Abandoned Tanker Mysteriously Washes Ashore in Liberia

Updated: May 7, 2016 (Originally published May 6, 2016)

An abandoned oil tanker has mysteriously washed ashore in Liberia leaving officials scratching their heads as to how it got there and what exactly happened to its crew.

According to local reports the vessel emblazoned with the name Tamaya 1 was discovered washed up on a beach in Robertsport, Liberia on Wednesday with no sign of any crew. 

AIS data from MarineTraffic.com shows the Tamaya 1 is a 63-meter oil products tanker flagged in Panama. It’s last known position was recorded back on April 22 as the ship was steaming southward at just .7 knots after leaving the port of Dakar in Senegal.

Speculation over the ship has ranged from abandonment to piracy, although the vessel’s last known position was well north of active Gulf of Guinea pirate groups who typically stick to the waters off Nigeria.

Adding to the confusion, the Liberian government is being slammed in the media for being unaware of the ship until two days after it washed ashore, sparking criticism over safety and security in Liberian waters. Other reports have said that a fire was discovered in captain’s quarters. 

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