11/05/2025
Historically, the battle between ships and giant waves has been a constant struggle; while many ships have been lost to storms, others have survived thanks to their size, construction, and the skill of their captains. Notable encounters include the Italian liner Michelangelo being struck by a massive wave in 1966 and the research vessel Discovery surviving a giant wave in 2000. Today, while modern ships are larger and better equipped, they are still vulnerable, with "rogue waves" being a leading cause of loss for supertankers and container ships. Ships surviving giant waves SS Michelangelo : In 1966, the Italian liner was hit by a giant wave that broke 18 meters over its bow while steaming in the Atlantic. Sailing Yacht Suhaili : In 1968, the yacht encountered a breaking wave that was likely over 24 meters high in the Southern Ocean. Tanker MS Stolt Surf : The tanker survived a encounter with a rogue wave in the Pacific in 1977. Tanker Sikh Padua : In 2011, a wave angled the oil tanker to a 40° angle, nearly causing it to capsize, but it ultimately rode over the wave. Research Vessel Discovery : The ship survived the largest waves ever scientifically recorded in the open ocean, with individual waves up to 29.1 meters high in 2000. Cruiser Liner Queen Elizabeth II : In 1995, the ship encountered a 29-meter rogue wave during a North Atlantic hurricane, which the captain described as a "great wall of water".