While much has been written of her fate, the eminent Caymanian, the late Lee A Ebanks, of West Bay, in his autobiography entitled Lest It Be Cost, briefly covers the catastrophe as follows:

“It was in the month of September 1936, that one of the greatest tragedies in the annals of the Cayman Islands occurred. This was the mysterious disappearance of the good ship Nunoca with all the hands on board.

“She had succeeded the motor-vessel Noca on the Cayman/Tampa run, hence the name Nunoca. The Noca was an old sub-chaser during World War I, and was purchased by Captain Charles Farrington of West Bay, who operated this ship between Cayman, Isle of Pines and Tampa, Florida.

“For many years she kept regular cargo and passenger service on this route, and had practically become the lifeline for the Cayman Islands.

“In due course, Captain Farrington decided to replace his old ship with a new and a better one, so he got a firm of local shipwrights, Messrs James Arch & Sons, to build him a vessel to his own specifications.

“One of the share-holders was Moses Kirkconnell of Cayman Brac. This gentleman soon acquired the controlling interest in the company and Captain Farrington soon sold out his entire interest to him, and after making few trips delivered up the ship.

“Captain Moses Kirkconnell took charge of the beautiful Nunoca, succeeding Captain Farrington as Master.

“On the third trip to Tampa from Cayman after the change of Captains, the Nunoca mysteriously disappeared with Captain Kirkconnell and all the crew passengers on board.

“After the usual numbers of days had passed for her to arrive at Tampa, there was no news of her arrival, all ships trading in the area were alerted and a search was made by the United States Coast Guard, with no positive results.

“It was hard for those concerned to reconcile themselves to such loss, and all sorts of rumours sprang up.

“There was much conjecture as to the cause of the ship’s disappearance, as well as much wishful thinking as to the fate of the crew and passengers*,but none of these rumours could be substantiated and the loss of the Nunoca with all souls on board still remains a mystery.”

The mystery is now considered as being associated with the “Bermuda Triangle”.

A poem (at right) of the sad tragedy of the M.V. Nunoca was composed by Ethleen Eden of George Town.

*The names of the crew and passengers are on record in the National Archives as well as a copy of Lest It Be Lost.