The Mary Celeste, a ghost ship found adrift in the Atlantic Ocean in 1872. The vessel was seaworthy and largely undamaged, but all ten people aboard had vanished.
The Mary Celeste was an American merchant brigantine that departed New York on November 7, 1872, bound for Genoa, Italy. Aboard were Captain Benjamin Briggs, his wife and infant daughter, and seven crew members—ten people in total.
Approximately one month later, on December 4, the British brigantine Dei Gratia discovered the Mary Celeste adrift near the Azores, off the coast of Portugal. The ship was largely undamaged, with ample supplies of food and fresh water still aboard. However, all occupants had vanished, and the single lifeboat was missing.
More than 150 years after its discovery, the precise reason for the crew's disappearance remains unknown.
The ship had some torn sails and open cargo hatches but almost no structural damage. The captain's log ended on November 25, with a nine-day gap before discovery. Personal belongings and valuables were left untouched.
The Mary Celeste was carrying 1,701 barrels of industrial alcohol. Nine barrels were found empty upon discovery, raising the possibility that they were connected to gas buildup.
The crew of the Dei Gratia towed the Mary Celeste to Gibraltar, where a maritime court hearing was held. The judge found no evidence of violence or piracy and awarded salvage rights.
