Strange

Top 5 Ghost Ships

Here are the Alien X Files top 5 Ghost ships.

Imagine sailing in the ocean, miles and miles away from land. Days away from any rescue when suddenly a broken down, sail torn ghastly looking ship bumps into your stern. You climb on board to find the skeletal remains of a crew that’s been dead for years. Or even stranger you bump into a perfectly intact ship with not a soul on board. This has happened to dozens of sailors and their tales have helped create legends of these 5 Ghost ships.

 

Ourang Medan:

Mary Celeste ghost ship

1947 – This ship was found floating off the coast of Indonesia with all of its crew dead. When the discovering party boarded the ship they found the entire crew “frozen, teeth baring, gaping at the sun.” That’s a pretty ghastly image. When they attempted to tow the ship to the home port, it exploded and sank. These men were doomed to a burial at sea.

The Baychimo:

1931 – Abandoned by the crew when the ship became trapped in the ice of the arctic. The crew though the ship was stuck and would eventually sink. The ship freed itself and floated the ocean for over 38 years. It was spotted several times and until it was finally salvaged.

Octavius:

1775 – An English trading ship that attempted the northwest passage to reach China. It was discovered of the coast of Greenland having unsuccessfully navigated the dangerous passage. The ship along with the entire crew was found frozen drifting in the sea. It apparently freed itself after being lost in the frozen passage for 13 years.

Mary Celeste:

Haunted ghost ship
image: alancleaver_2000

1872 – If not for the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, this would be  the most historically famous ghost ship. The Mary Celesete was found abandoned near Portugal’s Azores archipelago. The ship was intact, sail fully blowing  heading toward the Strait of Gibraltar. The only thing missing was the entire crew! What makes this story so odd is the condition of the still working ship and the absence of the crew. No reason could be found and the last log entry was 11 days prior to the discovery of the ship.

Flying Dutchman:

Recently gained fame thanks to Johnny Depp and the Pirates of the Caribbean. Though there have been some sightings, the Dutchman has never been proven to exist outside of the tales told.  It has become a  legend of the ship that can never make port, and is doomed to sail the seas and oceans forever. 17th century nautical folktales are believed to be the origin of the Flying Dutchman’s tale. Legend claims that the ship may even serve to ferry the dead lost at Sea and is captained by Davy Jones. The Flying Dutchman has become a symbol of doom in the nautical world. 19th and 20th century sightings have reported the ship to be glowing with ghostly light.

Flying DutchmanAt 4 a.m. the Flying Dutchman crossed our bows. A strange red light as of a phantom ship all aglow, in the midst of which light the masts, spars, and sails of a brig 200 yards distant stood out in strong relief as she came up on the port bow, where also the officer of the watch from the bridge clearly saw her, as did the quarterdeck midshipman, who was sent forward at once to the forecastle; but on arriving there was no vestige nor any sign whatever of any material ship was to be seen either near or right away to the horizon, the night being clear and the sea calm. Thirteen persons altogether saw her … At 10.45 a.m. the ordinary seaman who had this morning reported theFlying Dutchman fell from the fore-topmast cross trees on to the top-gallant forecastle and was smashed to atoms. – King George V

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