A ghost ship, named the Samratulangi, mysteriously appeared off the coast of the Angon region in Myanmar. This baffling occurrence has left naval officials and local authorities grappling with various unanswered questions.
The story began on the morning of August 30, 2018, when two local fishermen spotted the ghostly vessel emerging on the horizon. It was a shocking sight, as ships rarely ventured through the area, which was not considered a shipping lane for over a century. Concern soon replaced surprise, as the fishermen realized the ship was heading straight towards them. They immediately attempted to maneuver their small boat out of harm’s way but were unsuccessful.
Their distress call prompted a series of emergency responses starting with the Coast Guard, followed by the police, and eventually involving the Navy. The arrival of the naval officers shed further light on the mysterious ship. It was discovered that the Samratulangi, a 580-foot-long container vessel, had vanished over a decade ago and was never reported missing. The absence of any crew members on board deepened the sense of intrigue surrounding the vessel.
While conducting a thorough search of the ship, a crucial clue was found hanging off its side – two useless cables. This discovery led investigators to an unexpected location – a tugboat named Independence, located nearly 100 kilometers away from the ghost ship. Inside the tugboat, navy officials made an astonishing find – 13 crew members who revealed that they were towing the Samratulangi to a factory in Bangladesh.
The Independent tugboat, initially believed to be Singaporean-flagged, raised further confusion when it was discovered that the crew members were Indonesian, not Singaporean. The Indonesian government maintained that the Independence was a commercial vessel unaffiliated with any government operations. The whereabouts of the original crew members and details of how the tugboat came into possession of the Samratulangi remain unknown.
The investigation into this bewildering incident continues, with experts delving into the shipbreaking industry in Bangladesh, known for dismantling old commercial vessels. The appearance of ghost ships, though rare, has been witnessed in other parts of the world, such as Japan, where North Korean boats have washed ashore.
This fascinating tale serves as a reminder of the vastness and unpredictable nature of the oceans, with their ability to conceal mysteries and defy comprehension. As authorities work diligently to uncover the truth, the Samratulangi ghost ship will undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on maritime history.
