The Real Science Behind Ghost Ships

For centuries, tales of ghost ships have haunted the seas, sparking imaginations and inspiring countless works of fiction. But beyond the myths and legends, what's the real story behind these mysterious, unmanned vessels?

The Tale of the Rumney and the Frigorifique

In 1884, a peculiar incident occurred involving the British steamer Rumney and the French ship Frigorifique. After a collision, the crew of the Frigorifique, seeing their ship taking on water, sought refuge aboard the Rumney. However, as the Rumney sailed towards port, the abandoned Frigorifique emerged from the fog, colliding with the Rumney and causing it to sink. The Frigorifique, now seemingly empty, then sailed back into the fog.

The truth? The French sailors had inadvertently left the engines running. The Frigorifique sailed in a circle, collided with the Rumney, and eventually sank. This event, however, became one of many stories fueling the legend of ghost ships – unmanned vessels that appear to sail themselves.

The Mystery of the Mary Celeste

One of the most famous ghost ship stories is that of the Mary Celeste, discovered adrift in the Atlantic in 1872. The ship was found with no one aboard, water in its hold, and a missing lifeboat. The intact cargo and an abruptly ended captain's log only deepened the mystery, leading to much speculation.

The explanation, however, lies in the principles of buoyancy and fluid dynamics.

Archimedes' Principle and Buoyancy

An object in a liquid displaces a volume of that liquid.
The liquid exerts an upward buoyant force equal to the weight of the displaced fluid.
Objects less dense than water float because the buoyant force exceeds gravity.
Ships made of dense materials like steel float because they displace a volume of water greater than their weight.

In the case of the Mary Celeste, water entering the hull would normally increase the ship's weight and cause it to sink. However, for unknown reasons, the water stopped entering the ship before it reached a critical point. The Mary Celeste remained afloat, only to be discovered days later, while its crew was never found.

The Curious Case of the A. Ernest Mills

The story of the A. Ernest Mills, a schooner carrying salt, adds another layer to the ghost ship phenomenon. After a collision, the crew watched as their ship sank to the sea floor. Yet, four days later, it reappeared, floating on the surface.

The key to this mystery was the ship's cargo of salt. The waterlogged hull, combined with the heavy salt cargo, initially caused the ship to sink. However, as the salt dissolved, the ship's weight decreased. Eventually, the buoyant force exceeded the force of gravity, and the ship resurfaced.

Ocean Currents: Invisible Rivers of the Sea

But what about the enduring legends of ghost ships sighted repeatedly, hundreds of miles apart, and over several years? The answer lies in ocean currents.

Ocean currents are like invisible rivers flowing through the ocean, influenced by factors such as:

Temperature
Salinity
Wind
Gravity
The Coriolis effect

These factors create a complex system of water movement, both on the surface and deep below. Sailors have long been aware of currents, but their patterns were not fully understood until recently. Interestingly, tracking abandoned ships played a role in mapping the Atlantic Gyre, the Gulf Stream, and related currents.

In 1883, the U.S. Hydrographic Office began collecting data on navigation hazards, including derelict ships, reported by passing vessels. This data helped scientists understand the movement and behavior of ocean currents.

The Science of the Seas

So, while ghost ships may not be the product of supernatural forces, they are a real and fascinating phenomenon. They are born of the ocean and kept afloat by powerful, invisible, scientifically studied forces. These abandoned vessels offer a glimpse into the complex interplay of physics, buoyancy, and oceanography, reminding us that even the most mysterious tales often have a scientific explanation.