# List of shipwrecks in December 1886

The list of shipwrecks in December 1886 includes ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during December 1886.

## 1 December

List of shipwrecks: 1 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Challenger | United Kingdom | The ship departed from London for Jersey, Channel Islands. No further trace, reported overdue. |
| Colonel Milliken | United States | The schooner was wrecked on the Morant Cays. She was on a voyage from Maracaibo, Venezuela to Boston, Massachusetts. |
| Gustave | France | The schooner was abandoned off Scarborough, Yorkshire, United Kingdom. Her crew were rescued by the Scarborough Lifeboat. Gustave was on a voyage from Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, Somme to South Shields, County Durham, United Kingdom. She subsequently drove ashore 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) north of Scarborough. |
| Kentish Knock Lightship | Trinity House | The lightship was rammed by the barque Palawan ( United Kingdom) and sank in the North Sea off the Kentish Knock . Her crew were rescued by Palawan. |

## 2 December

List of shipwrecks: 2 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Arcana | United Kingdom | The ship departed from Newport, Monmouthshire for Dunmore East, County Waterford. No further trace, reported missing. |
| Ariadne | Canada | The schooner was wrecked in a gale in Mexico Bay four miles (6.4 km) from Stony Point near Oswego, New York with the loss of three of her six crew. Survivors were rescued by the United States Life Saving Service. |
| Marianninha | Portugal | The barque capsized in the Douro. |
| Ocean Bride | Guernsey | The ship was run into by the steamship Beryl ( United Kingdom) and sank in the River Thames at Greenwich, Kent with the loss of four of her nine crew. |
| Republic | United States | The ship was wrecked 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) west of Dunkerque, Nord, France. She was on a voyage from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Dunkerque. |

## 3 December

List of shipwrecks: 3 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Augusta | United Kingdom | The coaster ran aground on the Carbery Rock, in Dumanus Bay and was wrecked. She was on a voyage from Bantry to Kilcrohane, County Cork. |
| Tamaris | France | The ship departed from Bordeaux, Gironde for Noumea, New Caledonia. No further trace, reported missing. |
| Unebi | Imperial Japanese Navy | The cruiser departed from Singapore, Straits Settlements for Yokohama. She was assumed to have subsequently foundered in the South China Sea during a typhoon. No wreckage or survivors were found. |

## 4 December

List of shipwrecks: 4 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Argos | United Kingdom | The steamship ran aground on the North Perch, off the coast of Ayrshire and sank. She was on a voyage from Belfast, County Antrim to Irvine, Ayrshire. |
| D.H. Ingraham | United States | The schooner ran aground in a gale/snowstorm in Hereford Inlet, New Jersey. Her crew were rescued as the ship's cargo of lime caught fire, she was a total loss. She was on a voyage from Rockland, Maine to Richmond, Virginia. |
| Ispahan | United Kingdom | The ship was wrecked at Hangklip, Cape Colony. All on board survived. She was on a voyage from Calcutta, India to London. |
| Malabar | United Kingdom | The ship departed from Cardiff, Glamorgan for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. No further trace, reported missing. |
| Mary Capper | United Kingdom | The schooner and collided with J. H. Henks (Flag unknown) and sank off Black Head, Cornwall. Her crew were rescued by J. H. Henks. Mary Capper was on a voyage from Penryn, Cornwall to Belfast, County Antrim. |
| Snowdrop | United Kingdom | The steamship departed from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland for Kingstown, County Dublin. No further trace, reported overdue. |
| Tom Morton | United Kingdom | The steamship departed from Cardiff for Odessa, Russia. No further trace, reported overdue. |

## 5 December

List of shipwrecks: 5 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Cymro | United Kingdom | The steamship was sighted whilst on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland to Genoa, Italy. Presumed subsequently lost in the Bay of Biscay with all 26 crew. |
| Edith | Newfoundland Colony | The schooner was wrecked on a reef off Miquelon with the loss of all thirteen people on board. She was on a voyage from Newfoundland to Miquelon. |

## 6 December

List of shipwrecks: 6 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Cicerone | United Kingdom | The schooner collided with the brig Juanita ( United Kingdom) and foundered in the North Sea off the coast of Yorkshire with the loss of a crew member. Survivors were rescued by Juanita. |
| Constanze | Germany | The ship ran aground on the Longsand, in the North Sea off the coast of Essex, United Kingdom. Her nineteen crew were rescued by the Walton Lifeboat. Constanze was refloated and taken in to Harwich in a derelict condition by the steamship Harwich ( United Kingdom). |
| Copenhagen | Denmark United Kingdom | The steamship suffered a breakage of her propeller shaft and was holed. She was abandoned off the Horn Reef, in the North Sea with the loss of five of her nineteen crew. Survivors were rescued by the smack Primrose ( United Kingdom). Copenhagen was on a voyage from Copenhagen to Antwerp, Belgium. |

## 7 December

List of shipwrecks: 7 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Grange Fell | United Kingdom | The steamship departed from Fowey, Cornwall for Liverpool, Lancashire. No further trace, reported overdue. |
| Sisters | United Kingdom | The brig sprang a leak and foundered in the Irish Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) south south east of the North Arklow Lightship ( Trinity House). Her crew reached the lightship in a boat. They were rescued on 10 December. |

## 8 December

List of shipwrecks: 8 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Agnes Minde | Denmark | The ship sank in the Skaggerak. Her crew were rescued by Samson ( United Kingdom). |
| Alliance | United Kingdom | The ketch was driven ashore at Chyandour, Cornwall. Her crew were rescued by the Penzance Lifeboat. |
| Ann and Maria | United Kingdom | The ketch struck the pier at Lowestoft, Suffolk and sank. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Goole, Yorkshire to Maidstone, Kent. |
| Aradus | Germany | The brig was driven ashore at Helsingør, Denmark. She was on a voyage from Memel to the Natal Colony. She was refloated with the assistance of a steamship and taken in the Helsingør in a leaky condition. |
| Bornholmskeg | Denmark | The yacht was driven ashore and wrecked at Helsingør. |
| Carmen | Spain | The brig was driven ashore and wrecked at Falmouth, Cornwall. Her crew were rescued. |
| C. H. Marshall | United States | The ship ran aground on the Brake Sand. She was refloated with assistance from the tug Challenger ( United Kingdom) and towed in to the River Thames. |
| Desirée | France | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked at Dungeness, Kent with the loss of all hands. |
| Dunlin | United Kingdom | The steam trawler was driven ashore and wrecked at Lossiemouth, Moray with some loss of life. |
| Golden Light | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at Chyandour. Her crew were rescued by the Penzance Lifeboat. |
| Henrietta | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore at Kingston by Sea, Sussex. Her crew were rescued by the Coastguard and villagers. She was on a voyage from Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands to Cardiff, Glamorgan. |
| Hilkea | Germany | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked at Helsingør. She was on a voyage from Vyborg, Grand Duchy of Finland to Bremen. |
| James and Elizabeth | United Kingdom | The fishing boat capsized off Hythe, Kent with the loss of five of her seven crew. She subsequently came ashore. |
| Johannes | Germany | The brig was driven ashore and wrecked at Helsingør. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Sundsvall, Sweden, to Leith, Lothian, United Kingdom. |
| J. S. | United Kingdom | The barquentine was driven ashore at Port Talbot, Glamorgan. Her crew survived. |
| Ocean Queen | Jersey | The brigantine was driven ashore on Jersey. She was on a voyage from Swansea, Glamorgan to Saint-Brieuc, Côtes-du-Nord, France. |
| Peter | Sweden | The brig was driven ashore and severely damaged at Helsingør. She was on a voyage from Sweden to Hartlepool, County Durham, United Kingdom. |
| Rachel Lotinga | United Kingdom | The ship ran aground in The Downs. She was on a voyage from Swansea to Newhaven, Sussex. She was refloated and taken in to Ramsgate, Kent in a leaky condition. |
| Rover | United Kingdom | The ship was wrecked at Tenby, Pembrokeshire. |
| Sarah Dixon | United Kingdom | The schooner foundered 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) off Bonmahon, County Waterford with the loss of all four crew. |
| Saring | Russia | The schooner was driven ashore at Helsingør. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Gävle, Sweden to Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, United Kingdom. |
| Scharhorn | Germany | The schooner was driven ashore at "Hamblehak". She was on a voyage from Hull, Yorkshire to Rostock. |
| Superb | Sweden | The schooner was driven ashore at Helsingør. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Sweden to Sunderland, County Durham. She was a total loss. |
| Wietska | Netherlands | The schooner was driven ashore at Southend-on-Sea, Essex, United Kingdom. Her crew were rescued by the Southend Lifeboat. |
| W. M. J. | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at "Colmonstown", County Clare. |
| RX 3 | United Kingdom | The fishing boat capsized off Hythe, Kent with the loss of all but one of her crew. She subsequently came ashore at Dymchurch. |
| Unnamed | France | The brigantine was driven ashore and wrecked at Dymchurch, Kent, United Kingdom with the loss of all hands. |
| Unnamed | Flag unknown | The schooner ran aground and sank on the Gunfleet Sand, in the North Sea off the coast of Essex. All hands were presumed lost. |
| Unnamed | Flag unknown | The schooner foundered off Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire. Unknown if crew were aboard, but they were presumed to have been lost if aboard. |
| Unnamed | Flag unknown | The ship foundered in Dungarvan Bay. |
| Unnamed | Flag unknown | The ship was wrecked on the Ridge Sand, in the English Channel. |

## 9 December

List of shipwrecks: 9 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Agenora | United Kingdom | The fishing trawler foundered off Tenby, Pembrokeshire. Her crew were rescued by the Tenby Lifeboat Henry Dodd ( Royal National Lifeboat Institution). |
| Alliance | United Kingdom | The ship was wrecked on the seaward side of the Albert Pier, Penzance, Cornwall, England. |
| Avondale | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore at Holyhead, Anglesey. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to Newport, Monmouthshire. She was refloated and taken in tow for Liverpool by two tugs. |
| Captain McClintock | United Kingdom | The steamship foundered off Amlwch, Anglesey, United Kingdom with the loss of all hands. |
| Carron | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore at Stranraer, Wigtownshire. |
| Constance Ellen | United Kingdom | The ship collided with John Hall ( United Kingdom) and drove ashore at Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire. |
| Convivial | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore at Milford Haven. She was on a voyage from Le Tréport, Seine-Inférieure, France to Runcorn, Cheshire. |
| Dagmar | Norway | The barque was driven ashore at Holyhead. |
| Earls Court | United Kingdom | The barque was driven ashore at Margam, Glamorgan with the loss of four of her crew. She was on a voyage from Newport to Australia. |
| Economist | United Kingdom | The coal hulk was driven ashore at Milford Haven. She was refloated. |
| Eliza Fernley | Royal National Lifeboat Institution | After launching from Southport, Lancashire, the lifeboat capsized during a gale in the Irish Sea with the loss of fourteen of her sixteen crew while trying to reach the crew of the barque Mexico ( German Empire), which was wrecked off Southport. |
| Emma Alice | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at Glin, County Limerick. |
| Endeavour | United Kingdom | The ship was wrecked at Pwllheli, Caernarfonshire. |
| Eugenie | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore and severely damaged at Milford Haven. She was on a voyage from Newport to Dungarvan, County Antrim. |
| Figaro | Germany | The barque was driven ashore and wrecked in Freshwater Bay, Pembrokeshire with the loss of all hands. |
| Fremad | Norway | The barque was driven ashore at Steart, Somerset, United Kingdom. Her eight or ten crew were rescued by the Burnham Lifeboat Cheltenham ( Royal National Lifeboat Institution). Fremad was on a voyage from Nova Scotia, Canada to Bristol, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. |
| George D. Fullerton | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore at Milford Haven. She was on a voyage from Cardiff, Glamorgan to Cork. |
| Gowerian | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at Milford Haven. |
| Hercules | United Kingdom | The ship was driven against the pier and damaged at Sharpness, Gloucestershire. |
| Henry Florence | United Kingdom | The ship was abandoned off Scrabster, Caithness. Her crew were rescued by the Thurso Lifeboat. |
| Hero | United Kingdom | The ketch was driven ashore at Milford Haven. |
| James Blink | United Kingdom | The ship was wrecked at Pwllheli. |
| John and Ann | United Kingdom | The ship was wrecked at Pwllheli. |
| Laura Janet | Royal National Lifeboat Institution | After launching from St Annes, Lancashire, the lifeboat capsized during a gale in the Irish Sea with the loss of all thirteen of her crew while trying to reach the crew of the barque Mexico ( German Empire), which was wrecked off Southport. |
| Louise H. Fuller | Canada | The ship was abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean and set afire. Her crew were rescued by Fulda ( United Kingdom). |
| Lyra | United Kingdom | The ship was abandoned off Scrabster. Her crew were rescued by the Thurso Lifeboat. |
| Margaret Garton | United Kingdom | The ship was abandoned off Scrabster. Her crew were rescued by the Thurso Lifeboat. |
| Margaret Hobley | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore at Milford Haven. She was on a voyage from Rodney to Cork. |
| Mexico | Germany | MexicoThe barque was wrecked at Southport. All twelved of her crew were saved by the Lytham lifeboat Charles Biggs ( Royal National Lifeboat Institution). Mexico was on a voyage from Liverpool to Guayaquil, Ecuador. She was later repaired and returned to service. |
| Nathaniel | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked at Milford Haven. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Newport to Cork. |
| Neiro | United Kingdom | The dandy was driven ashore at Milford Haven. She was refloated. |
| Oliver | United Kingdom | The dandy was driven ashore and severely damaged at Milford Haven. She was on a voyage from Cardiff to Waterford. |
| Pegasus | United Kingdom | The ship was abandoned off Holyhead. Her 21 crew were rescued by the Holyhead Lifeboat Thomas Fielden ( Royal National Lifeboat Institution). Pegasus was on a voyage from Liverpool to Doboy, Georgia, United States. |
| Petrel | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked at Trevose Head, Cornwall with the loss of her captain. She was on a voyage from Livorno, Italy to Leith, Lothian. |
| Psyche | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at Neath, Glamorgan. Her crew were rescued. |
| Queen | United Kingdom | The ketch was driven ashore and wrecked at Milford Haven. |
| Rebecca | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked at Milford Haven. |
| Roycroft | United Kingdom | The barque was driven ashore on M'Kinney's Bank, off the coast of County Donegal. She was refloated, but was driven ashore at Moville, County Donegal. She was again refloated. |
| Sarah Ann | United Kingdom | The ship capsized and sank at Runcorn. |
| Scotian | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at Pwllheli. Her crew were rescued. |
| Secret | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore at Milford Haven. Her crew were rescued. She was refloated. |
| Stella | Netherlands | The steamship was driven ashore at IJmuiden, North Holland. Her crew were rescued. she was on a voyage from a Mediterranean port to Amsterdam, North Holland. |
| T. Crowley | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore and wrecked at Renard Point, County Kerry. Her crew were rescued. |
| Thomas | United Kingdom | The ship struck the wreck of Sarah Ann ( United Kingdom) and sank at Runcorn. She was on a voyage from Liverpool to Widnes, Cheshire. |
| Tourmaline | United Kingdom | The ship was abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean. Her crew were rescued by Nubian ( United Kingdom). |
| Wild Rose | Norway | The brigantine was driven ashore near Criccieth, Caernarfonshire. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Quebec City, Canada to Portmadoc, Caernarfonshire. |
| Wish | United Kingdom | The brig was driven ashore at Milford Haven. She was refloated and found to be severely leaky. |
| Two unnamed vessels | Flags unknown | The ships were driven ashore at Milford Haven. |
| Unnamed | Flag unknown | The ship was wrecked at Pwllheli. |
| Unnamed | Flag unknown | The ship was wrecked on the Goodwin Sands, Kent. |
| Two unnamed vessels | Flags unknown | The ships were driven ashore and wrecked at Dungeness. |
| Unnamed | United Kingdom | The smack was driven ashore and wrecked at Abersoch, Caernarfonshire with the loss of both crew. |
| Two unnamed vessels | United Kingdom | The Mersey flats sank in the River Mersey downstream of Weston Point Docks, Cheshire with the loss of five lives. |

## 10 December

List of shipwrecks: 10 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Elizabeth | United Kingdom | The brigantine was driven ashore and wrecked at Redcar, Yorkshire. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Seaham, County Durham to Portsmouth, Hampshire. |
| Falke | Norway | The brig foundered off "San Francisco Island" with the loss of all hands, according to a message in a bottle picked up at sea by the gunboat Loanza ( Imperial Brazilian Navy). Falke was on a voyage from Cardiff, Glamorgan, United Kingdom to Paraná, Brazil. |

## 11 December

List of shipwrecks: 11 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Balnacraig | United Kingdom | The steamship collide with the steamship Karo ( United Kingdom) and sank in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) east north east of the North Foreland, Kent. Her crew were rescued. Balnacraig was on a voyage from Antwerp, Belgium to London. |
| John Liddell | United Kingdom | The steamship departed from Blyth, Northumberland for Hamburg, Germany. No further trace, reported overdue. |
| Lizzy | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at "Zuidkragert". She was refloated and taken in to Vlissingen, Friesland, Netherlands. |

## 12 December

List of shipwrecks: 12 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Carl Ritter | Germany | The ship was driven ashore at Havre de Grâce, Seine-Inférieure, France. She was on a voyage from Rouen, Seine-Inférieure to Cardiff, Glamorgan, United Kingdom. |
| Darley | United Kingdom | The schooner was abandoned in the North Sea. Her crew were rescued by a Belgian ship. She was subsequently towed in to Ostend, West Flanders, Belgium. |

## 13 December

List of shipwrecks: 13 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Hermon | United Kingdom | The ship ran aground and sank in the Seine at Honfleur, Manche, France. |
| J M White | United States | The steamship was destroyed by fire at Bayou Bars, Louisiana with the loss of between 28 and 50 lives. |
| Richmond | United States | The steamship was destroyed by fire at Saint Maurice Plantation on the Mississippi River. Five passengers and five crew died. |

## 14 December

List of shipwrecks: 14 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Samanco | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore at Corrig's Perch, County Wexford. Nine crew made shore in the ships boat, and the remaining nine crew were rescued by the Carnsore lifeboat. |

## 15 December

List of shipwrecks: 15 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Chios, and Naranja | Greece United Kingdom | The steamship Chios collided with the steamship Naranja and sank off Cape St. Vincent, Portugal. Her crew were rescued. Chios was on a voyage from Taganrog, Russia to Altona, Germany. Naranja was on a voyage from Swansea, Glamorgan to Alicante, Spain. She put in to Lisbon, Portugal. |

## 16 December

List of shipwrecks: 16 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| L.C.A. | United Kingdom | The brigantine was abandoned off Cape Finisterre, Spain. Her crew were rescued by Onwy Belle ( United Kingdom). L.C.A. was on a voyage from Mazagan, Cuba to Plymouth, Devon. |
| Venco | United Kingdom | The steamship sprang a leak and was beached at Egremont, Lancashire. She was on a voyage from Garston, Lancashire to Brixham, Devon. |

## 17 December

List of shipwrecks: 17 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Balgownie | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore in the River Thames at Barking, Essex. She was on a voyage from London to the River Tyne. |
| King Arthur, and Zuari | United Kingdom | The ships collided at Bombay, India. King Arthur was severely damaged. Zuari sank. She was refloated in January 1887. |
| L | United Kingdom | The steamship foundered 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) south of the Cumbrae Lighthouse, Ayrshire. Her crew survived. She was on a voyage from Girvan, Ayrshire to Glasgow, Renfrewshire. |
| Storm Queen | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore near Bridgwater, Somerset. She was on a voyage from Londonderry to Cardiff, Glamorgan. She was refloated the next day with the assistance of a number of tugs. |

## 18 December

List of shipwrecks: 18 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Pall Mall | United Kingdom | The Thames barge was run into by the steamship Capella ( Germany) and sank in the River Thames at Rainham, Essex. |
| Plantagenet | United Kingdom | The steamship ran aground at Llanelly, Glamorgan. She was on a voyage from Workington, Cumberland to Llanelly. |
| Sheppy | United Kingdom | The barge was driven ashore near Reculver, Kent. Her crew survived. |
| Wave Green | Canada | The ship was abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean (40°10′N 21°50′W﻿ / ﻿40.167°N 21.833°W﻿ / 40.167; -21.833) and set afire. Her crew were rescued by the steamship Devonshire ( United Kingdom). |

## 19 December

List of shipwrecks: 19 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Arabella | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked at Safi, Morocco. Her crew were rescued. |
| Eos | United Kingdom | The barquentine was driven ashore and wrecked at Safi. Her crew were rescued. |
| Excelsior | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked at Safi. Her crew were rescued. |
| Helene | Germany | The dandy was driven ashore and wrecked at Safi. Her crew survived. |
| Jasper | United Kingdom | The barquentine was driven ashore and wrecked at Safi. Her crew were rescued. |
| Johann | Germany | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Safi. Her crew survived. |
| Nymph | United Kingdom | The ship was abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean. Her crew were rescued by the steamship Adara ( France). |
| Polly Mitchell | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked at Safi. Her crew were rescued. |
| Shoreham | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore at Whitburn, County Durham. Her crew were rescued by the Whitburn Lifeboat. |

## 20 December

List of shipwrecks: 20 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Draga D | Austria-Hungary | The barque was abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean with the loss of one of her twelve crew. Survivors were rescued by the barque Bolivia ( United Kingdom). Draga D. was on a voyage from New York, United States to Lisbon, Portugal. |
| France | France | The steamship was severely damaged by fire at sea with the loss of three lives. She put in to Martinique. |

## 21 December

List of shipwrecks: 21 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Cormorant | United Kingdom | The steamship ran aground near St Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight and was wrecked. She was abandoned the next day. She was on a voyage form New Orleans, Louisiana, United States to Bremerhaven, Germany. |
| John G. Fletcher | United States | The steamship struck a snag and sank in the Red River at Shady Grove Landing, 15 miles (24 km) upstream of Shreveport, Louisiana with the loss of a crew member. She was a total loss. |
| Mahommed-Es-Sadock | France | The steamship was wrecked at Port-Vendres, Pyrénées-Orientales. All on board were rescued. |

## 22 December

List of shipwrecks: 22 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Hope Still | United Kingdom | The barge was run into by the steamship Raven ( United Kingdom) and sank in the River Thames at Blackwall, Middlesex. |
| Jubilee | United Kingdom | The ship ran aground off Puffin Island, Anglesey. Her crew were rescued by a lifeboat. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to Dundalk, County Louth. She was refloated and taken in to Beaumaris, Anglesey. |
| Madeleine | France | The ship was driven ashore at Winchelsea, Sussex. Her nine crew were rescued by the Coastguard. She was on a voyage from Dunkerque, Nord to Saint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine. |

## 23 December

List of shipwrecks: 23 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Anne | United Kingdom | The barge was run into by the steamship Catanas ( United Kingdom) and sank at Limehouse, Middlesex. |
| Tar | United Kingdom | The schooner was abandoned off the Galloper Sand. Her crew were rescued by the pilot boat No. 5 ( Netherlands). Tar was on a voyage from Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands to London. |

## 24 December

List of shipwrecks: 24 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Annie C. Maguire | United Kingdom | The barque was wrecked and sank at the Portland Head Lighthouse, Maine. |
| Aurora | United Kingdom | The schooner ran aground at Portland, Dorset. She was refloated with the assistance of a tug and found to be leaky. |
| HMS Monarch | Royal Navy | The ironclad was run into by HMS Minotaur ( Royal Navy) in the Tagus and was severely damaged. |
| Onward | United Kingdom | The ship departed from Muckross, County Cork for London. No further trace, reported overdue. |
| Ville de Victoria | France | Ville de Victoria The steamship was run into by HMS Sultan ( Royal Navy and was holed by the ironclad's spur ram. She sank in the Tagus off Lisbon, Portugal with the loss of 30 of the 60 people on board. Ville de Victoria was on a voyage from Havre de Grâce, Seine-Inférieure to Santos, Brazil. |

## 25 December

List of shipwrecks: 25 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Ashdell | United Kingdom | The steamship caught fire at sea. She was on a voyage from Brunswick, Georgia, United States to Liverpool, Lancashire. The fire was extinguished and she completed her voyage. |

## 26 December

List of shipwrecks: 26 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Commerce | United Kingdom | The ketch was run down and sunk in the English Channe off the South Foreland, Kent by the barque F. H. von Lindern ( Netherlands). Her four crew were rescued by F. H. von Lindern. |
| Edmund Marie | France | The schooner foundered in the English Channel west of Rye, Sussex, United Kingdom with the loss of three of her four crew. She was on a voyage from Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais to Rochefort, Charente-Inférieure. |
| Frigga | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked at Dungeness, Kent. Two of her six crew were rescued, four were reported missing. She was on a voyage from Porsgrund to Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom. |
| Joutsen | Grand Duchy of Finland | The barque was driven ashore and wrecked at Dover, Kent with the loss of three of her thirteen crew. She was on a voyage from Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands to an American port. |
| RMS Medway | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) east of Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. All on board were taken off by tugs. |
| Pauline | France | The dandy was driven ashore and wrecked near New Romney, Kent. Two of her five crew were reported missing. She was on a voyage from Dunkerque Nord to Brest, Finistère. |
| Tally Ho | United Kingdom | The brig sprang a leak in the English Channel and was beached at Eastbourne, Sussex.with the loss of four of her eight crew. Survivors were rescued by the Coastguard and by lifeboatmen. She was on a voyage from Sunderland, County Durham to Littlehampton, Sussex. |
| Valhalla | Norway | The brig was driven ashore and wrecked at Dungeness. Her crew were rescued. |
| Unnamed | France | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Dymchurch, Kent. Two of her crew were reported missing. |
| Unnamed | Norway | The barque foundered in the English Channel off New Romney, Kent with the loss of all hands. |
| Unnamed | Flag unknown | The shipfoundered in the English Channel off New Romney with the loss of all hands. |
| Unnamed | flag unknown | The schooner was driven ashore and sank at the Anvil Point Lighthouse, Dorset. |
| Two unnamed vessels | United Kingdom | The ships were driven ashoree at Studland, Dorset. |

## 27 December

List of shipwrecks: 27 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Albion | United Kingdom | The steam flat suffered an engine failure and ran aground off Bangor, Caernarfonshire. Her crew were rescued by the Bangor Lifeboat. |
| Day Star | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at Aldeburgh, Suffolk. Her five crew were rescued; four by the Southwold Lifeboat and one by the Dunwich Lifeboat Code Exchange ( Royal National Lifeboat Institution). |
| Magnet | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore at Aldeburgh with the loss of all but one of her seven crew. The survivor was rescued by rocket apparatus. |
| Tricksey Wee, or Trixie Wee | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Aldeburgh. Her seven crew were rescued. |
| Valhalla | Norway | The barque was driven ashore and wrecked at Dungeness, Kent, United Kingdom. Her crew were rescued. |

## 28 December

List of shipwrecks: 28 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Aeriel | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore at Bacton, Norfolk. Her crew survived. |
| Richard and Emily | United Kingdom | The ship foundered in the Bristol Channel 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) south south west of Nash Point, Glamorgan. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Highbridge, Somerset to Swansea, Glamorgan. |

## 29 December

List of shipwrecks: 29 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Leila | United Kingdom | The schooner was run down and sunk off Trevose Head, Cornwall by the steamship Alacrity ( United Kingdom) with the loss of three of her four crew. The survivor was rescued by Alacrity Leila was on a voyage from Newport, Monmouthshire to Newquay, Cornwall. |

## 30 December

List of shipwrecks: 30 December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Agnes Louise | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore at Atherfield, Isle of Wight. She was refloated the next day and resumed her voyage. |
| Eva | United Kingdom | The fishing trawler was run down and sunk off Kingstown, County Dublin by the steamship Eva ( United Kingdom). Her crew were rescued by Eva. |
| Richard K. Fox | United States | The schooner was wrecked at North Chatham, Massachusetts. Her crew were rescued. |

## Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date in December 1886 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Acaster | United Kingdom | The ship ran aground on the Bridge Rock, off Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland. |
| Achilles | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore at Höganäs, Sweden. She was on a voyage from Oskarshamn, Sweden to Liverpool, Lancashire. She was refloated and taken in to Helsingør, Denmark. |
| Alice | Flag unknown | The steamship was driven ashore in the Bahamas. She was on a voyage from Galveston, Texas, United States to Bremen, Germany. She was refloated and taken in to Nassau, Bahamas. |
| Allertown | United States | The steamship ran aground in a gale. |
| Atlantic | United States | The whaler was driven ashore and wrecked at San Francisco, California. Some of her crew were reported missing. |
| Aurora | Denmark | The schooner was driven ashore on Skagen. She was on a voyage from Saint Davids, Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom to Karrebaekminde. |
| Axel | Germany | The schooner ran aground at Bahia, Brazil. She was on a voyage from Hamburg to Bahia. She was refloated and taken in to Bahia in a leaky condition. |
| Beatrice | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at Teelin Head, County Donegal. |
| Bengore Head | United Kingdom | The ship was damaged at Livorno, Italy. |
| Ben Macdui | United Kingdom | The steamship ran aground on the Haisborough Sands, in the North Sea off the coast of Norfolk. She was refloated and towed in to Lowestoft, Suffolk by a number of tugs and the Caister Lifeboat. |
| Brunhild | Denmark | The full-rigged ship was driven ashore at Petten. She was on a voyage from Hamburg to Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands. |
| Camellia | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at Portland, Dorset. |
| Canton | China | The ship collided with at coaster and was driven ashore at Shanghai. She was refloated and taken in to Shanghai. |
| Caroline | Germany | The schooner was abandoned at sea. She was on a voyage from Helsingborg, Sweden to Hull, Yorkshire, United Kingdom. |
| Charlotte | United Kingdom | The ship was lost at Mandal, Norway. She was on a voyage from Pori, Grand Duchy of Finland to Grimsby, Lincolnshire. |
| Constantin | Germany | The schooner was driven ashore at Rivez Point, Spain. |
| Cremona | United States | The ship was abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Accra, Gold Coast to Boston, Massachusetts. |
| Cydonia | Flag unknown | The ship was driven ashore at the mouth of the Savannah River. |
| Czar | Norway | The schooner was wrecked on the Swedish coast. She was on a voyage from Falkenburg, Sweden to an English port. |
| Eagle Wing | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at Ramsgate, Kent. She was on a voyage from Whitstable to Ramsgate. |
| Earl's Court | United Kingdom | The ship ran aground on the Margam Shoals, in the Bristol Channel. She was on a voyage from Newport, Monmouthshire to Albany, New York, United States. She was refloated on 27 December. |
| Edmond Gabrielle, and Never Despair | France Guernsey | The barque Edmond Gabrielle collided with the brig Never Despair off Barfleur,Manche. Her crew were rescued by Never Despair which was subsequently abandoned. Edmond Gabrielle was on a voyage from Havre de Grâce, Seine-Inférieure to French Equatorial Africa. She subsequently came ashore at Lancing, Sussex, United Kingdom and was wrecked. The wreck entirely broke up on 8 December. |
| Elise | Norway | The ship was driven ashore and damaged at Farsund. She was on a voyage from "St. Davies" to Königsberg, Germany. |
| Ellen | United Kingdom | The barge was run into by the steamship Glengair ( United Kingdom) and sank in the River Thames at Greenwich, Kent with the loss of her captain. |
| Ethelwolf | United Kingdom | The steamship was abandoned off the Silleiro Rocks. Her crew were rescued. |
| Euphony | United Kingdom | The barque was abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean with the loss of three of her crew. Survivors were rescued by the barque Albatros ( Germany). Euphony was on a voyage from Demerara, British Honduras to London. |
| Fanny | United Kingdom | The Thames barge sank in Egypt Bay, Kent with the loss of both crew. She was on a voyage from Milton Regis, Kent to London. |
| Fawn | United Kingdom | The steamship foundered off Holyhead, Anglesey with the loss of all hands. She was on a voyage from Llanelly, Glamorgan to London. |
| Forto | Norway | The barque was beached in the Cocos Islands. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands to Java, Netherlands East Indies. |
| Fortunate | United Kingdom | The barge was run into by the steamship Blonde ( United Kingdom) and sank in the River Thames at Gravesend, Kent. Her crew were rescued. |
| France | France | The barque was driven ashore at Hope Point. She was on a voyage from Bordeaux, Gironde to Fécamp, Seine-Inférieure. She was refloated and assisted in to Dover, Kent by a tug. |
| Franklin | Norway | The barque ran aground off Martín García Island, Uruguay. She was on a voyage from Newport, Monmouthshire to Rosario, Argentina. |
| General Napier | United Kingdom | The steamship ran aground in the Seine and broke in two. Her crew were rescued. |
| General Rye | United Kingdom | The ship was wrecked in the Bahamas. She was on a voyage from Pensacola to Liverpool. |
| Gler | Norway | The barque caught fire at Savannah, Georgia, United States. |
| Gordon | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at Natal, Brazil. |
| Grant | Norway | The barque ran aground at Pernambuco, Brazil. She was on a voyage from Natal, Brazil to New York, United States. She was refloated and taken in to Pernambuco in a leaky condition. |
| Greetlands | United Kingdom | The ship ran aground at L'Isle-aux-Coudres, Quebec, Canada. She was on a voyage from Cow Bay, Nova Scotia to Quebec City, Canada. |
| Guanito | Italy | The barque foundered off the coast of Pembrokeshire with the loss of all twelve crew. |
| Haze | Germany | The ship was abandoned at sea. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Progresso to Hamburg. |
| Helena | United Kingdom | The steamship struck a submerged object in the Mississippi River and sprang a leak. |
| Helen Nicholl, and Keilawarra | United Kingdom New South Wales | The steamship Keilawarra collided with the steamship Helen Nicholl and sank in Trial Bay with the loss of 36 lives. Keilawarra was on a voyage from Sydney to Brisbane, Queensland. Helen Nicholl was severely damaged with the loss of six lives. She was on a voyage from Clarence to Sydney. She completed her voyage. |
| Hilma | Sweden | The schooner was driven ashore. She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland to Helsingborg. She was refloated and taken in to Gothenburg in a leaky condition. She was placed under repair. |
| Hoy Head | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore on the Great Stone Point, Kent. She was on a voyage from Dunkerque, Nord, France to Cardiff, Glamorgan. She was refloated on 6 December and taken in to Dover, Kent. |
| Industry | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Rush, County Dublin with the loss of three of her four crew. She was on a voyage from Liverpool to Wicklow. |
| Insulaneren | Denmark | The ship was driven ashore. She was refloated and anchored at Torekow, Sweden. |
| Inverallan | United Kingdom | The ship was lost near the Île-de-Batz, Finistère, France. She was on a voyage from an American port to Hamburg. |
| Isabella Pratt | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked at Saltfleet, Lincolnshire. |
| Ivanhoe | United Kingdom | The steamship ran aground in the Clyde at Greenock, Renfrewshire. She was refloated on 30 December and resumed her voyage. |
| Jane and Ellen | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked on Walney Island, Lancashire. She was on a voyage from Liverpool to Ulverston, Lancashire. |
| John and Ann | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at Rostrevor, County Down. |
| Jorgen Olsen | Denmark | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked. She was on a voyage from Rudkøbing to Weymouth, Dorset, United Kingdom. |
| Joseph Dexter | United Kingdom | The brigantine collided with another vessel and was driven ashore at Colugh Point, Glamorgan. Her crew survived. |
| Jura | United Kingdom | The brig was damaged by ice and became waterlogged off Reedy Island, Delaware, United States. |
| Kooringa | United States | The ship ran aground at Astoria, Oregon. She was refloated four days later. |
| Kryolith | United Kingdom | The barque was lost at sea with the loss of a crew member. |
| Lapwing | Russia | The schooner was driven ashore. She was on a voyage from Riga to Queensferry, United Kingdom. She was refloated and taken in to Helsingør. |
| Lark | United Kingdom | The fishing boat was driven ashore and wrecked at Arklow, County Wicklow. Her crew were rescued. |
| Laurel | United Kingdom | The fishing smack was abanedon in the North Sea off Texel, North Holland, Netherlands. Her crew were rescued by the steamship Reiher ( Germany). |
| Leslie | Flag unknown | The hulk was destroyed by fire at Corinto. |
| Lizzie | United Kingdom | The steamship ran aground in the River Witham. She was on a voyage from Alexandria, Egypt to Boston, Lincolnshire. |
| Louis et Marie | United Kingdom | The barque ran aground on the Rocas Atoll. She was refloated and taken in to Pará, Brazil in a leaky condition and was placed under repair. |
| Lubentia | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at the Rammekens Castle, Zeeland, Netherlands. She was refloated and taken in to Vlissingen, Zeeland. |
| Macedonian | United Kingdom | The brig was driven ashore in the River Thames between Tilbury and Grays, Essex. |
| Margaret Jane | United Kingdom | The schooner was wrecked on the South Carr Rocks with the loss of all hands. She was on a voyage from Aberdovey, Merionethshire to Aberdeen. |
| Marianne | Sweden | The ship was driven ashore at Kristiansand, Norway. She was on a voyage from Sundsvall to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. |
| Maria Repetto Figlia | Italy | The barque was driven ashore and wrecked. Her crew were rescued by Lilydale ( United Kingdom). Maria Repetto Figlia was on a voyage from Darien, Georgia, United States to Genoa. She was later refloated and towed in to Cádiz, Spain in a waterlogged condition. |
| Marie Antoinette | Netherlands | The barque was abandoned off Cherbourg, Manche. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Rouen, Seine-Inférieure to Philadelphia. |
| Mary Helen | United States | The whaler caught fire at San Francisco and was beached. She was a total loss. |
| Mathilde | France | The brig sank at Havre de Grâce. She was on a voyage from Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais to Livorno. |
| Matilda | United Kingdom | The fishing boat was driven ashore at Arklow. Her crew were rescued. |
| Maylath | Austria-Hungary | The barque was driven ashore at "Marzocco", Italy. Her crew were rescued. |
| Minerve | Austria-Hungary | The steamship was driven ashore at "Galata Bournov", Ottoman Empire. |
| Mountaineer | United Kingdom | The ship caught fire at sea and was abandoned. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Hull to Wilmington, California, United States. |
| Navarch | United Kingdom | The ship ran aground on the Romer Shoals. She was on a voyage from New York to Liverpool. She was refloated and found to be leaky. |
| Neptun | Germany | The galiot was abandoned at sea. She was subsequently towed in to Fredrikshavn, Denmark. |
| Neptun | Germany | The schooner was damaged by fire at Gijón, Spain. |
| Nile | United Kingdom | The brigantine was wrecked at Redcar, Yorkshire. She was on a voyage from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk to Seaham, County Durham. |
| Old Goody | United Kingdom | The brigantine was driven ashore at Ramsgate. She was on a voyage from Whitstable to Ramsgate. |
| Ondine | United Kingdom | The schooner was driven ashore at Westgate-on-Sea, Kent. Her crew were rescued. |
| Orb | United Kingdom | The brig was driven ashore and wrecked at Bridlington, Yorkshire. Her crew were rescued by the Bridlington Lifeboat. |
| Otterburn | United Kingdom | The ship was destroyed by fire off Maldonado, Uruguay. Her crew were rescued by the steamship Acongagua ( United Kingdom). Otterburn was on a voyage from Dundee, Forfarshire to San Francisco. |
| Paul | France | The schooner was wrecked at Berck-sur-Mer, Pas-de-Calais. |
| Pensiers | Italy | The barque sank at Livorno. Her crew were rescued. |
| Perseverance | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore in the River Thames near the Scar Beacon. she was on a voyage from Cardiff to London. |
| Pinios | Greece | The lighted collided with Hawthorn ( United Kingdom) and was beached at Brăila, Romania. |
| Queen of Usk | United Kingdom | The brigantine was driven ashore at Drummore, Wigtownshire. Her crew were rescued. |
| Racer | United Kingdom | The barque was wrecked on Flint Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. |
| Reliance | United Kingdom | The smack sank in the North Sea. Her crew survived. |
| Reval | Germany | The steamship ran aground on the Banjaard Sand, in the North Sea off the coast of Zeeland. Her crew were rescued by Burgsluis ( Netherlands). |
| Rough Diamond | Canada | The schooner capsized in the Bay of Fundy with the loss of all hands. |
| Salerno | United Kingdom | The steamship ran aground at Gothenburg. She was on a voyage from Gothenburg to New York. |
| Salamanca | Flag unknown | The ship was driven ashore at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Her crew were rescued. |
| Seamew | United Kingdom | The ship was wrecked at "Port Alfans", Wigtownshire. |
| Scotsman | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore near Newport. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Rotterdam to Liverpool. Scotsman was scuttled on 20 December. |
| Sheikh | Flag unknown | The ship was severely damaged at Livorno. |
| Sir Jamsetjee Family | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Point Grenvill, Washington Territory. Her crew survived. |
| Summer Cloud | United Kingdom | The smack was driven ashore on Stronsay, Orkney Islands. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Lerwick, Shetland Islands to Kirkwall, Orkney Islands. |
| Summerlee | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore and wrecked at Bilbao, Spain. |
| Susan Glenllian | United Kingdom | The ship was driven ashore and damaged at Llangrannog, Merionethshire. |
| Susie Kyffet | United States | The ship was driven ashore at Scituate, Massachusetts. She was on a voyage from Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada to New York. She was a total loss. |
| Sutlea | United Kingdom | The steamship was driven ashore at Lemvig, Denmark. She was on a voyage from Burntisland, Fife to Dantsic, Germany. |
| Suzanne | France | The steamship was wrecked on the La Mauvaise Bank, at the mouth of the Gironde. Her crew were rescued. |
| Swift | Norway | The brig was driven ashore and wrecked at Cresswell, Northumberland. |
| Victorine | France | The schooner put in to Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom in a sinking condition and was beached in Sutton Pool. She was on a voyage from Fowey, Cornwall, United Kingdom to Nantes, Loire-Inférieure. |
| Vigilant | Norway | The steamship was abandoned at sea. Her crew were rescued by the steamship Girdleness ( United Kingdom). Vigilant was on a voyage from Stavanger to Königsberg, Germany. |
| Vigilant | Norway | The barque was driven ashore and wrecked in the Seine. |
| William | United Kingdom | The brigantine was driven ashore and wrecked at Newcastle, County Down. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Drogheda, County Louth to Ayr. |
| William Knox | United Kingdom | The ketch was driven ashore and wrecked on the Hudson Skews. Her crew were rescued by rocket apparatus. She was on a voyage from Sunderland, County Durham to Buckie, Banffshire. |
| Yan Ysen | United Kingdom | The steamship was wrecked was wrecked on the Salthouse Bank, in the Irish Sea off the coast of Lancashire. Her crew were rescued by a lifeboat. She was on a voyage from Montrose, Forfarshire to Fleetwood, Lancashire. |
| Ystwyth | United Kingdom | The schooner was severely damaged at New Quay, Carmarthenshire. She was struck by a sea and broke her back. |
| Zephyr | Sweden | The steamship was driven ashore and wrecked. She was on a voyage from Gothenburg to Christiania, Norway. |
| Unnamed | Belgium | The dredger was run into by the steamship Amanda ( United Kingdom) and sank at Ostend, West Flanders. |
| Unnamed | Greece | The schooner was driven ashore at Calambrone, Italy. Her crew were rescued. |
| Unnamed | United Kingdom | The brigantine was driven ashore in the River Thames between Tilbury and Grays. |