Shipwreck is the accidental destruction or loss of a ship. A ship may be lost by striking land, another ship, or another floating object, such as an iceberg. Fire also causes shipwrecks.
Radios and other electronic aids to navigation installed on ships make ships safer. The fathometer uses sound waves to measure the depth of the water (see Fathometer ). Radar, loran, and omega use radio waves to monitor the location of ships (see Radar ; Navigation (Electronic navigation) ).
Although ships are now safer, the impact of shipwrecks that do occur is much more severe. This is because present-day ships can carry more cargo than ever before, and many cargoes are hazardous.
