Skipped to content
18/05/2017 04:46 PM

If you’re out and about on Sydney Harbour this week you might spot a pirate ghost ship haunting the waters.
 
The ghostly illusion, featuring a giant skull-and-crossbones, is part of the promotional campaign for Disney film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
 
The technology behind projecting the ghost ship image is new to Australia and was created with the help of the marine operations team at the Port Authority of NSW.
 
Port Authority tug Shirley Smith was used to spray a fine mist of water from her water monitors above her bridge projecting forward, while a barge which had a laser projector mounted on it, used a bright light to shine the image of the ghost ship.

Port Authority was involved in a number of complex trials in the six weeks leading up to the on water display which will take place on 18, 19 and 21 May.
 
This exercise involved precision timing and navigation to accomplish the desired effect. Weather and wind conditions played a huge part in the success of the operation.
 
The illusion of the ghost ship is a replica of the Silent Mary that sailed in the Caribbean during the Age of Piracy.