A ship that went missing in 2009 in the Pacific Ocean mysteriously reappeared in the Indian Ocean last week. People are calling it a ghost ship. An immediate explanation has been sent out, but it appears to be an attempt to quell wild speculation.
A ship lost in 2009 in the Pacific Ocean suddenly appeared in the Indian Ocean last week. (Photo: Facebook/Yangon Police) The container was last seen off the coast of Taiwan in 2009. When last spotted, the ship was flying the Indonesian flag. It set sail from Taiwan but all contact with the ship was lost nine years ago. Authorities in coastal countries believed the ship had been lost in the vast ocean.
But the ship named Sam Ratulang PB 1600 suddenly reappeared south of Myanmar in the Indian Ocean on August 30. It was discovered by some fishermen from a Myanmar village. Full, Thаmа Seіttа. The fishermen saw the ship stranded on a sandbank about 11 kilometers from the coast.
The fishermen entered the ghost ship but found no one on board. The boat was empty. They informed the coastal police. The Myanmar Navy was informed. Officials inspected the boat and had no idea where it came from.
“No crew or cargo was found on the ship. It was quite puzzling how such a large ship appeared in our waters,” the Myаnmаr Times quoted U Ne Win Yangon, a Myanmar parliamentarian, as saying.
The paper also quoted Myanmar Independent Seafarers Federation secretary-general U Aung Kyaw Linn as saying the ship was still in working condition. Linn said: “In my opinion, the ship was abandoned recently. There must be a reason (why it was abandoned).”
Reports say the ghost ship is 177.35 metres long and 27.91 metres wide. The container weighs 26,510 tonnes and was built in 2001.
The boat named Sam Ratulang PB 1600 was spotted on a sandbank by fishermen in a village in Myanmar. (Photo: Facebook/Yangon Police)
Some other reports from Myanmar say that the mysterious appearance of the ghost ship has been solved. These reports claim that the ship was intended to be dismantled at a shipbreaking factory in the port of Chittagong in Bangladesh. The ship broke away from the shipwreck factory and headed towards Myanmar.
However, there has been no explanation as to how this ship which was last seen in 2009 off the coast of Taiwan ended up at a ship-breaking factory in Chittagong. The mystery surrounding the ghost ship remains unanswered.
Interestingly, many unexpected ships and boats have been found in Asian waters. Some of them were found with no one on board, while others were dead when these boats were discovered. In 2015, 11 wooden boats were spotted in the Sea of Japan. Some of the boats were empty and damaged, while others had as many as 20 dead bodies.
Review: Top 10 Cloud Services in the USA
Cloud computing has transformed how businesses operate, offering scalable, secure, and cost-effective solutions for storage, computing, and application management. The U.S. leads the global cloud market, with providers delivering innovative services tailored to startups, enterprises, and everything in between. Below is a comprehensive review of the top 10 cloud service providers in the USA for 2025, based on market share, service offerings, and customer feedback.
Amazon Web Services (AWS)AWS dominates with a 31% global market share, generating $24.2 billion in Q4 2023 revenue. It offers over 200 services, including compute (EC2), storage (S3), AI (SageMaker), and analytics. AWS’s 33 regions and 105 availability zones ensure low latency and high reliability. Its pay-as-you-go pricing starts at ~$0.0832/hour for a t3.large instance (2 vCPUs, 8GB RAM). Ideal for businesses needing scalability and cutting-edge AI tools.
Microsoft AzureAzure holds a 24% market share and is the fastest-growing major provider, with 30% revenue growth in 2023. It offers 200+ services, including IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS, with strengths in AI, IoT, and enterprise integration. Azure’s pricing for a 2 vCPU, 8GB RAM instance (D2s v3) starts at ~$0.096/hour. Its hybrid cloud solutions and Microsoft ecosystem make it a top choice for enterprises.
Google Cloud Platform (GCP)GCP, with an 11.5% market share, excels in AI, machine learning (TensorFlow, BigQuery), and data analytics. It offers 150+ services across 24 regions and 73 zones. Pricing for an e2-standard-2 instance (2 vCPUs, 8GB RAM) starts at ~$0.070/hour, with up to 57% discounts for committed use. GCP is favored by data-driven businesses and developers.
IBM CloudIBM Cloud provides IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS with a focus on enterprise-grade security, AI (Watson), and hybrid/multi-cloud deployments. It serves industries like healthcare and finance, offering 170+ services. Pricing varies, but its pay-as-you-go model is competitive. IBM’s strong partner ecosystem and AIOps solutions enhance business transformation.
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)Oracle Cloud is gaining traction with its high-performance computing and database services. It offers cost-effective pricing, with a free tier and discounts for committed use. OCI’s focus on enterprise applications, like ERP and CRM, makes it ideal for large organizations. Its global network includes 40+ regions.
DigitalOceanDigitalOcean targets startups and developers with simple, affordable cloud hosting. Plans start at $2.50/month for 0.5GB RAM, 10GB storage, and 1 vCPU. Its managed databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and monitoring tools ensure reliability. DigitalOcean’s free credits and Hatch program support early-stage businesses.
VMware CloudVMware, now under Broadcom, specializes in multi-cloud and hybrid cloud solutions. It supports AWS, Azure, and GCP, offering consistent management across environments. VMware’s virtualization expertise and low-cost migration tools make it a top pick for enterprises modernizing data centers.
SalesforceSalesforce focuses on cloud-based CRM and customer service solutions. Its Service Cloud automates workflows and integrates with AI for personalized customer experiences. With 1.5 million users, it’s a leader for businesses prioritizing customer engagement. Pricing is subscription-based, tailored to business size.
CloudflareCloudflare is a CDN and security-focused provider, offering DDoS protection, DNS, and content delivery. Its user-friendly interface and integrations with WordPress and Shopify appeal to businesses needing fast, secure web performance. Pricing includes a free tier and pay-as-you-go plans.
Linode (Akamai) Linode, acquired by Akamai, offers developer-friendly cloud hosting with transparent pricing and a free tier. It integrates with Akamai’s CDN for enhanced performance. Plans start at $5/month for 1GB RAM, 25GB storage, and 1 vCPU. Linode is ideal for SMBs and tech-savvy users.
Choosing the Right Provider
Selecting a cloud provider depends on your needs: AWS, Azure, and GCP dominate for scalability and enterprise solutions; DigitalOcean and Linode cater to startups; Salesforce excels in CRM; and Cloudflare prioritizes web performance. Compare pricing, scalability, and security features. Check reviews on platforms like Gartner or Forbes Cloud 100 for insights. As cloud spending grows (projected at $591.8 billion in 2023), ensure your choice aligns with long-term goals.
