What do you think happened to the ship Mary Celeste?

“But using the latest technology, you can come to a different conclusion.” For her Mary Celeste film, MacGregor began by asking what didn't happen. Speculation concerning sea monsters was easy to dismiss. The ship's condition—intact and with full cargo—seemed to rule out pirates. read more

Cargo and personal belongings of the crew were found untouched – including valuables – although a lifeboat was missing. What The fate of the Mary Celeste’s crew remains unknown to this day, feeding the legend of the archetypal ghost ship. * History. The Mary Celeste was a 107 foot-long brigantine vessel with a 26 foot-long beam. read more

Some suspect the crew of Dei Gratia of foul play to claim insurance money as a salvage reward, however Dei Gratia left New York 8 days after the Mary Celeste and was a slower ship so it could not have caught the Mary Celeste before it reached Gibraltar. read more

Dr Andrea Sella [UCL Chemistry] built a replica of the hold of the Mary Celeste. Using butane gas, he simulated an explosion caused by alcohol leaking from the ship’s cargo. Instead of wooden barrels, he used cubes of paper. Setting light to the gas caused a huge blast, which sent a ball of flame upwards. read more