SS American Star - ever heard of it?

[bedouin]

I'd never heard of this. On 18 January 1994, the American Star (originally the S.S. America) ran aground off the west coast of Fuerteventura.

She was being towed to Thailand to become a five-star floating hotel by the Ukrainian tug Neftegaz-67, but during the hundred-day tow a huge and violent storm forced the tow lines to snap and all attempts to save the vessel failed, which resulted in the former luxury liner being left adrift in the harsh Atlantic Ocean for a few days until she ran aground.

Within 48 hours she was broken in two by huge and fierce waves and was eventually abandoned having being declared a total loss by her owners, she remained stranded on a sandbank at Playa de Garcey (about 5km south of Ajuy) until many years later when she finally collapsed and broken up into the sea.

The remarkable footage that you can see in the YouTube link below was taken by TVE Canarias as part of a news coverage of the incident and was later used in the French documentary "Vie et Mort de l'America", this is the only known footage of the ship shortly after she ran aground and broke in two.

[Spitfire58]

I had heard of this but thought it was nearer to Cofete ! Not sure how much is left now but I believe it’s remains can still be seen, especially at low tide

[Captain Sensible]

I saw it a few times between 2003 - 2008, before she was taken by the sea.

It was a bit of a trek on the rough track to Playa de Garcey.

[Mia]

There is only a tiny bit still visible when is a very low tide. Such a shame.

[F1refly999]

Visited it in 2002...it truly was an exceptional sight to see. We visited the bar in Rosario that is fitted out with the ships furnishings. The owner was was really excited to see that we were interested in the ship and produced a book with lots of old pictures. The pictures were from when the ship first ran aground.

[Spitfire58]

Visited it in 2002...it truly was an exceptional sight to see. We visited the bar in Rosario that is fitted out with the ships furnishings. The owner was was really excited to see that we were interested in the ship and produced a book with lots of old pictures. The pictures were from when the ship first ran aground.

Which bar is that Donald ? Never heard of that bit of info, would be good to see

[F1refly999]

The bar is called El Naufragio and it's just down the road from the bus terminal in Rosario. They do really nice Tapas as well. 

https://cafeteria-el-naufragio.business.site/

[Archer]

The bar owner of Naufragio is a nice guy. Just show an interest in the bar fittings, or photos and out comes the book.
Attached is the last pic I took at Garcey.
PS: Stay away next week as they are conducting military landing manouvres near there, and near Tarajalejo 
You wouldn't want to get shot. Haha.

[Emmi Smith]

    This is a HUGE picture of the ship left in our house when we bought it.
Sorry it is upside down for some reason???

[bedouin]

This is a HUGE picture of the ship left in our house when we bought it.
Sorry it is upside down  for some reason???

Here it is turned round...