Fact Check: Viral Post About ‘St. Augustine Ghost Ship Washed Ashore’ is False

St Augustine Ghost Ship Washed Ashore: A viral Facebook post claiming that a “1700s-era ghost ship” washed ashore near St. Augustine after Hurricane Milton has captured the attention of many social media users, amassing over 21,000 shares. The post features a photo of a mysterious ship and suggests that the storm brought the ancient vessel onto the Florida coast. But is this ghostly tale true?

According to experts, the story is entirely fabricated. The ship photo used in the post is actually a scene from the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, and the source of the story, a satirical Facebook page called “Casper Planet,” is known for posting humorous and fake news, much like The Onion.

Debunking the Ghost Ship Myth

The claim suggests that Hurricane Milton, which made landfall on October 9, caused the ship to surface from an “underwater graveyard” and wash ashore in St. Augustine. However, real maritime archaeologists have pointed out numerous inconsistencies. Chuck Meide, director of the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program in St. Augustine, clarified that it’s highly improbable for a ship from the 1700s to remain fully intact after centuries underwater. “Most of the wood from a ship that old would have been eaten by marine life, leaving only parts of the lower hull buried under sediment,” Meide explained.

Additionally, Hurricane Milton made landfall far from St. Augustine, and there were no credible reports of such a discovery after the storm passed.

Can Hurricanes Really Wash Ashore Ghost Ships?

While this specific story is false, there have been real incidents of “ghost ships” washing ashore during hurricanes. In 2018, a 45-foot ship named Lady Catherine III appeared on Pensacola Beach during Tropical Storm Alberto. However, this was a modern vessel, not an ancient relic, and its owner had abandoned it after being caught in a storm.

Why the Rumor Spread

The excitement around the “St. Augustine ghost ship washed ashore” rumor grew due to the captivating image and Halloween season’s influence, but the viral post was nothing more than a fun hoax. Casper Planet later posted a follow-up, further poking fun at the tourists disappointed to find out the ship wasn’t real.

As the story continues to circulate online, it’s important to fact-check claims and recognize the sources of these posts. Although it’s a fascinating tale, the ghost ship in St. Augustine is simply a case of social media myth-making.