Massive ship appears to be floating above sea in bizarre optical illusion

A ship that appears to be floating above the ocean has been spotted in Greece.

The freight ship, known as The Achilleas, was spotted 'hovering' above the sea as it travelled between Kymi and Skyros.

The incredible sight is part of an optical illusion called 'Fata Morgana', that can be deceiving to the human eye.

Photographer Kalogiannis Epam captured the moment, which has also been spotted in other areas of Greece.

The phenomenon occurs in calmer weather and causes a layer of warmer air to sit over colder dense air, creating the image to be distorted.

The mirage can occur in other areas away from the ocean, including mountains that look as though they're floating in mid-air.

SkyBrary explains that the term 'Fata Morgana' originates from the Arthurian sorceress, Morgan le Fay.

They wrote: "A Fata Morgana is a complex form of superior mirage that is seen in a narrow band right above the horizon.

"It is an Italian term named after the Arthurian sorceress Morgan le Fay, from a belief that these mirages, often seen in the Strait of Messina, were fairy castles in the air or false land created by her witchcraft to lure sailors to their deaths."

The illusion has been seen a few times in the past.

The photo was taken in Greece (Kalogiannis Epam)

A few years ago, beachgoer Monika Shaffner was strolling along the sands at Mount Maunganui in New Zealand and was looking out onto the surf when she saw a 'floating' boat in the distance.

Posting the video on social media, Monika said: "I filmed this optical phenomenon that made a ship look like it was floating in the air."

Meanwhile, a snap taken in Falmouth, Cornwall back in 2021 also appeared to show a ship hovering above the water.

Monika Shaffner saw a 'floating' boat in the distance. (FB/Monika Schaffner/ViralHog)

BBC meteorologist David Braine has previously explained the science behind it.

He said: "Superior mirages occur because of the weather condition known as a temperature inversion, where cold air lies close to the sea with warmer air above it.

"Since cold air is denser than warm air, it bends light towards the eyes of someone standing on the ground or on the coast, changing how a distant object appears.

"Superior mirages can produce a few different types of images - here a distant ship appears to float high above its actual position, but sometimes an object below the horizon can become visible."