The mystery of the ‘ghost ship’ found after being missing for nine years has finally been solved. The ship was discovered on the shores of a beach in Burma, with no crew or cargo on board.
Last Thursday, the police in Thongwa, Burma, shared news about a large rusty ship found drifting near Rangoon. It had no crew or cargo, making it a classic ghost ship. Authorities went to inspect it and only found a group of five fishermen inside. According to reports from the BBC, these fishermen entered the ship out of curiosity, hoping to find something useful, following the law of the sea.
Since the ship’s discovery, officials have been investigating its origins. It was identified as the Sam Ratulangi PB 1600. This ship was supposed to be dismantled in Bangladesh, which has a large ship-breaking industry. Every year, hundreds of commercial ships are taken apart in Chittagong, the country’s second-largest city. The Sam Ratulangi PB 1600 was likely on its way to be dismantled but somehow ended up abandoned.
This industry in Bangladesh plays a crucial role in recycling old ships, and many ships like the Sam Ratulangi PB 1600 are brought to Chittagong to be broken down. The exact reasons why this ship ended up adrift without a crew remain unclear, but its final destination was supposed to be a shipyard for dismantling.
This case highlights the fascinating stories behind ghost ships, which often carry an air of mystery. In this instance, the mystery was solved with the understanding that the ship was intended for dismantling but somehow went off course, leaving it to drift for years before being found.