On January 22, 2019, the cargo ship Alta was spotted drifting eerily close to the rocky shores of Ballycotton, Ireland. But this was no ordinary vessel—it had been missing for nearly two years, presumed lost somewhere in the Atlantic. What made the reappearance of Alta so chilling was not only its ghostly condition, but the total absence of crew, damage, or explanation.
Originally flagged in Tanzania, Alta had last been seen in September 2018 when it broke down en route from Greece to Haiti. A U.S. Coast Guard mission rescued the crew near Bermuda after they had been stranded aboard for 20 days. The ship was then abandoned at sea, with plans to tow it later. But before the operation could commence, the Alta disappeared.
Its sudden reemergence baffled experts. How did a 250-foot freighter drift over 1,300 miles across one of the world’s most trafficked ocean zones without being noticed or reported? Satellite data later revealed a strange, zig-zagging course around West Africa. There were even unconfirmed sightings near the Cape Verde islands, where smugglers and pirates are known to operate.
When the Alta finally washed ashore in Ireland, authorities examined it closely. No human remains. No signs of distress. The interior was a time capsule—clothes still in drawers, half-empty cans in the galley, charts still open in the wheelhouse. What’s more, the power systems had been stripped, but not violently. It seemed organized, methodical—suggesting someone had boarded and then left again.
Locals quickly dubbed it the “Ghost Ship of Cape Verde,” and rumors ran wild. Some believed it had been used for smuggling. Others said it was cursed, pointing to strange symbols scrawled into the bulkheads—later deemed graffiti. Paranormal enthusiasts theorized something more otherworldly.
Despite the speculation, the truth behind the Alta’s journey remains a mystery. With no country claiming it, the vessel was slowly dismantled by the Irish authorities due to safety concerns. But its legend lives on. In Ballycotton, it has become part of coastal folklore. Children ask about the ghost ship in class; tour guides point out the spot where it crashed. For many, the Alta serves as a haunting reminder that even in the modern age, the sea still keeps secrets.
These true tales—one of survival, one of mystery—illustrate the raw and unpredictable nature of life at sea. They remind us that beneath the sunlit waves lies a realm that is as unforgiving as it is beautiful, and always full of stories waiting to be told.