The Globe Star was a cargo ship that ran aground on April 27, 1973, along Nyali Reef near Mombasa, Kenya, while transporting 10,000 tons of wheat destined for Karachi, Pakistan. Despite extensive salvage efforts, the ship eventually broke apart and was abandoned. Tragically, during a salvage operation in November 1973, five individuals lost their lives due to gas poisoning in Hold No. 3 while performing diving tasks. In 1978, the wreck was dismantled by Divecon Ltd of Mombasa, leaving the main engine visible and the ship’s remnants submerged less than 10 feet (3 meters) below the surface.
Built on 23 April 1952 under the name Burutu Palm for the London-based shipping company Palm Line trading between West Africa and Liverpool. It was renamed to Globe Star in 1973 when it was sold to a Singapore company Globe Navigation.
The conditions in Hold No. 3 during the salvage attempt in November 1973 were likely hazardous due to several factors. Gas accumulation, possibly from decomposing organic cargo like wheat, could have led to the presence of toxic gases such as methane or carbon dioxide, posing a serious threat to divers. Additionally, oxygen depletion caused by these decomposition processes would have further increased the risks. The structural integrity of the hold may have been compromised due to the ship’s grounding and earlier salvage efforts, creating unstable and unsafe conditions. Water ingress into the hold could have reduced visibility and heightened the danger of structural collapse, making the environment even more perilous for those involved in the operation.
The ship’s massive engine can be seen from Nyali beach and can also be explored as a potential underwater heritage site.
