It’s no secret that strange things happen on boats. Pirates attack yachts, family cruises become the scene of unsolved disappearances, and, if you happen to be on a safari in South Africa, there’s a very good chance your vessel will be stalked by a territorial hippopotamus.
Yet, one of the strangest destinies is for a boat to become abandoned at sea — and it happens more often than you would think. For instance, the Russian ship, Lyubov Orlova, was abandoned in January of 2013 and has been roaming international waters ever since.
A more eerie tale is that of Mary Celeste, an American merchant brigantine that was discovered on December 4, 1872 off the Azores Islands. When it was found still sailing, no one was onboard and its lifeboat was missing. The last log entry was ten days prior to her discovery, captain's and crew's personal belongings and the cargo were untouched, and none of the people who had been onboard were seen or heard from again.
Another interesting maritime abandonment story is that of a barge that’s been floating in Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet for almost half a century. The craft is a sight for sore eyes and its exterior is intriguing enough, yet what makes this barge truly fascinating is its past that still lurks inside…
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Originally named the Friendship 500, this barge was built for Expo '86 in Vancouver.
Initially, it was intended to showcase future technology and architecture.
Yet, how was this current eyesore supposed to represent cutting edge ideas back in the ’80s?
By being a floating McDonald's — the second of five buoyant fast food joints the company eventually built.
It was designed by Robert Allan Ltd. for $12 million.
After its debut at the expo it was intended to be used as a McDonald’s restaurant.
Yet in 1991, when a new owner of the grounds took over, they forced McDonald's to remove its occupancy.
It’s been floating aimlessly and abandoned in Vancouver's Burrard Inlet ever since.
Let’s take a closer look inside.
“It looks like a horror movie in there,” said filmmaker Eric Bruce.
Eric snuck aboard the barge for his web series: Vancouver’s Worst Ghost Hunters.
“It was build for Expo ’86, pretty much no one’s been in there ever since," he said.
"It’s completely abandoned, it’s super scary looking, and apparently it's haunted."
"So of course we decided to check it out,” he said.
Mold, mildew, and moss are growing all over every nook and cranny.
But the barge, which is dubbed ‘McBarge’ by locals, may soon see a new fate.
A West Vancouver developer wants to make it the centerpiece of a $10-million waterfront development in Mission, British Columbia.
Please SHARE this fascinating story with everyone you know as a reminder that it’s never to late to develop a new lease on life!
