For a unified list of peacetime disasters by death toll, see List of accidents and disasters by death toll § Peacetime Maritime.
All ships are vulnerable to problems from weather conditions, faulty design or human error.
Some of the disasters below occurred during periods of conflict, although their losses were unrelated to any military action.
The table listings are in decreasing order of the magnitude of casualties.
Disasters with great loss of life can occur in times of armed conflict.