This list includes events involving rogue waves, which are also called freak waves, monster waves, killer waves, and extreme waves. These waves are rare and dangerous ocean waves that suddenly grow to at least twice the height of the tallest waves nearby. People who see them often describe them as "walls of water." They form in deep water, far from the shore, and can be a threat to large ships, ocean liners, and buildings on land, such as lighthouses.

Background

Stories from sailors and reports of ship damage caused by large waves have long suggested that rogue waves exist. However, scientists confirmed their existence only after measuring the Draupner wave, a rogue wave recorded at the Draupner platform in the North Sea on January 1, 1995. This event caused minor damage to the platform, proving the measurement was accurate.

In modern oceanography, rogue waves are not defined as the largest waves in the ocean. Instead, they are described as waves that are much larger than expected for the current sea conditions.

Many reported incidents of large waves are shared in the media but do not represent true rogue waves in the open ocean. Often, very large waves are mistakenly called rogue waves. Extremely large waves may explain why some ships disappear without explanation. However, this idea is challenged by data from Lloyd's Register. One well-documented case involves the 1978 sinking of the freighter MS München, which some believe was caused by a rogue wave. Other sources, however, state that between 1969 and 1994, rogue waves were linked to the loss of 22 supertankers, along with their crews. In 2007, researcher Paul C. Liu of NOAA compiled a list of more than 50 incidents likely connected to rogue waves. Some experts suggest that, based on available data, a large ship may vanish completely every two years, though the cause is often unknown.

Known or suspected rogue wave incidents

In addition to the events mentioned earlier, it has also been suggested that these types of waves may have caused the disappearance of several United States Coast Guard helicopters that were flying close to the water during rescue operations.