Royal Navy ice patrol ship HMS ROTECTOR on Sep 3 posted on TWITTER photos and a short report of abandoned ship, spotted in the middle of the Atlantic. There were no people aboard and the ship looked like she was derelict for quite some time.
HMS Protector @hmsprotector Sep 3
Two days ago HMS Protector discovered this apparently abandoned Merchant Vessel whilst mid-Atlantic. We closed the vessel to make contact and offer our assistance, but no one replied! Whilst investigations continue we’re unable to give you more detail on this strange event…
The ship they found is cargo ship ALTA, her story being quite a mystery:
Cargo ship distressed in the middle of the Atlantic
October 3, 2018
Cargo ship ALTA requested assistance on Oct 1 in position 24 13N 043 48W, in the middle of the Atlantic, some 1500 nm west of African coast, 1100 nm east of Caribbean. The ship is disabled since Sep 19, drifting or slowly moving on north direction. She’s en route from Greece to Haiti, ETA Sep 27. The ship changed owner in late 2017.
Cargo ship ALTA, IMO 7432305, GT 2295, built 1976, flag Tanzania, manager ALTA SHIPPING LLC, USA.
According to several sources including allegedly, ship’s owner, crew of 10 were forced by USCG to abandon the ship.
In July 2019 I was contacted by people via contact form and email, claiming to be ALTA owners, and asking for help. Understood they contracted salvage company, but company and salvage turned out to be a fake, the ship, according to owners, was hijacked and towed to Guyana. They were tipped on ship’s whereabouts, but couldn’t claim her back, because she was hijacked again, this time from Guyana, in late Spring. And now, early September, she was found drifting in the middle of the Atlantic.
I don’t know what to make out of this story.
Letter from allegedly, ALTA owner:
Hello Mr. Voytenko Mikhail
Our hope is your help.
Our investigation capacities is minimums, last 3 months a anonymous person said us that the MV ALTA IMO 7432305 keeping at British GUYANA. as under hijack. Please we’re needing your help.
Believe me that we have been trying for a long time to locate the ALTA IMO vessel 7432305 3 months ago we were informed by an anonymous person that the ALTA vessel had been hijacked in British GUYANA Our research capacity is limited and this creates problems in locating the ship; The pirates are on the lookout.
Believe me that we have been trying for a long time to locate the ALTA IMO vessel 7432305 3 months ago we were informed by an anonymous person that the ALTA vessel had been hijacked in British GUYANA Our research capacity is limited and this creates problems in locating the ship; The pirates are on the lookout.
Believe me that we have been trying for a long time to locate the ALTA IMO vessel 7432305 3 months ago we were informed by an anonymous person that the ALTA vessel had been hijacked in British GUYANA Our research capacity is limited and this creates problems in locating the ship; The pirates are on the lookout.
We are owners
Alta Shipping LLC
