New Dive Attration for Malta

On the 14th of August the Patrol boat P29 Kondor – 1 was scuttled at Cirkewwa; following the issue of the MEPA permits through the efforts of the Malta Marine Foundation supported by the MTA who provided the technical and financial support required.

The vesselwas thoroughly cleaned and stripped of all toxic, dangerous or polluting substances before its final trip to the seabed

To go through with such a scuttling process, a lot of ground work is required, and an Environmental Impact Assessment was carried out to minimise the impact such a scuttling would have on the sea bed. Apart from this the vessel had to be thoroughly cleaned and stripped of all toxic, dangerous or polluting substances. The procedure to scuttle a ship is also technically complicated and needs to follow specific procedures. Following the scuttling environmental monitoring and structural integrity of the P29 will be carried out regularly.

Given time the P29 which is 51.98 metres long, 7.12 metres wide and has a draught of 2.3 metres and a gross tonnage of 361, will become a diving attraction more than simply as wreck but as an artificial reef.

This issue is available at: 0707.