Massachusetts is home to the oldest sea ports in the United States of America and has a rich maritime history.
Despite the risks, captains routinely sailed the waters of Massachusetts in search of food, natural resources, and wealth. Often many of these ships were lost at sea for a large variety of reasons. Most commonly shipwrecks were caused by human error, environmental factors, and weather conditions. |
Human Error
One of the biggest factors that contribute to ships wrecking is human error. Whether it is faulty construction of a vessel, the decision of a captain to sail during a storm, or an error in navigation, human errors are the cause of thousands of shipwrecks.
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The waters off the shores of the Massachusetts have some of the greatest movement of sand. These extreme sand movements are caused by shifting currents and wind conditions in the area which create sandbars that lead to shipwrecks.
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Massachusetts experiences severe weather every year. Hurricanes create winds of 75 miles per hour or greater, battering ships in Massachusetts waters.
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