SS Portland

The SS Portland sank during a severe coastal storm in late November 1898, an event so destructive that it became known as the Portland Gale in New England maritime history. The storm struck with little warning and produced hurricane-force winds across the Gulf of Maine, overwhelming the vessel with catastrophic loss of life.

The wreck of the SS Portland was located on the seafloor of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, a protected marine area in Massachusetts Bay between Cape Ann and Cape Cod. The discovery was made by researchers using side-scan sonar and remotely operated underwater vehicles, confirming the vessel's resting place more than a century after it went down.

The exact death toll remains uncertain because the ship's complete passenger manifest went down with the vessel, but historians estimate that approximately 192 people perished, including all passengers and crew. This makes it one of the deadliest maritime disasters in New England history.

The SS Portland was a sidewheel passenger steamship that operated a regular overnight route between Boston, Massachusetts, and Portland, Maine, carrying passengers and cargo across the Gulf of Maine. The vessel was operated by the Portland Steam Packet Company and was considered a reliable and well-appointed ship for its route.