The supposedly haunted ship , now called Alkimos, was originally launched from Baltimore back in in 1943.
The ship originally during World War II, was called the “Viggo Hansteen” and served for the U.S. military for approximately 18 months. After the war it was sold to a Greek shipping company and renamed the "Alkimos".
As Alkimos, the ship sailed the ocean for nearly two long decades. In May 1964, the vessel broken and abandoned after a rescue tow, broke anchor from where it sat and was driven onto the Eglinton Rocks near present-day Yanchep, an outer northern suburb of Perth, Western Australia.
On this occasion it was more severely damaged, and all thought of salvaging it intact was abandoned.
It was then sold by the owners for the purposes of scrapping. However, in 1969 a salvage worker abandoned the thought of salvaging from the ship's ruin when he and others heard nightly, ghostly disembodied voices and also a strange fire occurred while they were on board the vessel. Since then the partly dismantled remains of the ship have been left standing in several metres of water very visible to visitors to the location.
As of April 2007, the structure was almost fully disintegrated above the water line to the point where only the engine block is visible from the beach.
The vessel now has superstitions and unusual ghostly stories attached to it. It is said that if one ventures to close to it they shall endure bad luck.
Strange, unusual stories of paranormal events connected with the Alkimos include:
Hasty construction of the ship caused ship builders/workers to allegedly get sealed between hulls. They were not rescued and died within the ship's walls. Their restless angry spirits are said to have haunted the vessel.
Lots of bad luck plagued many who were associated with or in contact with the shipwreck… An US Navy submariner was killed in a plane crash after assessing the wreck. One person was hospitalized in intensive care with an unidentified respiratory disease after researching the shipwreck.
People on shore will not pass by the ship wreck due to superstitions and talk of curses related to the vessel.
Apparently a murder/suicide also had happened on board the ill fated ship.
A small dog had been sighted on several occasions in the engine room, when the ship was in service.
A host of paranormal phenomena was supposedly reported by salvage workers while occupying the shipwreck. Numerous spooky footsteps followed the workers, the smell of food cooking & noises coming from the galley and tools would be moved and /or disappear, only to be returned later.
"Harry", or so he has been called, has been sighted by local fishermen and others on or near the ship wreck. He appears with rubber boots on and what seems to be oilskins. Searching of the ship however has never revealed a soul, neither living nor deceased on-board.
A locally well known long distance swimmer named Herbert Voight, vanished while attempting to swim in 1969 in the area. Several years later his skull but not his body, was found close to the shipwreck locale.
A happily married couple became caregivers of the ship at one time. The pregnant wife took an unusual serious fall while in her delicate state and after being rushed to the hospital she gave birth to a premature stillborn baby.
The ship was stranded. However, in its time unusable, at least eight people had bought or sold it. Whom-ever had purchased the ship, suffered bad fortune such as life threatening illnesses or bankruptcy. Once they sold the ship, the misfortune had ceased.
Countless other tales of accidents, engine failures, accidents and near drownings are also associated with encounters near the wreck.
Stories of supposed hauntings on U.S. Naval ships and bases have been numerous. This is just one of many that have paranormal activity associated with it.
Some men were so dedicated to their country and the safety of American citizens that they gave their life up to protect it.
Some, who have passed, may still be defending us with the same honor, dedication and the dignity they had in life.
They are our lost heroes...
