SHINGLE

scrapped

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Shingle scuttled as artificial reef

On the afternoon of Sep 18 the ' Shingle' was scuttled off County Mayo to create an artificial reef. A flotilla of smaller boats with spectators circled and a drone fed live footage off Killala Bay. Authorities hope the wreck, from its new home on the seabed, will enhance the ecosystem and boost tourism by enticing divers to Ireland’s west coast. The 'Shingle' was towed from New Ross and arrived at Killala Bay on Sep 17. About a dozen dinghies and other small boats accompanied the vessel on its last voyage. Soon after 3 p.m., about two kilometers from shore, its valves were opened.. After an hour the ship was visibly lower in the water and listed to its starboard side. Just before 5 p.m. the ship sank in a few seconds and came to rest on the seabed 29 metres deep on even keel. Reports with photo and video: https://www.rte.ie/news/connacht/2024/0918/1470635-mv-shingle-mayo/ https://www.westernpeople.ie/news/watch-former-smuggling-ship-sinks-into-killala-bay_arid-32102.html https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2024/09/18/mv-shingle-sinking-ship-with-infamous-past-to-become-exploration-magnet-for-scuba-divers/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/18/former-smugglers-ship-sunk-off-ireland-to-form-artificial-reef https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHIfhT34gUM

Fish carrier to be sunk

The sinking of the 'Shingle' in Killala Bay as an artificial reef was scheduled to take place on Sep 18 at 3.30 p.m. lThe ship had eft New Ross Harbour on Sep 15 and arrived in the bay on the afternoon Sep 17. The fish carrier was seized by Customs officers at Drogheda Port as part of a €14m tobacco seizure in 2014 and was held by the Revenue Commission. It remained in the dry dock at New Ross ever since. The Killala Bay Ships 2 Reef Ltd. invested up to €35,000 into the project, and they have also received €50,000 in funding from Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) towards it. The ship has since undergone thorough preparations including environmental procedures making it eco-friendly and fit for purpose as an artificial reef. The go-ahead to sink the vessel was given in July whenthe Mayo County Council granted planning permission for the preparation, transportation, positioning and placement of the vessel on the seabed as Ireland’s first artificial reef, Iit is hoped that the project can bring a boost in diving tourism to the west of Ireland as well as promoting local marine ecology. Report with video: https://www.westernpeople.ie/news/watch-smuggling-ship-heads-for-mayo-bay-ahead-of-scheduled-sinking_arid-31927.html

Date for sinking postponed

The sinking of the 'Shingle' in Killala Bay to become an artificial reef, which was scheduled to take place on Sep 15, has been postponed until the following week as a result of unfavourable weather conditions..The fish carrier was seized by Customs officers at Drogheda Port as part of a €14m tobacco seizure in 2014 and was held by the Revenue Commission. It sat in the dry dock at New Ross in the years since. Earkier in 2024, a Maritime Area Consent licence was granted to the Killala Bay Ships 2 Reef project team, a group of diving enthusiasts, to allow them to tow the 'Shingle' to Killala Bay for sinking. Planning permission was then granted by Mayo County Council in July for the preparation, transportation, positioning and placement of the 'Shingle' on the seabed of Killala Bay. The towing operation to bring the ship from the port at New Ross up to Killala will take three days and upon arrival, a company has been employed to prepare the ship for sinking. It was now likely that it will be either Sep 18 or Sep 19 before the ship arrives in Killala Bay.As Ireland’s first artificial reef, it is hoped that the project can bring a boost in diving tourism to the west of Ireland as well as promoting local marine ecology.