The world’s largest ship cemetery

February 19, 20192min read

Nouadhibou is the last stop for hundreds of ships

RAS Nouadhibou, a Peninsula extending along the Western coast of Africa. It is divided between Mauritania and the Northern Sahara. The Eastern part of the coast belongs to Mauritania. Nouadhibou, a city with a population of about 100,000 people – the second largest city in Mauritania and the economic capital of the region. But in the world he is better known as the largest graveyard of ships.

On the coast of Nouadhibou living out his life more than three hundred vessels – for 30 years they bring in on a late flight from all over the world.

First name – port Etienne – made to this city by the French traders shortly before the first world war. The West coast of the Bay attracted them, as it served as good protection from the harsh waters of the Atlantic. Initially the local economy was based on fishing and trade, but the unique location of the Bay have created ideal conditions for trading ships.

Due to the deposits of iron ore of the Peninsula of Nouadhibou has developed rapidly as a trading port. But, as it should be the law of the genre, a large turnover of money and lawlessness did the trick. At the time for a businessman with money in Nouadhibou nothing was impossible. Including easy to circumvent and environmental standards dumping old engines (not for free, of course), than not fail to take advantage of those to whom it was profitable.

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Boat life after death

The first ship, embarked on an eternal anchor in the Bay of Nouadhibou, was a French naval cruiser Hasslo LOBA. In 20 years it even used as a floating stage.

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Past the blue tree in the Golden country

The years went by. The economic situation in the city changed not for the better. In the 80s, Nouadhibou was on the verge of financial crisis. Accordingly, the number of ships that come here on his last voyage, began to grow exponentially.

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Go to fight some old people

The Moors bought the old ships from international companies hoping to resell them. Of course, it was not profitable, so they have remained to live out their lives on the coast next to older brothers.