Displacement 8,516 long tons Launched 1952 | Fate Ran aground Beam 57 ft (17 m) Length 138 m | |
Name Burutu Palm (1952)Globe Star (1973) Owner Globe Navigation of Singapore Builder | ||
The Globe Star was a cargo ship that ran aground on 27 April 1973 along Nyali Reef, just off Mombasa, Kenya. It was carrying 10,000 tons of wheat bound for Karachi, Pakistan. Despite an intensive salvage operation, the vessel broke in half and was abandoned. In November 1973, five personnel involved in a salvage attempt died in hold No. 3 due to gas poisoning while conducting diving operations. In 1978, the wreck was demolished by Divecon Ltd, Mombasa, leaving the main engine visible and the remains of the ship less than ten feet below the surface.
Contents
Building
The ship was built as the Burutu Palm for the London-based shipping company Palm Line, trading to and from West Africa and Liverpool. In 1967, it was sold to Greek owners and in 1973 sold to Globe Navigation of Singapore.
Disaster
The Globe Star stranding was attributed to a navigation error, in that the ship approached too close to the harbour entrance prior to picking up a pilot, and having been advised to return to the anchorage, turned to starboard instead of port and ran aground.
Tourism
The remains of the Globe Star lie in shallow waters that are well suited to diving. She is a popular recreational scuba diving destination.