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The sun going sown over the old lady


Sunset and so Ghostly


View from the cliffs
These pictures taken on July 1st 2005

Ravaged by the storms in november2005
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January 2006 she has tipped even more
These pictures courtesey of matt

This picture courtesey of paul  sent 17/8/06

Taken January 4th 2007

Tilting even more

The force of the waves blasting through the port holes

and lashed by the waves

The name can still be seen
 December 2007  what remains of the wreck, many thanks to Russel and Beryl Birkett



SS.American Star
SS.American Star was built in 1940 and was launched by Eleanor Roosevelt as the S.S America she was requisitioned by the forces for trooping duties in the second world war and was named "U.S.S west point After the war she was re christened the SS. America and started her translantic duties.In 1963 she was sold to the Chandris line and was named yet again this time she was called the "SS. Australis she started a new life of service taking emigrants between the U.K and Australia,In 1977 she was retired and spent her days in New Zealand she spent two years there until she was sold again and brought out of retirement and was given her old name back, but within ten days she was up for sale yet again and the Chandris line bought her back and named her the "SS.Italis She was renamed a further two times to the "SS. Noga and the "SS. Alfredoss before being sold yet again to become a floating hotel in Phuket.
Her named changed again this time to the "SS. American star. She was dry docked in Piraeus and was being prepared for her journey to Phuket in December 1993. In January 1994 during a force 11 gale she broke from her tow lines and finally ran aground on the beach at Playa de Garcey where she still remains today. Before any salvage operations could get underway she broke into two and was declared a complete loss,The local islanders pillaged her for a few days until she was deemed unsafe to board, many homes are fitted out with furnishings from the wreck, an entire bar in "Cafeteria el Naufragio in Puerto Del Rosario is fitted out with things from the "SS. American Star" But this windfall has cost at least eight lives since the ship went aground and it is advised not to try swimming or diving near the wreck as there are strong undercurrents, although some people still try to get out to her it still is not worth the risk as she is breaking up and you can often see the wreckage floating in the water, the tides are strong on this side of the island and it is feared she may not survive much longer.

4th January 2007

To get to the wreck you need to follow the road from Betancuria and head towards La Pared don't go to Ajuy unless you want to visit the little fishing village, stay on the road and you will come to a bend don't go to fast as you will miss the turn off, you have to turn right on to a track, there is a sign that says "scuba prohibita"follow the track down towards the beach it is very bumpy so you need a 4x4 although we did see some cars trying to make it but the hire company's would not be pleased as they do not insure for off road activities and they are not to keen on you using the jeeps off road either, when you get near to the beach look for a left hand fork that takes you up the cliffs and follow the track you will see the wreck come into view you can follow the track down to the beach and the sight that awaits you is worth all the effort it took you to get this far. There are other tracks leading to the beach but they a sign posted as military but we understand that they are going to be banned from using the area for training in the very near future as they are destroying the dunes around the area, we went via this route as we missed the turn off and we managed to get there in one piece but we didn't know at the time they were going to stop military activity one the island so it was a bit scary,but the other route is safer and easier as we found out when we went back that way, only to find we had been down the track before and had taken the fork right instead of left and had added hours to our quest. The wreck can also be seen as you come over the mountain from La Pared and travel towards Betacuria but be careful if you are driving as the view is on a bend coming down the mountain and it looks through the valley, at the bottom of the road down you will see the tracks of the "military" if you be careful and go slowly you will find the track on the left hand bend look for the signs as above.

For other links to the SS.American star go to my links page

After the storms in November 2005 she had broken up even more and is now spilling her hidden treasures onto the beach, she has lost her funnel and is lying more on her side if the storms hit this winter then she may not be around for much longer.

I have just returned from visiting the American star and these are the latest pictures of the wreck taken on the 4th of January 2007 she seems to have lost her remaining funnel and some of her masting.

July 2007

It has been reported to me that the SS. American star is no longer to be seen at Playa De Garcy whether this is to the fact of being towed away or now under the waves I do not know but it is a sad day she is no more.May she rest in peace.
January 2008

The photo to the right was sent to me by Russell & Beryl Birkett who had just visited the wreck on the 20th of December 2007 showing what remains of the American star almost a year on from my last pictures of her.