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The Ghost Ship Alta

The Ghost Ship Alta

Ghost Ship Alta 2020
Photo: mirror.co.uk

The 77 meter long, 1640 dwt cargo vessel Alta went ashore off Ballycotton, Cork, Ireland. The Alta had been blown ashore by Storm Dennis.  Local authorities dispatched a helicopter and found the Alta was high and dry on the rocks.  An inspection found the vessel had been a derelict for some time just like the Mary Celeste.  No reports of pollution.

Unlike prior ghost ships in the Atlantic Ocean, there are accounts of the Alta.  The Alta had been last reported in September 2019 when it was found abandoned in the mid-Atlantic Ocean.  The Royal Navy HMS Protector found the Alta over 1000 miles from the Caribbean Sea and 1500 miles off Africa.

An investigation found the vessel had originally departed from Greece and was en route to Haiti in October 2018 when it became disabled.  The 10 crew had abandoned ship and spent 20 days in lifeboats before the United States Coast Guard rescued them.  Reports state the ship’s owner had contracted a tug to take the Alta under tow to Saint Maarten, but this proved to be false.  Between 2018 and 2019, the Alta had been reported as hijacked off Guyana before it was left abandoned.

 

Joseph Roty II

Joseph Roty II

Joseph Roty II
Photo: ouest-france.fr

On February 15, the 90 meter long fish factory Joseph Roty II became disabled 240 nautical miles off Killybegs, Ireland. The vessel had been fishing when its main engine failed.  The Joseph Roty II went adrift while crew attempted to make repairs. After several days, the crew were unable to restore power. The fish factory requested assistance and a tug was dispatched. On February 18, the tug Ocean Challenger took the Joseph Roty II under tow to Killybegs.

Joseph Roty II
Photo: ouest-france.fr

Divers inspected the Joseph Roty II and found a net had fouled the vessel’s propeller. No reports of injuries to the 58 crew, damage or pollution released.

Atlantic Osprey

Atlantic Osprey

Atlantic Osprey
Photo: independent.ie

The wooden fishing vessel Atlantic Osprey ran aground and sank off Balbriggan near Dublin, Ireland. The Atlantic Osprey was fishing razor clams when it suffered a power blackout after the main engine failed.  The crew attempted to restart the engine, but could not restore power before the vessel was blown onto an offshore sandbank near the Balbriggan harbour.   Waves pounded the wooden hull causing the seams to open up allowing water ingress.

The crew alerted local authorities the Atlantic Osprey was in danger and needed assistance. The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter to the scene while the RNLI launched lifeboats from Howth Skerries and Clogherhead as part of the rescue effort. The Howth Skerries lifeboat was able to pull alongside the Atlantic Osprey and safely transfer all 5 crew. No reports of injuries.

After the crew were rescued, authorities attempted to keep the Atlantic Osprey afloat. Three pumps were placed on the trawler, but the flooding could not be brought under control. The vessel later partially sank a few hours later.

Reports state there are efforts to salvage the fishing vessel.  No signs of pollution were reported, but the vessel contained 400 litres of diesel fuel at the time of the incident.