15 Ships That Disappeared Mysteriously
These ships vanished without a trace, leaving behind unanswered questions and eerie legends at sea.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
The ocean has always held its share of secrets, but some vanishings stand out for their sheer mystery. Ships have disappeared across centuries, puzzling sailors, scientists, and storytellers alike. These maritime mysteries continue to capture imaginations and fuel theories that span from the logical to the supernatural.
1. 1. The Mary Celeste
Unconfirmed, possibly Honore Pellegrin (1800–c.1870). This speculative attribution is suggested in Paul Begg: Mary Celeste: The Greatest Mystery of the Sea. Longmans Education Ltd, Harlow (UK) 2007. Plate 2 on Wikimedia Commons
Found adrift in 1872, the Mary Celeste had no crew on board, though the ship was still seaworthy. Food and belongings were untouched, sparking endless speculation. To this day, the fate of her crew remains one of the greatest maritime mysteries.
2. 2. The USS Cyclops
Photograph was taken by the New York Navy Yard. on Wikimedia Commons
The USS Cyclops vanished in 1918 while carrying over 300 crew and thousands of tons of manganese. No distress signal was sent, and no wreckage was found. Many link the disappearance to the Bermuda Triangle, though no proof has surfaced.
3. 3. The HMS Erebus and HMS Terror
The Illustrated London News, ILN staff Unknown author on Wikimedia Commons
These two ships disappeared during Sir John Franklin’s Arctic expedition in 1845. Decades later, they were found preserved in icy waters, but the mystery of the crew’s tragic fate still lingers. Tales of starvation and even cannibalism followed their story.
4. 4. The Carroll A. Deering
Unspecified in source on Wikimedia Commons
Discovered run aground in 1921, the Deering was abandoned, her crew gone without a trace. The galley suggested meals were being prepared before the sudden desertion. Many point to piracy, mutiny, or supernatural theories.
5. 5. The MV Joyita
Unknown photographer on Wikimedia Commons
The MV Joyita was found drifting in 1955 in the South Pacific, missing 25 passengers and crew. Supplies and equipment were still on board, raising questions about why everyone abandoned ship. Theories range from piracy to sudden flooding.
6. 6. The SS Waratah
Unknown author on Wikimedia Commons
Known as the “Titanic of the South,” the SS Waratah vanished off South Africa’s coast in 1909. Carrying 211 people, she disappeared without a trace. Despite numerous searches, the shipwreck has never been located.
7. 7. The MV Derbyshire
Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). on Wikimedia Commons
The largest British ship ever lost at sea, the Derbyshire, sank in 1980 during a typhoon. All 44 crew members were lost, and the wreck wasn’t found until 1994. Its sudden sinking raised concerns about design flaws in similar vessels.
8. 8. The Ourang Medan
Anastasia Shuraeva on Pexels
Allegedly found adrift in the late 1940s, the Dutch freighter’s crew was discovered dead under strange conditions. Reports suggest their faces were twisted in horror, and the ship exploded shortly after being boarded. Some dismiss the story as myth, while others call it a chilling fact.
9. 9. The SS Baychimo
Unknown author on Wikimedia Commons
Trapped in Arctic ice in 1931, the Baychimo was abandoned by its crew. For decades, it was sighted drifting as a “ghost ship” before vanishing altogether. Baychimo’s ultimate fate remains unknown.
10. 10. The Kaz II
Girtab2828 on Wikimedia Commons
In 2007, the Kaz II was discovered off the coast of Australia, with its engine running and food still set out. The three-man crew was nowhere to be found. The eerily tidy deck gave the mystery an unsettling edge.
11. 11. The HMS Resolute
Illustrated London News on Wikimedia Commons
Part of a search for Franklin’s lost expedition, HMS Resolute was abandoned in ice in 1854. Astonishingly, it drifted for over a thousand miles before being found. Though returned to Britain, its ghostly journey remains legendary.
12. 12. The SS El Faro
National Transportation Safety Board on Wikimedia Commons
In 2015, El Faro sank near the Bahamas during Hurricane Joaquin. All 33 crew members were lost, and the wreck was later found at a depth of nearly three miles. Questions remain about why the ship sailed into dangerous conditions.
13. 13. The HMS Bounty (Replica)
Inverclyde Views, trimmed by FritzG on Wikimedia Commons
A replica of the famed HMS Bounty sank during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Fourteen crew members survived, but two lives were lost, adding a modern twist to the Bounty’s tragic legacy. Its sinking reminded many of the dangers sailors still face today.
14. 14. The SS Marine Sulphur Queen
Bermuda triangle fools on Wikimedia Commons
This tanker vanished in 1963 with 39 crew aboard, last seen near the Florida Keys. Carrying molten sulphur, she left no distress signal and no wreckage was found. The case is often linked to Bermuda Triangle legends.
15. 15. The HMS Atalanta
William Frederick Mitchell on Wikimedia Commons
A British training ship, HMS Atalanta disappeared in 1880 with over 280 crew. Theories suggest she sank in a storm, but no trace was ever found. The tragedy shook the Royal Navy and remains unsolved.