From Bermuda to Ballycotton: The long and lonely Atlantic journey of 'ghost ship' the MV Alta

Rescue 117 was tasked earlier today to a vessel aground near Ballycotton, Cork. There was nobody on board. Previously the @USCG had rescued the 10 crew members from the vessel back in September 2018. The vessel has been drifting since and today came ashore on the Cork coastline. pic.twitter.com/NbvlZ89KSYAN ABANDONED CARGO ship which ran aground near Ballycotton in east Cork yesterday has travelled an incredibly long way.

The ship’s problems began in September 2018 when it and a 10-person crew were travelling across the Mediterranean and the Atlantic from Greece to Haiti.By October 2018 the ship was essentially drifting and the US Coast Guard put its location at some 2,220 kilometres southeast of Bermuda. Several efforts by tug boats at reaching the vessel were unsuccessful, however, and with tropical storm Leslie approaching, the decision was taken to abandon the ship. USCG Cutter Confidence arrived on scene Monday 8 October offering assistance to ship’s crew as negotiations for tug assistance ashore continued. With the onset of TS Leslie and damage to vessel main engine, a decision was made for all crew [Panamanian, Honduran & Greek nationals] to abandon vessel.

Two days ago @hmsprotector discovered this apparently abandoned Merchant Vessel whilst mid-Atlantic. We closed the vessel to make contact and offer our assistance, but no one replied! Whilst investigations continue we’re unable to give you more detail on this strange event.🌊🚢🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/x29sB5IF06There had been a number of reports that the ship was subsequently hijacked by pirates but this was not verified.

Initially the Royal Navy did not know the origins of the ship, first describing it as an “apparently abandoned Merchant Vessel” before two days later confirming it had been identified as the MV Alta.Key to understanding the journey of the vessel across the Atlantic is in understanding that the prevailing currents in this direction.

If you look at the currents, the normal currents, you have the currents about the equator then you have the currents coming from Africa, from the Sahara, towards the Bermuda Triangle. Obviously, this is during the summer season. And that’s why at the end of the summer you have the hurricane seasons in the US and Caribbean. And once they hit the shore, obviously they’re being diverted. And when the current and the wind divert, it comes back in storms here like Ciara, like Dennis.

Could be granted to Naval Service if unclaimed or dues unpaid. Could be renovated at yard there as supply ship to fleet.

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