Scientists probe mystery shipwreck in search for 'cannibal rat-infested' ghost ship
A mysterious shipwreck that washed up on the Californian coast sparked fears it could be a missing Russian 'ghost ship' infested with cannibal rats.
Experts have been searching for the 40-year-old Lybov Olova, that has been missing since it was cut loose off the coast of Canada four years ago.
The mystery sparked global intrigue after experts claimed it had “been taken over by hordes of cannibal rats”.
Documentary makers working for Science Channel show What On Earth began to investigate if the mystery shipwreck on a California beach was the missing 'ghost ship' after noticing they both measured 90 metres.
The Russian vessel sat moored in Canada for two years because of a row over unpaid bills, until it was finally decided it would be sent away for scrap.
However, when the tow line broke in bad conditions in 2013, Canadian authorities decided it would be too dangerous to try and reattach the line, so they installed a tracking device and let it go.
An expert from the documentary said the ship was infested with rats and there was "nothing else to eat" on board.
"So imagine this giant ship full of these ravenous hordes of cannibal rats appearing on your local beach right where you live."
However, investigations revealed that the ship in California could not be the Lyubov Orlova because it was made from concrete, while the Russian ship was predominantly made from steel.
Researchers discovered that it was in fact the SS Monte Carlo, a former floating casino that sank nearly 80 years ago and was carried to shore by a high tide in 2016.
The search is still on for the rat-infested Lyubov Orlova.
A salvage hunter named Captain Pim de Rhoodes previously said he would have to "lace everywhere with poison" if he found the Lybov Olova.
“There will be a lot of rats and they eat each other," he said.
