Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs

On 27 March, 1980, the semi-submersible Norwegian oil platform Alexander L. Kielland collapsed and capsized during a terrible storm in the North Sea. The platform was being used as a floating hotel, or "flotel" for workers at the Ekofisk oil field. A massive search and rescue operation was launched, including surface vessels and aircraft from Norway, West Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. 123 of the 212 people on the platform perished, making it the worst industrial disaster in Norwegian history. The disaster prompted a number of changes to the safety regulations and emergency response procedures governing oil drilling platforms in the North Sea.

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 to create this episode.

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This edition of This Week in Shipwrecks includes archaeologists changing direction about the Nantucket shipwreck, the search for Amelia Earhart’s plane, continuing trouble in the Strait of Hormuz, and SUNY Maritime’s training ship, Empire State VII, and more.

Sources for this episode:

Egan Maritime Institute

Purdue University

Reuters

Antara News

gCaptain

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.

**🎧 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

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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

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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

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