Two ‘ghost ships’ have washed up on a tourist beach two months apart.
The first vessel, a barge named ‘Guerrero’, was reported as missing to the maritime police in October.
It was anchored off San Lorenzo Island, Peru.
However, the anchor reportedly broke off at around 5 am the next morning and the vessel drifted at sea.
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The ship then washed up on Ventanilla Beach on Peru’s west coast two days later.
A tugboat named ‘Quan Tum’ then mysteriously appeared on the same beach.
It is believed the tug was being used in the rescue of the first vessel when it suffered a technical problem.
The tugboat has over 600 gallons of fuel onboard and there are environmental concerns about a possible spill, according to local reports.
After the owners failed to remove the ships, the head of the Port of Callao filed a complaint with the Specialised Prosecutor’s Office in Environmental Matters on 30 November.
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A port spokesperson said: “The solution would be to remove them, which could be done by sea or by land, but both would be very expensive.”
The owners have been instructed to remove their vessels “to prevent pollution crimes” by the environmental crimes office, the regional government, and the Ministry of the Environment.
Since the first ship washed up nearly two months ago, it has become a tourist attraction among locals, adding further concerns about public safety.
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According to reports, residents have been flocking to the site to clamber onto the rusting vessel.
Influencer Soy DJ said: “It is very difficult to climb up, we were able to do it using some old tyres.
“On the deck, there are some small rooms where everything looks rusty, everything is filthy.”
He said the ship appears to be in very bad condition and had a “very strong smell”.
Soy DJ added: “This is not a tourist attraction and one of the most dangerous things is that the structure is rusting.”
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