Alkimos – WA
Alkimos – WA
Alkimos was a US Navy Ship built in 10 days in World War II in Maryland by Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards and launched on October 11, 1943. It was originally supposed to be called George M. Shriver but was renamed Viggo Hansteen after the vessel was re-assigned to the Norwegian Merchant Fleet on October 20, 1943. During the war, it served as a troop ship carrying Norwegian and Canadian crew and transported primarily ammunition and materials needed to produce weapons across the Mediterranean Sea and India Sea. During the end of the war, it was used to transport US Soldiers and German POW. The ship was sold to a Greek shipping company who renamed it “Alkimos” (meaning “Strong” in Greek) after it ran aground in New Zealand in 1952. In 1963 it hit a reef off the coast of Western Australia and was towed to Freemantle for repairs. After repairs it was scheduled to be towed to Hong Kong to receive new parts; however it mysteriously broke free during a storm. This caused huge damage and the Alkimos became trapped in shallow waters once again. It was decided to try and salvage the ship but was soon abandoned after an unexplained fire and a series of unexplained events. In the coming years, Alkimos housed several salvage crews and caretakers all of whom were eventually forced to leave the ship due to paranormal activity. In 1944 a murder-suicide took place on board when female Canadian Radio Operator Maud Steane was shot dead by her fellow crew member who then proceeded to commit suicide. Maud’s ghost is said to haunt the ship and many people blame it for the bad luck experienced. There have been countless unexplained occurrences linked with the Alkimos. Crew would not leave their cabins alone as ghostly footsteps would follow, a long distance swimmer from Perth disappeared while training and his skull was found inside the Alkimos wreck, animals will not come within 500m of the ship and horses refuse to ride past. Numerous drownings, boat engines failing and tourists injuring themselves are just a few of the coincidences. Many divers have disappeared at the shipwreck and the Australian Government has asked people to avoid the area.
In 2014 the Alkimos is almost fully disintegrated above the water and is no longer visible from the beach. Australia’s very own Bermuda Triangle!