Mystery of ‘ghost ship’ that washed up on coast without crew and no explanation

Mystery surrounds a “ghost ship” that ran aground on the southern coast of Ireland after being abandoned in the mid-Atlantic two years ago.

The MV Alta, originally named the Tananger, was launched in 1976.

Its numerous name changes – as well as the deliberate deactivation of its Automatic Identification System – have led to suspicions that it has been used for illegal activities such as drugs smuggling or people trafficking.

The crew of the Alta were rescued by the US Coast Guard after abandoning ship almost 1,400 miles off the coast of Bermuda in 2018, after failing to get their vessel from Greece to Haiti.

But after that, the ship’s story becomes hazy. The the ghost ship was sighted by HMS Protector, in August or September of 2019, then lost again before being spotted by Cork man Barry McDonald as he jogged along the rugged Irish coast.

“It just came into view as I ran along the cliff,” he told the Irish Times. “I could see it was up on the rocks but I couldn’t understand how it was there.”

Several owners have been registered for the vessel; the last change of hands appears to have occurred in 2017. No-one has come forward to claim the Alta since it ran aground.

Ian Urbina, author of The Outlaw Ocean, says that more questions should have been asked of the Alta’s crew before they were allowed to disperse: “What were the conditions that led them to stay on a ship that was broken down for three weeks?” he says. “And also, what fate has befallen them since they were rescued?”

Ireland’s Marine Casualty Investigation Board has asked the Irish government to draw up a plan for disposing of the mysterious vessel.

They say the ship “poses a significant navigation hazard to commercial and recreational vessels in its vicinity.”

Mary Linehan Foley, the Mayor of the County of Cork, has urged people not to try and visit or board the vessel which is becoming increasingly unstable and unsafe.

She said: “The ship presents a very real danger to anyone close to it, and due to its location, it is not safely accessible.

“To respect the private property of the local landowners, and to avoid life-threatening injury I ask everyone to stay away from the wreckage.”