[Photo: CRI Online]

6. MV Joyita

MV Joyita was a merchant vessel from which 25 passengers and crew mysteriously disappeared in the South Pacific in 1955.

The Joyita left Samoa carrying 16 crew members and 9 passengers, including a government official, a doctor, a copra buyer, and two children.

Her cargo consisted of medical supplies, timber, empty oil drums and various foodstuffs.

The voyage was expected to take between 41 and 48 hours. She was scheduled to return with a cargo of copra. The Joyita was scheduled to arrive in the Tokelau Islands on October 5.

On October 6 a message from Fakaofo port reported that the ship was overdue. No ship or land-based operator reported receiving a distress signal from the crew.

No sign of the Joyita nor any of her passengers or crew were found after days of searching.