This vigorously drawn small drawing is typical of the younger Van de Velde's late drawing style. This kind of subject, showing ships in distress or being wrecked, is one that interested the artist in the years around 1700. It is signed with the initials 'W.V.V.J.' in the lower left hand corner. These stand for 'Willem Van Velde Jonge' (the latter being Dutch for Younger).

The crowned 'W' collector's mark in the lower hand right corner indicates that the drawing came from the collection of the Earl of Warwick (1818-93) at Warwick Castle where there were a large number of drawings by Van de Velde.