A mysterious ship

The Mary Celeste, a British brigantine, made headlines in 1872 when it was discovered adrift in the choppy seas, 400 miles east of the Azores. The vessel had left New York City eight days before and was expected to arrive in Genoa, Italy. However, there was not a soul on board.

On December 5, 1872, the crew of the Dei Gratia spotted a ship adrift in the open sea. To their surprise, it turned out to be the Mary Celeste, which had departed from New York City just eight days earlier. Capt. David Morehouse of the Dei Gratia changed course to offer assistance. The ship's charts were scattered about, and the crewmen's belongings were undisturbed in their quarters. One of the ship's two pumps had been disassembled, and there was three and a half feet of water in the hull. However, the cargo of industrial alcohol remained intact, and there was a six-month supply of food and water on board.

The discovery of the Mary Celeste without a crew gave rise to numerous speculations and theories. Some suggested mutiny, while others hypothesized encounters with pirates or sea monsters. Even Arthur Conan Doyle, the renowned author of Sherlock Holmes, penned a short story in 1884 based on the case. Over time, the mystery of the Mary Celeste captured the imagination of the public, and it became a subject of fascination. However, without concrete evidence, the true fate of the crew remained elusive.

Anne MacGregor, a documentarian, embarked on a quest to uncover the truth behind the Mary Celeste's disappearance,

MacGregor's investigation revealed that the Mary Celeste was approximately six miles from the Azores island of Santa Maria on November 25, the last recorded entry in the ship's log. Ten days later, the Dei Gratia crew discovered the abandoned vessel some 400 miles east of the island. By analysing historical weather conditions and the ship's recorded positions, MacGregor and Richardson concluded that the Mary Celeste could have drifted to its discovered location without a crew. This finding challenged the notion that the ship could only have reached that point if guided by human hands.

MacGregor delved into the captain's calculations and navigational challenges. Captain Benjamin Spooner Briggs, an experienced and respected sailor, had sailed the Mary Celeste on previous voyages without incident. However, MacGregor discovered that on this particular voyage, Briggs had encountered difficulties. His chronometer, a crucial navigational instrument, was inaccurate, causing him to miscalculate the ship's position.

Another crucial factor in understanding the crew's decision to abandon ship was the ship's condition and the presence of construction debris and coal dust. MacGregor uncovered evidence that the Mary Celeste had recently undergone extensive refitting and had carried coal on a previous voyage. The debris and coal dust could have fouled the ship's pumps, rendering them inoperable. With no way to measure the water in the hull, Briggs faced uncertainty regarding the ship's stability. Faced with rough seas, a faulty chronometer, and the inability to assess the ship's condition, Briggs may have made the difficult decision to abandon the Mary Celeste.

The mystery of the Mary Celeste continues to captivate and intrigue people to this day. Anne MacGregor's investigation shed new light on the events surrounding the ship's abandonment, offering a plausible explanation for the crew's disappearance. While the exact fate of the crew may never be known with certainty, MacGregor's research and analysis provide valuable insights into this enduring maritime enigma. The Mary Celeste remains a testament to the mysteries that lie beneath the vast expanse of the open sea.

The incident of the Mary Celeste is a captivating tale of a ship abandoned at sea, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions.