# List of shipwrecks in March 1881

The list of shipwrecks in March 1881 includes ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during March 1881.

## 1 March

List of shipwrecks: 1 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Donna Maria | Flag unknown | The ship collided with the steamship Ravenshoe ( United Kingdom) and sank at Ouistreham, Calvados, France. Donna Maria was on a voyage from Wexford, United Kingdom to Ouistreham. |
| Zealandia | United Kingdom | The full-rigged ship ran ashore in the River Thames and Barking, Essex whilst avoiding a collision with another vessel. She was on a voyage from Otago, New Zealand to London. She was refloated the next day and completed her voyage. |

## 2 March

List of shipwrecks: 2 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Alvina | Guernsey | The ship departed from Arbroath, Forfarshire for London. No further trace, reported missing. |
| Bee | United Kingdom | The smack was wrecked on Fannet Point, County Donegal. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Larne, County Antrim to Dunfanaghy, County Donegal. |
| Borthwick | United Kingdom | The steamship ran aground on the Dumball, in the River Avon. She was refloated the next day with assistance from the tugs Empress of India, Iris, Peri and Sea Queen (all United Kingdom). |
| Cambrian | United Kingdom | The full-rigged ship departed from Bristol, Gloucestershire for a port in the Cameroons. No further trace, reported overdue. |
| Cecilie Caroline | France | The ship was driven ashore at Apple-tree, on the south coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom with the loss of all five crew. She was on a voyage from Charlestown, Cornwall to Nantes, Loire-Inférieure. |
| Eupatoria | United Kingdom | The ship departed from the River Tyne for Cowes, Isle of Wight. No further trace, reported overdue. |
| Griffin | United Kingdom | The barque was driven ashore on Fidra, Lothian. She was on a voyage from Aberdeen to Burntisland, Fife. She was refloated and towed in to Leith, Lothian. |
| Ida | Norway | The brigantine collided with the barquentine Parthia ( United Kingdom) and foundered in the English Channel off St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom. Three of her crew were rescued. Ida was on a voyage from Charlestown, Cornwall to Brevig. |
| Lechmere | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore at Whitburn, County Durham. She was on a voyage from Hamburg, Germany to the River Wear. She was refloated with the assistance of five tugs and taken in to Sunderland, County Durham. |
| Victory | United Kingdom | The pilot cutter collided with the steamship Acorn ( United Kingdom) and sank in the Bristol Channel off Lundy Island, Devon. Her crew were rescued by Acorn. |

## 3 March

List of shipwrecks: 3 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Afton | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore at Kilroot Point, County Antrim. She was on a voyage from Belfast, County Antrim to Ayr. |
| Ajace | Italy | The barque was wrecked off Rockaway Beach, New York, United States with the loss of all but one of her fifteen crew. She was on a voyage from Belgium to New York City. Her wreck settled in 25 feet (8 m) of water and became known as "the Italian Wreck". |
| Albion | United Kingdom | The schooner was wrecked at Annalong, County Down. Her crew were rescued by rocket apparatus. She was on a voyage from Amlwch, Anglesey to Carlingford, County Louth. |
| Alice Anna | United Kingdom | The schooner ran aground on the West Hoyle Bank, in Liverpool Bay. Her crew were rescued by the West Hoyle Lifeboat. She was on a voyage from Bangor, Caernarfonshire to Liverpool, Lancashire. She was reboarded and refloated the next day and taken in to Liverpool. |
| Celeste Caroline | France | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked near St. Austell, Cornwall, United Kingdom with the loss of all hands. She was on a voyage from Charlestown, Cornwall to Nantes, Loire-Inférieure. |
| Dayspring | United Kingdom | The brigantine ran aground on the Broomhill Shoals, off the coast of County Waterford and was wrecked with the loss of five of her six crew. Her captain was rescued by the Duncannon Lifeboat. She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland to Waterford. |
| Drumduff | United Kingdom | The steamship was abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean. She was on a voyage from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States to Antwerp, Belgium. She subsequently came ashore on the coast of Pennsylvania and was wrecked. |
| Earl of Ulster | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore at Jurby Point, Isle of Man. She was on a voyage from Belfast to Fleetwood, Lancashire. She was refloated and resumed her voyage. |
| Emmanuel | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked at Fort Blockhouse, Gosport, Hampshire. Her crew were rescued. |
| Eothen | United Kingdom | The brig was abandoned in the Bristol Channel. She was subsequently driven ashore at Sandy Haven, Pembrokeshire. She was refloated with the assistance of the steamship Frank Stanley ( United Kingdom) and towed in to Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire. |
| Falcon | Isle of Man | The fishing lugger was driven ashore and wrecked at Kingstown, County Dublin. Her seven crew survived. |
| Fanny | United Kingdom | The fishing vessel was driven ashore and wrecked at Baldoyle, County Dublin. |
| Gothen | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore in Sandy Haven and was abandoned by her crew. She was refloated and towed in to Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire by the steamship Frank Stanley ( United Kingdom). |
| Helmi | Russia | The barque was driven ashore and wrecked at Roche's Point. Her eleven crew were rescued by rocket apparatus. She was on a voyage from Cardiff, Glamorgan, United Kingdom to Naples, Italy. |
| John Masterman | United Kingdom | The barque was abandoned off the Leman Sand, in the North Sea. Her crew were rescued by smacks. She was on a voyage from Pensacola, Florida, United States to Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. |
| Juno | United Kingdom | The schooner was run down and sunk in the English Channel 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) east of the Royal Sovereign Lightship ( Trinity House) by the steamship Lady Ruthven ( United Kingdom) with the loss of three of her five crew. Survivors were rescued by Lady Ruthven. Juno was on a voyage from Fowey, Cornwall to Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland. |
| Lucie | France | The sloop was driven ashore at Bray, County Wicklow, United Kingdom. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Nantes, Loire-Inférieure to Dublin. |
| Margaret Owen | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked at Ringfadd Point, County Down. Her crew survived. She was on a voyage from London to Londonderry. |
| Mary | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore near Larne, County Antrim. She was on a voyage from Dublin to Coleraine, County Antrim. |
| Mary Cook | United Kingdom | The smack was abandoned off Girvan, Ayrshire. Both people on board were rescued by the Girvan Lifeboat. |
| Pawcett | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore between Fair Head and "Carrickmore Bridge", County Antrim. |
| Prince | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at Rye Harbour, Sussex. She was on a voyage from Porthleven, Cornwall to London. |
| Queen of Usk | United Kingdom | The brigantine was abandoned off Douglas, Isle of Man. Her crew were rescued by the Douglas Lifeboat. |
| Royal Charter | United Kingdom | The schooner was wrecked 8 nautical miles (15 km) north of Bardsey Island, Pembrokeshire. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Dublin to Port Madoc, Caernarfonshire. |
| Saxon | United Kingdom | The brigantine was driven into the suspension bridge at Montrose, Forfarshire and damaged. |
| Shamrock | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore at Hartlepool, County Durham. Her crew were rescued by the Hartlepool Lifeboat. Shamrock was on a voyage from Hartlepool to Scarborough, Yorkshire. She was refloated with the assistance of tugs but consequently sank. |
| Slieve Donard | United Kingdom | The ship was severely damaged by fire at Calcutta, India. |
| Swift | United Kingdom | The trow sank in the River Avon. Her crew survived. |
| Topaz | United Kingdom | The schooner ran aground on Brigg's Reef, off the coast of County Down. Her crew survived. |
| Una | United Kingdom | The schooner struck the Tayleur Rock and foundered off Lambay Island, County Dublin. Her four crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Belfast to Portmadoc, Caernarfonshire. |
| Victoria | United Kingdom | The ferry, a paddle steamer, was driven against the pier at Tranmere, Cheshire and was severely damaged. She was scuttled. |
| Victorine | France | The brigantine was driven ashore at Mevagissey, Cornwall with the loss of two of her six crew. She was on a voyage from Nantes, Loire-Inférieure to Porthcawl, Glamorgan. |
| West Riding | United Kingdom | The steamship was run into by the steamship Henry ( United Kingdom) in St. Ives Bay. She out in to Newport, Monmouthshire waterlogged at the bow. |
| Unnamed | Flag unknown | The schooner was driven ashore at Hartlepool. Her crew were rescued. |
| Thirteen unnamed vessels | Flags unknown | The ships were driven ashore at Bangor, Caernarfonshire. |
| Two unnamed vessels | Isle of Man | The Manx nickeys foundered off the Isle of Man. One was lost with all hands. |

## 4 March

List of shipwrecks: 4 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Alert | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore at Beaumaris, Anglesey. |
| All Right | United Kingdom | The schooner was abandoned in Cardigan Bay. Her crew were rescued by the steamship Maria ( United Kingdom). |
| Ariadne | Denmark | The barque collided with USS Shenandoah ( United States Navy) and was severely damaged. She put back to Montevideo, Uruguay, where she was beached. She was condemned. |
| Bangalore | United Kingdom | The barque was abandoned at sea. Her twelve crew were rescued by the steamship Foxhound ( United Kingdom). Bangalore was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to Galle, Ceylon. |
| Castlemaine | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore at Ballyhalbert Bay, County Down. Her crew were rescued by the Ballywalter Lifeboat. She was on a voyage from Rangoon, Burma to Greenock, Renfrewshire. |
| Cecelia | United Kingdom | The barque foundered off Souter Point, Northumberland with the loss of all eighteen crew. She was on a voyage from the River Tyne to Valparaíso, Chile. |
| Charles | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore between Beaumaris and Penmaenmawr, Caernarfonshire. |
| Chimera | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at Hartlepool, County Durham. She was refloated with assistance. |
| Chesapeake | United Kingdom | The steamship ran ashore in the River Thames at Grays, Essex. |
| City of London | United Kingdom | The steamship sank south of Gurneh, Egypt. Her crew were rescued. |
| Coronella | United Kingdom | The ship ran aground at Larne, County Antrim. She was on a voyage from Whitehaven, Cumberland to Dublin. |
| Corsair | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore and wrecked at Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire. Her crew were rescued. |
| Eugene Desirée | France | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked at "Collydrain", on the Mull of Kintyre, Argyllshire, United Kingdom with the loss of a crew member. She was on a voyage from Ardrossan, Ayrshire, United Kingdom to Saint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine. |
| Flora | United Kingdom | The Mersey flat was driven ashore between Beaumaris and Penmaenmawr.Her crew were rescued. |
| Florence Nightingale | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore at Middlesbrough, Yorkshire. She was refloated with the assistance of seven tugs and taken in to Middlesbrough. |
| Great Britain | United Kingdom | The schooner sprang a leak and was abandoned in the Irish Sea with the loss of a crew member. Survivors were rescued by the steamship Severn ( United Kingdom). Great Britain was on a voyage from Port Madoc, Caernarfonshire to Plymouth, Devon. |
| Harmony | United Kingdom | The smack was driven ashore between Beaumaris and Penmaenmawr. |
| Industry | United Kingdom | The brigantine was driven ashore and wrecked at Ardtole, County Down. Her crew survived. |
| Jane Sarah | United Kingdom | The smack was driven ashore between Beaumaris and Penmaenmawr. |
| Jeune Cereus | France | The lugger foundered in the English Channel off Start Point, Devon, United Kingdom. Her crew survived. She was on a voyage from Par, Cornwall, United Kingdom to Rouen, Seine-Inférieure. |
| Llama | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore 6 nautical miles (11 km) south of the Corsewall Lighthouse, Wigtownshire. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Liverpool to Glasgow, Renfrewshire, or from Belfast, County Antrim to Greenock, Renfrewshire. She was refloated on 3 April and taken in to Stranraer, Wigtownshire for temporary repairs before being towed to Glasgow. |
| Mars | United Kingdom | The brig was driven ashore and wrecked at Aberdeen Her six crew were rescued; four by rocket apparatus and two by the Aberdeen Lifeboat. She was on a voyage from South Shields, County Durham to Aberdeen. |
| Mary Eliza | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked between Beaumaris and Penmaenmawr. |
| Messenger | United Kingdom | The dredging smack was driven ashore at Penmon, Anglesey. Her six crew survived. |
| Morning Light | United Kingdom | The brigantine was driven ashore and wrecked between Ballyhealy and Tacumshane, County Wexford with the loss of five of her seven crew. She was on a voyage from South Shields to Drogheda, County Louth. |
| Niels | Sweden | The schooner was wrecked in the River Tay. Her five crew were rescued by a lifeboat. She was on a voyage from Le Tréport, Seine-Inférieure to Leith, Lothian, United Kingdom. |
| Penmaen | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore between Beaumaris and Penmaenmawr. |
| Penmon | United Kingdom | The smack was driven ashore between Beaumaris and Penmaenmawr. |
| Perseverance | United Kingdom | The brigantine was driven ashore and wrecked at Ardtole, County Down. Her crew survived. She was on a voyage from Maryport, Cumberland to Dublin. |
| Philomena | France | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked between Ballyhealy and Tacumshane with the loss of three of her six crew. She was on a voyage from Nantes, Loire-Inférieure to Glasgow. |
| Pinson | France | The lugger was driven ashore and wrecked between Ballyhealy and Tacumshane. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Port Talbot, Glamorgan, United Kingdom to Port Malines, Gironde. |
| Princess | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore between Beaumaris and Penmaenmawr. |
| Problem | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore between Beaumaris and Penmaenmawr. |
| Rescue | Guernsey | The barquentine ran aground in the Thames Estuary. She was run into by the barquentine Despatch ( United Kingdom) and sank with the loss of a crew member. Rescue was on a voyage from Guernsey to London. |
| Rob Roy | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore between Beaumaris and Penmaenmawr. |
| Royal Charter | United Kingdom | The smack was driven ashore between Beaumaris and Penmaenmawr. |
| Stamboul | United Kingdom | The barque was driven ashore on the coast of County Down. |
| Sultan | United Kingdom | The steamship collided with the steamship Marianne Briggs ( United Kingdom) and sank in the Humber with the loss of one life. Survivors were rescued by a dredger. Sultan was on a voyage from Hamburg, Germany to Hull, Yorkshire. She was refloated the next day. |
| Vivid | United Kingdom | The schooner was wrecked at Langness, Isle of Man with the loss of all hands. |
| Why Not | United Kingdom | The brig was wrecked on the Skerry, off Peterhead, Aberdeenshire with the loss of all seven crew. She was on a voyage from the Firth of Forth to a French port. |
| William | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked between Beaumaris and Penmaenmawr. |
| Unnamed | Flag unknown | The schooner was driven ashore on Puffin Island, Anglesey. |
| Unnamed | Flag unknown | The ship was driven ashore at Seaton, County Durham. |
| Unnamed | Flag unknown | The barque was driven ashore at Kilmore, County Wexford. |

## 5 March

List of shipwrecks: 5 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Agnes | United Kingdom | The schooner was wrecked at Montrose, Forfarshire. Her crew were rescued. |
| Alfred | United Kingdom | The ship was abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean. Her crew were rescued by Leopoldine Frade ( Germany). Alfred was on a voyage from the Bull River to Plymouth, Devon. |
| Alice Burnyeat | United Kingdom | The ship was wrecked on the east coast of Scotland with the loss of all hands. |
| Amoret | United Kingdom | The brigantine was wrecked near Johnshaven, Kincardineshire with the loss of all hands. |
| Arabian | United Kingdom | The brig was driven ashore at Monifieth, Fife. Her crew refused an offer by the Broughty Ferry Lifeboat English Mechanic ( Royal National Lifeboat Institution) to take them off. Arabian was on a voyage from Gravesend, Kent to the Firth of Forth. |
| A. Strong | United Kingdom | The steamship was damaged by an onboard explosion off Penarth, Glamorgan. A crew member was severely wounded. She was on a voyage from Newport, Monmouthshire to Savona, Italy. She put in to Penarth. |
| Essen | Germany | The steamship was abandoned after she stranded on the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom. |
| Friendship | Flag unknown | The steamship was wrecked near Saint Andrews, Fife, United Kingdom. Her crew were rescued by the Saint Andrews Lifeboat. |
| Gloucester | United Kingdom | The fishing smack was driven ashore and wrecked at Dimlington, Yorkshire with the loss of two of her six crew. |
| Harmonie | Norway | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked in St. Andrews Bay. Her five crew were rescued by the St. Andrews Lifeboat Ladies' Own ( Royal National Lifeboat Institution). Harmonie was on a voyage from Mandal to Bo'ness, Lothian, United Kingdom. |
| John Henry Keats | United Kingdom | The brigantine was wrecked at "Usan", Forfarshire. Her crew were rescued by rocket apparatus. |
| John Patten | United States | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Balbriggan, County Dublin, United Kingdom. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom to New Orleans, Louisiana. |
| Martin, or Merlin | United Kingdom | The barque went ashore at St Andrews, Fife, with the loss of eight or nine of her crew. |
| Norma | Norway | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked in Montrose Bay with the loss of one of her twelve crew. Survivors were rescued by the Montrose Lifeboat. She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, United Kingdom to Bergen. |
| Soredderus | Norway | The ship was wrecked on the east coast of Scotland with the loss of five of her seven crew. She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne to Christiania. |
| Warrior | United Kingdom | The ship put in to Dunny Cove, County Cork in a sinking condition. She was on a voyage from Swansea, Glamorgan to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She was towed in to Queenstown, County Cork on 7 March in a severely leaky condition. |
| Unnamed | Flag unknown | The brig was driven ashore at the mouth of the River Tay. Her crew were rescued by a lifeboat. |

## 6 March

List of shipwrecks: 6 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Arpocrate | Italy | The ship was driven ashore between Bolt Head and Salcombe, Devon, United Kingdom with some loss of life. |
| Athol | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked at Wexford with the loss of one of her seven crew. Survivors were rescued by rocket apparatus. |
| August | Germany | The ship was driven ashore at Montrose, Forfarshire, United Kingdom. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Antwerp, Belgium to Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland. |
| Ben Rhydding | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked 6 nautical miles (11 km) north of Aberdeen with the loss of all 30 crew. |
| Essen | Germany | The steamship was driven ashore at Rocken End, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom. Her twenty crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Bilbao, Spain to Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands. |
| Flower o' Buchan | United Kingdom | The schooner was wrecked near Wick, Caithness. Her crew were rescued by rocket apparatus. |
| Frederick Pertises | Germany | The barque was driven ashore at Inverallochy, Aberdeenshire with the loss of ten of her eleven crew. |
| Frisch | Germany | The barque was abandoned in the North Sea off Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, United Kingdom. Her twelve crew were rescued by the steamship Westoe ( United Kingdom). Frisch was discovered in a derelict condition by the steamship Genva ( United Kingdom), which towed her in to Great Yarmouth. |
| Gilbert Thompson | United Kingdom | The barque ran aground and sank on the West Mouse Sand, off the coast of Anglesey with the loss of one of her 22 crew. She was on a voyage from Calcutta, India to Liverpool, Lancashire. |
| Glance | United Kingdom | The pilot cutter sank at Swansea, Glamorgan. |
| Havelock | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked near Aberdeen. |
| Helen | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore near Aberdeen. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from London to the River Tyne. |
| Joseph | Flag unknown | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Aberdeen with the loss of all hands. |
| Lady Beatrix | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore at Whitburn, County Durham. She was refloated and taken in to Sunderland, County Durham. |
| Maldon | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at Cruden, Aberdeenshire. Her seven crew were rescued by rocket apparatus. She was on a voyage from Maldon, Essex to the River Tyne. |
| Merlin | United Kingdom | The ship foundered off St Andrews, Fife with the loss of all hands. |
| Norford and Trubey | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at the mouth of the River Don. Her seven crew were rescued by the Aberdeen Lifeboat. She was on a voyage from the River Tyne to Ancona, Italy. She was refloated on 19 March and towed in to Aberdeen. |
| Œnone | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked 6 nautical miles (11 km) north of Aberdeen. She was on a voyage from Calcutta, India to Dundee, Forfarshire. |
| Wanderer | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked near Aberdeen with the loss of all but one of her crew. |

## 7 March

List of shipwrecks: 7 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Dinorah | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked east of Johnshaven, Kincardineshire with the loss of all hands. |
| Grasshopper | United Kingdom | The schooner was abandoned off Boarhills, Fife. Her sixteen crew were rescued by the St. Andrews Lifeboat. |
| Laura Ann | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire. Her crew survived. She was on a voyage from Ramsgate, Kent to Hartlepool, County Durham. She was later refloated and towed in to Bridlington, Yorkshire in a severely damaged condition. It was reported that she would be towed to Hartlepool for repairs. |
| Marathon | United Kingdom | The steamship departed from South Shields, County Durham for Constantinople, Ottoman Empire. No further trace, reported overdue. |
| Oliver | Germany | The ship was driven ashore near Crail, Fife, United Kingdom and was abandoned by her crew. |
| Princess Royal | United Kingdom | The schooner was wrecked at "Usan", Forfarshire with the loss of all hands. |
| Ranger | Norway | The brig was wrecked 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) south of Montrose, Forfarshire. Her six crew were rescued; four of them by rocket apparatus. She was on a voyage from Christiania, Norway to Leith, Lothian. |
| Volere | Italy | The barque was driven ashore between Bolt Head and Salcombe, Devon, United Kingdom with the loss of five of the fourteen people on board. Survivors were rescued by Ariel ( United Kingdom). |
| Warrior | United Kingdom | The steamship caught fire at sea. She put in to Madeira. She was on a voyage from Maceió, Brazil to Liverpool, Lancashire. |

## 8 March

List of shipwrecks: 8 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Jupiter | United Kingdom | The barque was driven ashore at Goswick, Northumberland. All eighteen people on board were rescued by the Lindisfarne Lifeboat Grace Darling ( Royal National Lifeboat Institution). Jupiter was on a voyage from Hamburg, Germany to the River Tyne. |

## 9 March

List of shipwrecks: 9 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Lugar | United Kingdom | The ship ran aground and sank at Ayr. She was on a voyage from Ayr to Larne, County Antrim. |

## 10 March

List of shipwrecks: 10 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Lascelles | United Kingdom | The steamship ran aground in the Belfast Lough. She was on a voyage from Baltimore, Maryland, United States to Belfast, County Antrim. |

## 11 March

List of shipwrecks: 11 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Waitara | United Kingdom | The ship struck a sunken rock at Invercargill, New Zealand. She was on a voyage from Inverargill to London. Temporary repairs were made at Invercargill and she was taken in to Dundedin for permanent repairs. |

## 12 March

List of shipwrecks: 12 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Benin | United Kingdom | The steamship collided with the steamship Duke of Buccleugh ( United Kingdom) and sank in the English Channel off Start Point, Devon (49°53′N 3°08′W﻿ / ﻿49.883°N 3.133°W﻿ / 49.883; -3.133). Her crew were rescued by Duke of Buccleuch. Benin was on a voyage from Havre de Grâce, Seine-Inférieure, France to Liverpool, Lancashire. |
| Java | United Kingdom | The ship ran aground at Fleetwood, Lancashire. She was on a voyage from the Glasson Dock, Lancashire to Cardiff, Glamorgan. She was refloated the next day and found to be severely leaky. |

## 13 March

List of shipwrecks: 13 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Craig | United Kingdom | The barque was driven ashore on the Mull of Kintyre, Argyllshire. She was on a voyage from Pensacola, Florida, United States to Greenock, Renfrewshire. |

## 14 March

List of shipwrecks: 14 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Emma and Mary | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at Lowestoft, Suffolk. |
| Undaunted | United Kingdom | The ship collided with Mary L. Wilbur ( United Kingdom) at Belfast, County Antrim and was severely damaged. Undaunted was on a voyage from Belfast to Ayr. |

## 15 March

List of shipwrecks: March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Benares | United Kingdom | The ship ran aground off "Garrete Point", Renfrewshire. |
| Mermaid | United Kingdom | The sloop ran aground at Aberdeen and sprang a leaky. |

## 16 March

List of shipwrecks: 16 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Emelva Wilhelmina | Netherlands | The ship was driven ashore at "Kewhurst", Sussex, United Kingdom. |
| Unnamed | United Kingdom | The barque foundered in the Atlantic Ocean (41°31′N 53°59′W﻿ / ﻿41.517°N 53.983°W﻿ / 41.517; -53.983) with the loss of all hands. Witnessed by Kintail ( Canada, which was unable to rescue her crew. |

## 17 March

List of shipwrecks: 17 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Margaret | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore at Lighthouse Point, County Antrim. She was on a voyage from Maryport, Cumberland to Londonderry. |
| Jane Hughes | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked in Loch Eriboll with the loss of a crew member. She was on a voyage from Port Dinorwic, Caernarfonshire to Portsoy, Aberdeenshire. |
| Polly Preston | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore in Loch Eriboll. She was refloated. |
| Rosa Harriette | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore in Loch Eriboll and sank. She was on a voyage from Port Dinorwic to Montrose, Forfarshire. |

## 18 March

List of shipwrecks: 18 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Blue Jacket | United Kingdom | The schooner ran aground on the Dogger Bank, in the Irish Sea. She was on a voyage from Bangor, Caernarfonshire to Wexford. She was refloated with assistance the next day. |
| Kohinoor | United Kingdom | The schooner ran aground on McKinneys Bank, off the coast of County Donegal, and sank. |
| Pioneer | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore and wrecked at Dumbarton Castle, Dunbartonshire. Her crew survived. |
| Planet | United Kingdom | The schooner ran aground in the Elbe at Schulau, Germany. She was on a voyage from Caernarfon to Hamburg, Germany. She was refloated and completed her voyage in a leaky condition. |

## 19 March

List of shipwrecks: 19 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Camel | United Kingdom | The steamship ran aground at the mouth of the River Usk whilst avoiding a collision with another vessel. She was on a voyage from Belfast, County Antrim to Newport, Monmouthshire. She was refloated. |
| Enterprise | United Kingdom | The Mersey Flat was driven ashore at Nittere Point, Cheshire. She was on a voyage from Queensferry, Flintshire to Liverpool, Lancashire. |
| Kepier | United Kingdom | The steamship put in to Grimsby, Lincolnshire on fire. She was on a voyage from Sunderland, County Durham to London. |
| Seewo | United Kingdom | The steamship put in to Aden, Aden Colony on fire. She was on a voyage from South Shields, County Durham to Singapore, Straits Settlements. |
| Vanguard | United States | The fishing schooner was wrecked at Rye Beach, New Hampshire. Her crew were rescued. |

## 22 March

List of shipwrecks: 22 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Avant | Netherlands | The brig was driven ashore at Rio Real, Brazil. She was on a voyage from the Rio Grande to Aracaju, Brazil. She was declared a total loss. |
| J. A. Jackson | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore at Swalecliffe, Kent. She was later refloated. |

## 23 March

List of shipwrecks: 23 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Carron Lighter No. 4 | United Kingdom | The steam lighter collided with the steamship Glencoe ( United Kingdom) and sank in the Carron Roads. Her crew were rescued by Glencoe. |
| Mette | Denmark | The brigantine ran aground and was wrecked at the mouth of the Rio Grande. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from London, United Kingdom to the Rio Grande. |

## 24 March

List of shipwrecks: 24 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Clyde | United Kingdom | The brig ran aground on the Hook Sand, in the English Channel off the coast of Dorset. |
| Matilda | United Kingdom | The brig was wrecked in Loch Broom. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Mandal, Norway to Liverpool, Lancashire. |

## 25 March

List of shipwrecks: 25 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Anna Colbjornsen | Norway | The barque foundered in the North Sea. Her crew were rescued by the fishing smack Pollux ( Netherlands). |
| John o'Groat | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore at Scrabster, Caithness. She was refloated on 14 April and taken in to Scrabster. |
| Lizzie K. Clark | United States | The fishing schooner capsized and sank about 20 nautical miles (37 km) southeast of Barnegat, New Jersey. The crew of fourteen men were rescued by the pilot boat No. 3 ( United States). |
| Llanarthen | United Kingdom | The steamship ran aground at Bussorah, Persia. She was on a voyage from Cardiff, Glamorgan to Bussorah. |
| Terrifer | United Kingdom | The steamship ran aground at Aberdeen. She was refloated on 27 March. |

## 28 March

List of shipwrecks: 28 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Baron Osy | Belgium | The paddle steamer was driven ashore near Terneuzen, Zeeland, Netherlands. She was on a voyage from London, United Kingdom to Antwerp. |
| Galathea | Norway | The barque was driven ashore at Hull, Yorkshire, United Kingdom. She was refloated the next day. |
| Henriette Adriana | Netherlands | The ship was sighted off Anjer, Netherlands East Indies whilst on a voyage from Samarang, Netherlands East Indies to Rotterdam, South Holland. No further trace, reported missing. |
| Jane | United Kingdom | The schooner foundered in the Irish Sea 9 nautical miles (17 km) east north east of the Corsewall Lighthouse, Wigtownshire. Her crew survived. |

## 29 March

List of shipwrecks: 29 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Brothers | United Kingdom | The smack struck the Bass Rock, off the south Devon coast, and foundered and foundered. Her crew survived. |
| Elwin | United Kingdom | The Thames barge was driven ashore and severely damaged. |

## 30 March

List of shipwrecks: 30 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Geraldine | United Kingdom | The schooner sank in Port Eynon Bay off Swansea, Glamorgan. Her crew survived. |
| Hero | United Kingdom | The steamship struck a sunken rock and sprang a leak whilst on a voyage from Hull, Yorkshire to Copenhagen, Denmark. She completed her voyage. |
| Seelust | Germany | The schooner ran aground off Lydd, Kent, United Kingdom and was wrecked. Her crew were rescued by rocket apparatus. |
| Unnamed | Sweden | The schooner sank off Cap Arcona, Rügen, Germany. There was at least one casualty and at least six survivors. |

## 31 March

List of shipwrecks: 31 March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Americaine | France | The fishing vessel was wrecked on the coast of Iceland. Her crew were rescued. |
| Diamantina | New South Wales | The steamship ran aground at the mouth of the Manning River and was severely damaged. |
| Eliza | United Kingdom | The ship was abandoned off the north Kent coast. She was taken in to Whitstable in a severely leaky condition by the smack Star ( United Kingdom). |
| Marie | France | The fishing vessel was wrecked on the coast of Iceland. Her crew were rescued. |

## Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date in March 1881 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Acorn | United Kingdom | The schooner ran aground at Larne, County Antrim. She was on a voyage from Dublin to Larne. She was refloated. |
| Alfred | United Kingdom | The ship was towed in to Bermuda in a derelict condition before 22 March. |
| Anna Colbjornsen | Norway | The ship foundered before 30 March. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Charlestown, Cornwall, United Kingdom to Fredrikshald. |
| Ariel | United Kingdom | The schooner ran aground on the Vogelsand, in the North Sea off the German coast. She was on a voyage from Port Madoc, Caernarfonshire to Hamburg, Germany. She floated off but consequently sank. |
| Auguste | Flag unknown | The ship ran aground on the Romer Shoal. She was on a voyage from Bremen, Germany to New York. She was refloated with assistance. |
| Aurora | United Kingdom | The schooner ran aground on the Pennington Spit, in the Solent. She was on a voyage from Fowey, Cornwall to Fareham, Hampshire. She was later refloated and resumed her voyage. |
| Black Diamond | United Kingdom | The steamship collided with Dredger ( United Kingdom) and ran aground at Hartlepool, County Durham. She was on a voyage from Hartlepool to London. She was refloated with the assistance of a number of tugs. |
| Celine | France | The barque was driven ashore and wrecked on the Brazilian coast before 28 March. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Cádiz, Spain to the Rio Grande. |
| Criterion | United States | The full-rigged ship was driven ashore on the German coast. She was on a voyage from New York to Bremen, Germany. |
| Cwmavon | United Kingdom | The schooner struck a sunken rock in the Sound of Islay and was beached at "Holme Ferry". |
| Darent | United Kingdom | The steamship ran aground on the Roche Lament, off Lorient, Morbihan, France. She was on a voyage from Constanţa, United Principalities to Lorient. |
| Dolphin | United Kingdom | The fishing smack was driven ashore at Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk. |
| Dupuy de Lome | France | The barque was driven ashore on the French coast. She was on a voyage from Saint-Louis, Senegal to Dunkerque, Nord. She was later refloated and taken in to Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais in a leaky condition. |
| Eagle Wing | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at Orford, Suffolk. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from London to Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham. She was refloated the next day and taken in to Harwich, Essex. |
| Elizabeth | United Kingdom | The schooner foundered off Boulmer, Northumberland with the loss of all hands. |
| Emanuel | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore and sank at Black House Point, Hampshire. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Portsmouth to Southampton. |
| Emily Mary | United Kingdom | The Mersey Flat struck the landing stage at Wallasey, Cheshire and sank. |
| Falcon | Falkland Islands | The schooner was wrecked on the Isla de los Estados, Argentina before 6 March. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from the Falkland Islands to Montevideo, Uruguay. |
| Francis Jane | United Kingdom | The ship ran aground at "Brackley Point". She was on a voyage from Glasgow, Renfrewshire to Belfast. |
| Friedrich Perthes | Germany | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Inverallochy, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom with the loss of one of her twelve crew. Survivors were rescued by rocket apparatus. She was on a voyage from Wilmington, North Carolina, United States to Granton, Lothian. |
| Geneva | United States | The ship was driven ashore in Lower New York Bay. She was on a voyage from New York to Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was refloated and resumed her voyage. |
| Guilio Anna | Italy | The barque ran aground on a sunken wreck at New York. |
| Gulnare | United States | The steamship collided with the schooner Charles Morford ( United States) and was severely damaged. Gulnare was on a voyage from Baltimore, Maryland to Cárdenas, Cuba. She put back to Baltimore. |
| Harvest King | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore in the Elbe upstream of Cuxhaven, Germany. She was on a voyage from Plymouth, Devon to Hamburg. |
| Jeannie | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore at Cape Trafalgar, Spain. |
| Jessie | United Kingdom | The Mersey Flat collided with British King ( United Kingdom) and sank at Liverpool. |
| Kinderdijk | Netherlands | The ship ran aground in Port Philip Bay. She was on a voyage from Java, Netherlands East Indies to Melbourne, Victoria. She was refloated and completed her voyage. |
| Lincolnshire | United Kingdom | The ship ran aground at Bermuda. |
| Livorno | Italy | The steamship struck the sea wall at "Alte Lube", Germany and was severely damaged. She was on a voyage from Catania, Sicily to Hamburg. |
| Lovell | United Kingdom | The fishing cutter was driven ashore on Vlieland, Friesland, Netherlands. |
| Madras | United Kingdom | The ship was wrecked at Bermuda. She was on a voyage from Pensacola, Florida, United States to Greenock. |
| Maggie Figlia | Flag unknown | The ship was abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean before 25 March and subsequently caught fire. Her rew were rescued by Tony Krogman (Flag unknown). Maggie Figlia was on a voyage from Sligo, United Kingdom to New York. |
| Milford | United Kingdom | The smack was driven ashore and wrecked in Lough Swilly at "Knockallow". Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Belfast, County Antrim to Mulroy Bay, County Donegal. |
| Milton | United States | The ship ran aground on the Lyseground. She was on a voyage from New York to Copenhagen, Denmark. She was later refloated with assistance. |
| Nellie | United Kingdom | The schooner ran aground at Saint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine, France. She was on a voyage from Guernsey, Channel Islands to Schiedam, South Holland, Netherlands. She was refloated and found to be severely leaky. |
| Nettle | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore on Vlieland. Her crew were rescued. She was declared a total loss. |
| Niels | Sweden | The schooner was driven ashore between Broughty Ferry, Forfarshire and Monifieth, Fife, United Kingdom. Her five crew were rescued by the Broughty Ferry Lifeboat English Mechanic ( Royal National Lifeboat Institution). Niels was on a voyage from Le Tréport, Seine-Inférieure to Leith, Lothian |
| Oscar | United Kingdom | The steamship struck rocks at Redcar, Yorkshire. She was on a voyage from Bilbao, Spain to Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham. She was refloated with assistance from two tugs and taken in to Stockton-on-Tees. |
| Pride of Anglesey | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked in Culdoff Bay. Her crew survived. |
| Prince | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at Rye Harbour, Sussex. |
| Princess Royal | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked in Luce Bay. |
| Progressa | Spain | The brigantine was abandoned at sea before 7 March. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Santander to Seville. |
| Providencia | Mexico | The ship was driven ashore at Puerto Ángel. She was a total loss. |
| Royal Eagle | United Kingdom | The ship was wrecked in Cruden Bay. Her crew were rescued by rocket apparatus. |
| Sarah Ann | United Kingdom | The brigantine was wrecked before 15 March. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Aracaju, Brazil to the English Channel. |
| Soto | Spain | The steamship ran aground at Maassluis, South Holland. She was on a voyage from Spain to Rotterdam, South Holland. She was refloated. |
| St. Clair | United Kingdom | The brig was driven ashore at Zoutelande, Zeeland, Netherlands. Her crew were rescued by a tug. She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne to Middelburg, Zeeland. |
| Summerlee | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore on Ailsa Craig. She was on a voyage from Bilbao to Glasgow. She was refloated on 29 March. |
| Syringa | Flag unknown | The ship was driven ashore on the coast of Maryland, United States. Her crew were rescued. |
| Tartar | United Kingdom | The fishing cutter was driven ashore on Vlieland. |
| Tell Tale | United Kingdom | The schooner ran aground on the Holmes, in the Bristol Channel. She was on a voyage from Penzance, Cornwall to Bristol, Gloucestershire. She was refloated and beached on the Swash, being in a leaky condition. |
| Torto | Norway | The barque collided with the steamship Thanemore ( United Kingdom) and was severely damaged. Torto was on a voyage from Baltimore to Liverpool. |
| Tullochgorm | United Kingdom | The ship was holed by ice and sank in the Elbe upstream of Brunsbüttel, Germany. |
| Valpurga | Denmark | The schooner was holed by ice and sank in the Elbe upstream of Brunsbüttel after 10 March. Her crew were rescued. |
| Warnee | France | The ship ran aground at Wicklow, United Kingdom and sprang a leak. She was on a voyage from Dunkerque to Cardiff. |
| William | United Kingdom | The schooner sprang a severe leak and was beached. She was on a voyage from Eling, Hampshire to Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex. |
| William Connal | United Kingdom | The steamship collided with a hopper barge at Glasgow and sank. |
| Unnamed | United States | The steamship was driven ashore at Algeciras, Spain. |
| Unnamed | Flag unknown | The schooner collided with the steamship Leversons ( United Kingdom) and sank off the coast of Maryland with the loss of three of her crew. |