Barco Marjory Glen

About

The gutted shell of the Barco Marjory Glen, also known as “the Punta Loyola boat”, is a monument to industrial negligence. In 1911, the Marjory Glen was transporting 1,701 tons of coal, as well as other goods, when a fire broke out. After two crew members died from smoke inhalation, the initial blaze was partially extinguished, but a slew of poor decisions ended up fanning the flames to the point that crew members had to scuttle the ship to prevent fire from spreading to the town of Río Gallegos. After this, the steel hull somehow made it to the river mouth, where it settled in the sand bed. It’s easy to see why photographers love the Barco Marjory Glen as a subject; the orange rusting hulk, backed by the blue sky and dark sand, makes for some dramatic shots, while the hold with its bare ribs looks like it’s from a horror movie. But when you remember its story, it becomes even more chilling.