Ghost Ship is a photograph by Bahadir Yeniceri which was uploaded on November 3rd, 2013.
Title
Ghost Ship
Artist
Bahadir Yeniceri
Medium
Photograph
Description
Shipwreck Santa Maria Beach. Boa Vista. Cape Verde.
Shipwreck Santa Maria Beach. Boa Vista. Cape Verde.
Cabo Verde. Kaapverdië.
On September 1, 1968, a Spanish cargo ship ran aground along the coast on its way to Brazil and Argentina, carrying varied cargo on board. The maneuvers by the tugboat Damão, which was sent from São Vicente to try to dislodge the ship from where it had run aground, were not enough to save the vessel from ruin.
At this difficult time for Cape Verde, when means of communication were still very limited, the newspaper Arquipélago reported that “in the early morning hours of September 1, on Atalanta beach, the cargo ship Cabo de Santa Maria...”
Removing the ship’s cargo mobilized a good part of the population of Boa Vista, as well as public employees and machine operators from other islands. At the time, even the Cape Verde Port Authority captain, Commander Limpo Serra, traveled to the scene of the accident to get a first-hand look at the situation. For nearly a year, machines and men worked on the unloading of the Cabo de Santa Maria. The traffic of people between the town of Sal Rei and the beach was heavy, and included children, mules and donkeys.
The Cabo Santa Maria was carrying a number of gifts from the government of Francisco Franco to be given to those who had supported him during the economic crisis through which Spain had passed - on board were sports cars, food, medicine, machines, clothing, china, beverages, etc.
The wreckage of the Cabo de Santa Maria has become a symbol of Boa Vista and Cape Verde. A source of inspiration for painters, photographs of the ship illustrate articles, books, guides and magazines. A visit to the wreckage is a must of any tour of Boa Vista.
Today, it is obvious that the entire structure of the ship will soon collapse. After 40 years of rust and mistreatment by the wind and waves, much of the deck and hold have already disappeared.
Uploaded
November 3rd, 2013
