **🎧 LISTEN AD-FREE + BONUS EPISODES** 👉Get exclusive bonus episodes and merch on Patreon: ⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/patreon⁠⁠ 👉Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/apple⁠⁠ 👉Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is part of the Into History podcast channel. Subscribe here: ⁠⁠https://www.intohistory.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠ 👉Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! ⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠ 👉You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: ⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Charles Lightoller: Titanic’s Highest-Ranking Survivor w/Dustin Hyland

  5. Oct 9

    This Week in Shipwrecks #8

    This week's roundup spans a war reaching the Black Sea, a fishing vessel run aground beneath a Scottish sea stack, and a 2,100-year-old shipwreck that gave up its cargo almost untouched. Host Rich Napolitano covers seven stories in sourced, fact-checked detail, from active maritime disasters to historic wrecks and the ongoing fight to save a Falklands-era frigate from the scrapyard. Stories in this episode: Drone Strikes Sink Two Ships in the Black Sea — Russian drone attacks sink the cargo ships Alfa Watan and Royad Mammadov, killing two and leaving a crew unaccounted for. Virgo Transport 8 Salvage Operation Confirmed — Indonesia's ferry operator agrees to raise the capsized vessel this month, with 55 people still believed inside. Fishing Vessel Runs Aground at Old Man of Hoy, Orkney — Seventeen crew are winched to safety after the longliner Genesis strikes rocks off Scotland. Fishing Boat Capsizes Off Jeju, South Korea — Nine crew are rescued and two remain missing after a coastal longliner capsizes in rough water. Campaign to Save HMS Ambuscade Continues in Karachi — A preservation group appeals directly to Pakistan's prime minister as the deadline to remove the former Royal Navy frigate passes. 2,100-Year-Old Shipwreck Yields Intact Luxury Tableware — Archaeologists recover more than 6,500 ceramic pieces from a Roman-era wreck off Turkey's Antalya coast. Twelve Divers Rescued in Separate Incidents Off Japan and Indonesia — Strong currents sweep two dive groups off course, prompting search and rescue operations on both sides of the Pacific. Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes, show notes, and transcripts can be found at ⁠shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music is by Sean Sigfried, and you can find him at ⁠seansigfried.com⁠. 🚫No AI was used during the production of this episode. **🎧 LISTEN AD-FREE + BONUS EPISODES + MERCH** 👉Subscribe on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉Subscribe on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    This Week in Shipwrecks #8

  6. Oct 6

    HMAS Sydney: Australia's Worst Naval Disaster

    On November 19, 1941, the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney met a suspicious merchant ship off the coast of Western Australia. The ship claimed to be a harmless Dutch freighter. It was actually the German raider HSK Kormoran, and within hours, Sydney was gone. All 645 crew members were lost, making it the worst naval disaster in Australian history. This episodes describes the entire service history of HMAS Sydney (D-48) the questions that haunted Australia for decades. Why did Captain Joseph Burnett bring his cruiser so close to an unidentified ship? How did Kormoran's disguise fool a warship built to fight? And why did a battle with so many German survivors leave no Australian ones? Host Rich Napolitano follows the story from the fatal encounter and the survivors' accounts to the conspiracy theories, the long search, and the 2008 discovery of both wrecks on the ocean floor, more than 2,000 meters down. Two official inquiries have answered many questions, but the controversies surrounding HMAS Sydney persist. Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes, show notes, and transcripts can be found at shipwrecksandseadogs.com. Original theme music is by Sean Sigfried, and you can find him at seansigfried.com. 🚫No AI was used during the production of this episode. **🎧 LISTEN AD-FREE + BONUS EPISODES + MERCH** 👉Subscribe on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉Subscribe on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    HMAS Sydney: Australia's Worst Naval Disaster

  7. Oct 2

    This Week in Shipwrecks #7

    This Week in Shipwrecks is the weekly maritime news series of Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs. News from September 25 through October 1, 2026 Masts removed from the "bomb" ship Richard Montgomery in the Thames Estuary. The death toll from the Virgo Transport 8 ferry disaster rises to 78 Shipwreck remains wash up on Nantucket shore after strong nor'easter. The Batavia replica ship set for preservation efforts at Museum Batavialand. 17th century German shipwreck found during pipeline project Criminal charges for those responsible for migrant deaths in English Channel. More migrants die in a shipwreck in the Gulf of Gabes off Tunisia. 70 year old Canadian man saved by Australian Navy from a sinking catamaran Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes, show notes and transcripts can be found at ⁠shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠ Original theme music is by Sean Sigfried, and you can find him at ⁠seansigfried.com⁠. 🚫No AI was used during the production of this episode. **🎧 LISTEN AD-FREE + BONUS EPISODES + MERCH** 👉Subscribe on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉Subscribe on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    This Week in Shipwrecks #7

  8. Sep 29

    El Faro: The Clock is Ticking

    In October 2015, the cargo ship El Faro sank in Hurricane Joaquin with 33 people aboard. Hear Captain Michael Davidson's emergency calls and the bridge transcripts from the ship's Voyage Data Recorder. This episode reconstructs the final hours of the voyage from primary sources. You'll hear the recorded emergency phone calls from Captain Michael Davidson as the ship took on water and lost propulsion. We also go through transcripts from the Voyage Data Recorder, the "black box" recovered from the ocean floor during the NTSB investigation. The bridge conversations show how decisions were made and how quickly conditions deteriorated. Content note: this episode includes real emergency audio and may be distressing to some listeners. This is a replay of Episode 38, originally released in January of 2024. El Faro, El Faro sinking, Captain Michael Davidson, Hurricane Joaquin, Voyage Data Recorder, NTSB investigation, shipwreck podcast, maritime disaster, true story 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 by becoming a Patreon Officer's Club Member! Join at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Follow Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Facebook⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    El Faro: The Clock is Ticking
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Trailer

4.8
out of 5
150 Ratings

About

A maritime history podcast about shipwrecks, maritime disasters, and seafaring legends. Hear tragic shipwreck stories as well as heroic tales of triumph. Host Rich Napolitano explores maritime history like you've never heard, including occasional guests such as authors, historians, mariners, divers, and archaeologists. If you love history, you will love Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs.

Information

  • Creator
    Rich Napolitano
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    217
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Nautilus Media, LLC
  • Show Website
    Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs
  • Provider
    Nautilus Media LLC

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