Leo Gillick
Residents in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, were devastated to watch a monument to their history slowly sink beneath the waves as a replica of Columbus’s Ship sailed its last.
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The ship, named Marigalante, was built in 1987 and launched in 1992 as a memorial to the Europeans’ arrival on American shores. It marked 50 years since they first set foot on the ‘New World’ and claimed it for themselves.
- The ship, built to be a replica of Chisopher Columbus’s renowned vessel, would often make trips, celebrating the monumental event. An open bar and meals would keep guests satiated, as it offered tours around the bay and exciting pirate shows.
- “Since its arrival in Puerto Vallarta, it has become a living symbol of identity, history, and pride, gracing the bay with its majestic presence and offering unforgettable experiences to millions of visitors,” the tour company said on Facebook. But the boat sailed its last.
On October 10th, the ship set sail on another one of its many cruises, but ran into complications. Tourists watched from the shore as the replica of Christopher Columbus’s ship slowly began to sink off the coast of the popular Mexican holiday destination.
One Last Trip
Akin to the Santa Maria, Columbus’s original ship, the replica sank outside a port. As the tourist attraction made its way back into Puerto Vallarta, it experienced a mechanical failure. Despite the best efforts of the crew, there was nothing they could do.
Too Late For Repairs: The replica ship was sailing back for some much-needed mechanical repairs. However, the crew had left it too late. As it swung back into port, the bilge pump failed. Within minutes, the ship began to tilt to one side.
- As water failed to be pumped out of the ship, it slowly began to sink. Footage from the deck shows the crew struggling with the rapidly submerging vessel. Despite their best efforts, the inflow of water was too much, and it quickly shifted the center of gravity.
Before too long, it was clear that Christopher Columbus’s replica ship was doomed. Emergency services rushed to pull people from the boat, and bystanders could do nothing but watch as a little piece of history sank beneath the waves.
