Ghost ships, vessels that are found adrift on the high seas without a crew or any apparent explanation, have long been a subject of fascination and mystery. From the Mary Celeste to the Flying Dutchman, ghost ships have captivated the imagination of people all over the world. Here are the top 10 biggest ghost ships that still haunt the seas today.
1.SS Baychimo
The SS Baychimo, a cargo steamer built in 1914, was abandoned in 1931 after getting trapped in ice off the coast of Alaska. Despite several attempts to retrieve the ship, it remained adrift and was last sighted in 1969.
2.MV Joyita
The MV Joyita, a small luxury yacht, disappeared in the South Pacific in 1955 with 25 passengers and crew on board. Despite a massive search effort, the vessel was never found.
3.Kaz II
The Kaz II, a catamaran, was found drifting off the coast of Australia in 2007 with its sails up, motor running, and all three crew members missing. To this day, no one knows what happened to them.
4.The Ghost Fleet of Chuuk Lagoon
During World War II, the Japanese used Chuuk Lagoon in Micronesia as a naval base. After an Allied bombing raid in 1944, over 40 Japanese warships and merchant vessels were left to rust in the lagoon. Today, these ghostly ships are a popular spot for divers.
5.The Lady Lovibond
The Lady Lovibond, a schooner, sank off the coast of Kent, England in 1748 after its captain’s crew deliberately crashed it as part of a love triangle gone wrong. According to legend, the ship still sails the waters off Kent on the anniversary of its sinking.
6.SS Valencia
The SS Valencia, a passenger steamer, ran aground off the coast of Vancouver Island in 1906 during a storm. Only 37 of the 108 passengers and crew survived, and the wreck remains one of the deadliest in Canadian maritime history.
7.Carroll A. Deering
The Carroll A. Deering, a five-masted commercial schooner, was found abandoned off the coast of North Carolina in 1921. Despite an extensive search, no trace of the crew was ever found.
8.The Octavius
The Octavius, a British trading ship, was found adrift in the Arctic Ocean in 1775 with its crew frozen solid. According to legend, the ship had been lost for over a decade before its discovery.
9.The Mary Celeste
Perhaps the most famous ghost ship of all time, the Mary Celeste was found adrift in the Atlantic Ocean in 1872 with no crew on board. The mystery of what happened to the crew has never been solved.
10.The Ourang Medan
The Ourang Medan, a Dutch freighter, was found adrift off the coast of Indonesia in 1947 with its entire crew dead, their faces twisted in terror. To this day, no one knows what caused their deaths.
In conclusion, ghost ships have captured the imaginations of people all over the world for centuries. From the tragic stories of the SS Valencia and the Lady Lovibond to the mysterious disappearances of the Kaz II and MV Joyita, these ten ghost ships continue to intrigue and haunt us to this day.
