For More Than a Year, This 'Ghost Ship' Traveled the World

The MV Alta's journey has finally ended, in Ireland
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 18, 2020 12:45 PM CST
Globe-Traveling 'Ghost Ship' Finally Hits Shore
This undated image released Monday shows the abandoned cargo ship MV Alta, on the coast of County Cork, near Ballycotton, in southern Ireland.   (Irish Coast Guard via AP)

A "ghost ship" has finally struck land after more than a year traveling the world, from the Americas to Africa and Europe, without a crew. The MV Alta cargo vessel disabled some 1,380 miles southeast of Bermuda while traveling from Greece to Haiti in September 2018. The crew of 10 was rescued while the ship was towed to Guyana, but it was reportedly hijacked before it was found drifting in the mid-Atlantic last August, reports the Guardian. It's believed to have drifted north, near the coasts of Africa and Spain, before it ran aground Sunday in County Cork, Ireland, amid Storm Dennis.

There's no visible pollution coming from the 250-foot ship, which remains intact despite being wedged on rocks near the fishing village of Ballycotton, per the BBC. However, a marine contractor is expected to do a more thorough inspection soon, perhaps during low tide on Tuesday morning. Until then, "Cork County Council is asking members of the public to stay away from the wreck location as it is situated on a dangerous and inaccessible stretch of coastline and is in an unstable condition," according to a statement. The owner will have a year to claim it, per the Irish Examiner. (More ghost ship stories.)

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